Canberra Festival 2012 ends with a bang

Canberra’s 99th birthday celebrations wrapped up on the weekend with an eclectic mix of fireworks, carp fishing, ballet, hot air balloons and the Big Canberra Bike Ride.

I was pleased to see so many Canberrans getting out and enjoying activities held over the closing weekend of the Canberra Festival.

The diversity of the events meant there was something for all members of the community.

A crowd of more than 6000 people watched the Australian Ballet’s Telstra Ballet in the Park free performance on Friday night, which was part of the Ballet’s 50th birthday celebrations.

The nine-day Balloon Spectacular saw an estimated total crowd of 25,000 venture out at dawn to the lawns in front of Old Parliament House. The weather was kind with the hot air balloons venturing above our city on all but two of the nine days.

Tens of thousands braved the rain on Saturday night to see the annual FM104.7 Skyfire Twenty 12 from vantage points around the lake and city, with the event organisers estimating 130,000 attended.

On Sunday I joined 1200 cyclists – a record number of participants – in the Big Canberra Bike Ride incorporating Amy’s Ride.

The weekend’s events concluded a busy Canberra Festival which began on 2 March with the new look ENLIGHTEN proving popular with 22 ticketed events sold out.

Another popular Canberra Festival event was the Symphony in the Park event which attracted about 12,000 people on 11 March.

The countdown to the Centenary of Canberra year in 2013 has begun and Canberrans can expect a year-long program of events and activities, including the return of favourites the Balloon Spectacular and the short film festival Lights! Canberra! Action!

Keep up to date with the Centenary program at http://www.canberra100.com.au/