THREE WEEKENDS OF FLORAL-FILLED FUN, RUNNING FROM 18 SEPT TO 5 OCT 2026
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Parade your Petal Power!

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APPLY NOW FOR GRAND CENTRAL FLORAL PARADE 2026

GET READY TO PUT THE PETAL TO THE METAL!

Applications for our 2026 Grand Central Floral Parade are OPEN NOW!

Unleash your most creative, vibrant, and eye-popping floral designs for a parade that’ll leave Toowoomba buzzing!

Applications close at 2pm on 21 May 2026.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

Don’t let your parade dreams wilt away! Be sure to read through all the entrant information below, along with the Parade Entrant Guide before submitting your application.

The guide has been created to help you navigate the Parade entry process and support your participation in this iconic Toowoomba event.

Grand Central Floral Parade

And the theme is...

ANNOUNCING OUR 2026 PARADE THEME: SPRING ADVENTURES!

This year, join us on spring adventures through the flowers, where towering tulips, foxgloves, ranunculus and daffodils create a world of colour, wonder and imagination!

Pathways wind through blooms at every stage of life, from bud to full expression, alive with butterflies, bees and drifting petals that celebrate growth, renewal and the simple joy of discovery. It’s a journey inspired by nostalgia and childlike awe, where flowers aren’t just beautiful, they’re magical, playful and full of life.

Your costumes and floats will reflect this sense of playful discovery and enchantment. Think flowing petal-inspired fabrics, garden boots wrapped in vines, hats crowned with blossoms and outfits that blur the line between gardener, dreamer and springtime storyteller. 

Australian natives such as wattle and boronia can appear as subtle seasonal accents, grounding the spectacle in place, while the abundant annuals of spring remain front and centre, celebrating the exuberance, colour and optimism that define the season.

Spring adventures is a celebration of renewal, imagination and the simple magic of flowers, an invitation to step inside spring and see it with fresh eyes.

Watch the video below to see our team looking absolutely DAISY-ling as they reveal this year’s parade theme and share their excitement!

Mayor Geoff McDonald: Hi, I’m Geoff McDonald, the Mayor of the Toowoomba Region with some really exciting news.
The Grand Central Floral Parade isn’t just blooming this year. It is absolutely bursting with blooms. We’re celebrating 30 years, three decades of partnership with Grand Central to bring the 2026 Grand Central Floral Parade
into the CBD.

And of course, the parade doesn’t happen on its own. It takes you, the community, to bring colour, imagination and heart to every corner of the Toowoomba Region. This is your chance to once again step out into the sunshine, let your creativity sprout and showcase how you can help our Region shine.

Tracey Ford: Hi, I’m Tracey Ford and I’m the Centre Manager at Grand Central. We are extremely proud to once again be a major sponsor of the Grand Central Floral Parade. This year is particularly special because we are celebrating 30 years of Grand Central’s proud sponsorship of this iconic event.

For three decades, Grand Central has stood with Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers supporting the Floral Parade, which brings our region together in a way very few events can. We are incredibly proud of all the entrants, volunteers, schools, community groups and businesses who bring the Grand Central Floral Parade to life year after year. Your passion, imagination and hard work are what make the event and celebration truly unforgettable.

This year, Grand Central Floral Parade will take place on Saturday the 19th September, where it will wind through the streets to celebrate the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. We know you are all eagerly awaiting to start working on your entries. So without any further ado, this year’s Grand Central Floral Parade theme will be…
Spring Adventures!

If you’re interested in taking part in this year’s Grand Central Floral Parade, now’s the time to spring into action. The dedicated parade creative team will give you more ideas about our theme Spring Adventures to celebrate the 77th Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

Anna Battle: Hi! I’m Anna Battle and along with Mary Kate Thompson, we are the proud creative advisors for this year’s Grand Central Floral Parade. This year’s parade invites audiences on a spring adventure through the flowers with towering tulips, foxgloves, ranunculus and daffodils create a world of colour, wonder and imagination.

Costumes and floats who reflect a sense of peaceful discovery so think flowing, petal inspired fabrics, garden boots wrapped in vines, hats crowned with blossoms, and outfits that blur the line between gardener, dreamer and springtime storyteller. The abundant annuals of spring will remain front and centre, celebrating the exuberance, colour and optimism that define the season of spring.

Spring adventures is a celebration of renewal, imagination and the simple magic of flowers. The theme is an invitation to step inside, spring and see it with fresh eyes.

Mayor Geoff: Grand Central Floral Parade entrant applications are now open, so head over to tcof.com.au to find everything you need. If you’ve ever thought about joining the iconic community showcase, this is your year to step up into your very own spring adventure. Be bold, be bright and most importantly, be floral! Don’t be a wallflower – join the celebration, invite your family and friends and help us make this the most spectacular Grand Central Floral Parade Toowoomba has ever seen. I can’t wait to see you all in full bloom.

Everything you need to know

A message from your Creative Advisors: Anna & Mary-Kate

How is your group going to interpret Spring Adventures?

This has always been a FLORAL parade, and Spring Adventures is your invitation to step right inside the season and see it with fresh eyes! We’re talking towering tulips, swaying foxgloves, cheerful ranunculus and golden daffodils, creating a world of colour, wonder and imagination rolling through the streets.

Spring Adventures celebrates playful discovery, enchantment and the simple magic of flowers. This is your chance to transport your audience somewhere truly special. We want to see entries that feel like you’ve tumbled headfirst into a spring garden and loved every second of it!

Think:

  • flowing petal-inspired fabrics, garden boots wrapped in vines, hats crowned with blossoms
  • costumes that blur the line between gardener, dreamer and springtime storyteller
  • movement, choreography, streamers and bubbles that bring your adventure to life
  • happy music, acrobats and entertainers who invite the crowd along for the ride
  • the abundant annuals of spring, front, centre and absolutely everywhere!

And think BIG for impact, because Parade entries are seen from a distance!

Floats or walking groups, both are wonderfully welcome! If you’ve marched with us before, this is the perfect moment to reimagine your entry. Build a new float in a way that’s achievable for your group or strip it back and come as a beautifully costumed walking group. Sometimes the simplest approach makes the biggest impression.

You will need lots and lots of flowers. At least 50% of your entry needs to be flowers and plants. You can grow your own or order from a local supplier. If you’re planning to grow, get those seeds in the ground soon!

Floral content can also be crafted from paper, synthetic or recycled materials. Just remember, no glass and no single-use balloons.

We always encourage you to choose local wherever possible and to recycle and repurpose what you can.

Remember, every single person in the Parade MUST be in costume or a themed outfit. It’s easy to dress a driver or support person in bright, floral colours. A floral shirt, a hat, a wave and a big smile make a huge difference!

Every group is required to meet with us for either a 30 or 60 minute consultation, and we genuinely love these sessions! This is your dedicated time to develop your ideas, talk through your concept and get inspired to think outside the box. Appointments are available across three weeks from late April through to early May. Look for the link to book your time for an online meeting with us and we’ll look forward to seeing you then!

We can’t wait to hear how your group is going to embark on your Spring Adventures and to work together to make this year’s Grand Central Floral Parade a breathtaking celebration of renewal, imagination and the magic of flowers in bloom!

  • Corporate Float
  • Corporate Walking Group
  • Community Float
  • Community Walking Group
  • Visiting Float
  • Multicultural Celebration:
  • Creative Expression

Marching band applications

Sound the trumpets and strike up the band! We’re looking for musical ensembles that can bring the beat to our parade! 

Whether you’re a school band, community orchestra or professional outfit, get ready to create the soundtrack to parade as you march through the streets of Toowoomba!

Applications close: 2pm, 21 May 2026

Entrants notified: 4 June 2026

Mandatory parade entrant meeting: 5.30pm, 15 Sept 2026

PARADE DAY: Sat 19 Sept 2026

The 2026 theme for the Grand Central Floral Parade is Spring Adventures!

Refer to the parade entrant guide for full theme criteria.

Grand Central Itty Bitty Floral Parade

A special version of the iconic Parade takes centre stage in Grand Central with itty bitty versions of colourful and creative floats on display.

The Itty Bitty entries will be proudly displayed at Grand Central Shopping Centre from Friday 11 Sept – Mon 5 Oct 2026.

Grand Central Itty Bitty Floral Parade entries are open to those groups that may find it hard to participate in the ‘big’ parade; we encourage educational facilities, disability and inclusion providers, not-for-profit groups and retirement or aged person homes to participate. With a $500 prize up-for-grabs who wouldn’t want to enter!

Expressions of Interest are open until Friday 8 May.

Our Previous Sponsors and Partners

Petal Partners aCross the Seasons

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Be Part of the Parade

It’s time to 
Strut your stuff!

We’re excited to receive your applications! Our team is ready to support you every step of the way through this process.

Got questions? Don’t let them grow wild—reach out to us! We’re here to ensure your parade experience blossoms into something truly spectacular. Don’t wait to plant your ideas—apply today

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