Floriade 2017 will finish on October 15. But this year, that won't be the absolute end of Canberra's annual celebration of spring.
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ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr launched the inaugural Floriade Fringe, honouring a pre-election commitment, on Wednesday.
Mr Barr said the new event,enabled rather than produced by the government and funded at $250,000, would extend the focus of Floriade into other areas of the city and open up new possibilities for Haig Park.
He also took part in a card trick presented by Nomad the Magician and watched performances by artists-in-residence Australian Dance Party and cabaret singer Anya Anastasia, some of the performers who will be featured at Floriade Fringe.
Floriade Fringe will open in Haig Park, Braddon on October 19 and run until October 21 with artists from Canberra and interstate presenting music, dance, visual art, puppetry and other experiences and activities.
Entry will be by donation (donations go to the artist and performers) with some ticketed shows.
It is being produced by travelling carnival The Village, based in central Victoria but with significant links to Canberra.
They appeared in Glebe Park in 2013 as part of the Centenary of Canberra celebrations and festival director Stuart Vaskess grew up in Canberra and was part of the ACT performance troupe Splinters Theatre of Spectacle.
The program will be co-curated by Canberra producers Chenoeh Miller and Gavin Findlay. Mr Findlay said in creating events, The Village worked on a principle of "three Cs - creativity, curiosity and community - and this time they're adding a fourth, Canberra"
General manager of The Village, Ariel Valent, said people who came to the Fringe could enjoy a wide range of experiences and installations quite different to those in Floriade.
"One thing we have is the Complimentary Caravan. It's an audio experience with lots of people giving you compliments. It's quite an enlivening thing to do; it makes you feel good."
When people have had their fill of being complimented they can write down some compliments of their own which will be recorded and added for other people to hear.
Mr Valent said about 70 per cent of the 150 or so artists would be from Canberra and there were about as many volunteers and crew, almost entirely local, helping bring the Fringe to life.
"It's very much about community engagement."
Floriade Fringe will be on in Haig Park, Braddon from October 19 to 21. floriadefringe.com.
