Floriade in limbo: have your say on how to save the festival

This year organisers have promised more flowers and displays, after "negative consumer feedback", expanded NightFest and thrown in a opening night concert. Apparently there's also a Fringe Festival in the works but, a few weeks out, there's little information on that.

For many years now we've wondered what the focus of Floriade is. Is it a flower show, turned on to lure busloads of retirees and Chinese tourists to the lake's edge? Or is it festival, brimming with music, food and frivolity for a younger crowd?

Floriade seems to be in limbo. Neither a carnation nor a gerbera. Should it bank on tradition or should it branch out, so to speak, to entice a wider crowd? At this point it seems to reflect that kind of flower display where someone picks all their favourite blooms and shoves them all in the same vase in the hope we like the display.

A few weeks ago we came up with some ideas about what the ACT Brumbies should do to get fans back to Canberra Stadium and readers responded with their own ideas too. Now the Brumbies have cut ticket prices in response to the feedback.

So come on readers, maybe we can save Floriade, too. We'd love to hear your ideas as well. Comments welcome.

We'd like to see pop-up Floriade displays right through the city. Pockets of colour in Charnwood and blooms in Bruce. Create a wildflower strewn path that leads from the city to the lakeside site. The recently opened beauty precinct in the Canberra Centre is the perfect spot for a Floriade inspired display. What about an open garden competition for local residents to display their own patch of Floriade?

Whether we're showcasing the region's food and wine or getting local artists involved in selling their wares, there needs to be a rethink of how we "sell" Canberra at the Floriade site. Wandering through the little corner where the retailers are can be quite surreal. Are sarongs and little plastic jumping lady beetles really what this city is all about?

A change is as good as a holiday. Should we get serious about moving it to the Arboretum? What about Yarramundi Reach or Lanyon Homestead? Could we take it to Molonglo to brighten up the bleak suburban spread or whack it right in the middle of the city in Glebe Park? What's the biggest issue with having it at the lake? And we're not asking you, National Capital Authority. We know your issues.

Who is Floriade aimed at? What draws a young crowd to the site? The best suggestion we had was a Floriade beard competition for the hipster crowd. Floriade's always been a hit with young families. Gnomes, a bit of fresh air, a little picnic, a ride on the over-priced ferris wheel and the kids are happy for hours. Do the people being lured to NightFest (for comedy, music and some bespoke brews) ever bother looking at the flowers in the daylight? Should we focus on one aspect of the festival and be done with the other?

Here's an idea. Lump Floriade and Enlighten into the one big lit up flower pot and see what happens. Work all those spectacular light displays throughout the flower beds. And ask ourselves if Canberra is actually suffering from festival burnout? The National Folk Festival, the National Multicultural Festival, the Balloon Spectacular, truffle festivals, candle festivals, wine festivals, not to mention all the arts festivals that pop up throughout the year. Is it all too much? And here's another idea: could Summernats and Floriade work together? All the lads could bring their nannas to town and everyone is happy. Instead of the show and shine, a show and grow?

Floriade 2017 will be held at Commonwealth Park from September 16 to October 15.