We've had enormous glowing rabbits in the parliamentary triangle and illuminated angels in Reconciliation Place but this year it's all about jellyfish in shopping malls.
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Enlighten Canberra officially lights up the capital from Friday night and for the first time ever the stunning lights and installations are travelling north of the lake into the city.
A series of neon clouds is casting night-time fluorescent shadows in Bible Lane, while separate installations are also being switched on in Petrie Plaza, Garema Place and at the ANU.
But it's a school of enormous four metre high jellyfish - five located in the Canberra Centre and one on its lonesome in the parliamentary zone - that has Canberrans standing and gaping in awe.
The interactive jellyfish, known collectively as Jellyfish Bloom, are the creation of Surry Hills-based Ample Projects - "a collaborative of artists and makers and technical people" who specialise in interactive installations, light sculptures and who have previously delivered projection shows for Sydney's Vivid festival.
Each jellyfish is covered in more than 1000 microscopic lights that change colour and flash in response to human movement. The experience is like your favourite video game from the 80s, an over-the-top Christmas tree and a swim at Broulee, all rolled into one.
Artist Nicholas Tory, the visionary behind the monstrous sea creatures, said bringing a touch of "otherworldly beauty" to the capital was his vision for Jellyfish Bloom.
"They're simultaneously extremely strong and rigid but also quite delicate," Tory said.
"They have a steel frame, then we have the lights clad to the streel frame and then we have a delicate fabric - almost like a silk organza but stronger - attached to the outside of the steel frame.
"We wanted the skin to be as delicate as an actual jellyfish's."
While 2018 sees Enlighten Canberra to spread north to the city for the first time, Events ACT acting director Jo Verden said the vision was for every major town centre - from Tuggeranong to Belconnen - light up each March as part of the festival.
"We want Enlighten to be recognised as a word-class autumn festival and in order to do that we need to embrace the city, and the city needs to embrace the event. We need to see the event spill out across more areas across the capital," Ms Verden said.
"We have lots of locals visiting the festival - it's really good to have the advocacy of Canberrans - but we do have visitors who come from interstate and some internationals and we're trying to grow that of course.
"While Enlighten adds vibrancy to Canberra and really delivers an amazing experience for people who live, work here or study, the question for us is how do we use this event to bring more people into the city to stay in our hotels, spend money in our restaurants and bars, and experience all the different things you can do in Canberra?"
Ms Verden said the festival "just gets bigger and better every year", with further changes in 2018 including uniting "much-loved community events" like Lights, Canberra, Action, Symphony in the Park, Canberra Day, the Canberra Balloon Spectacular and Skyfire under the Enlighten Canberra umbrella.
2018 Enlighten Canberra runs from 2-18 March at indoor and outdoor venues across the capital. For the full program head to enlightencanberra.com
Our top three picks of Enlighten Canberra:
1. Neon Caves
Saturday 10 March at 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm and 8.30pm, Questacon Lawns. Free event.
All-female youth group the Galaxy Girls, hailing from western NSW, is set to "bring the sound down" with the live Neon Caves performance. This original creation by the Galaxy Girls features dance, vocalisations, found sound recordings and projections.
2. Dinner under the stars
Wednesday 7 March at6pm, National Arboretum. $103.05 per adult.
Dine under the stars in the arboretum with a seasonal menu featuring fresh, locally-sourced produce prepared and designed by award-winning chef Janet Jeffs.
3. The Card Castle
2, 3, 9 & 10 March, 6pm – 11pm, Old Parliament House. Free.
Card Castle is the Museum of Australian Democracy's Enlighten activation for 2018. The castle will take shape in iconic King's Hall, with the public "invited to contribute stories that highlight the best of humanity during what has been a tumultuous year across the globe".
