The City Centre is the thriving heart of Canberra and each year we develop new and exciting ways to keep that heart beating with activity for its residents, workers, visitors and businesses.
Over the next 12 months we plan to entice more people into the City Centre with an exciting new program highlighted in our recently released Place Experience & Marketing Action Plan for 2024-25.
Image: People exploring Before Us at Enlighten’s City Illuminations
From toasty nights with fire performances and ice skating at Winter in the City, to the colours, beauty and entertainment of Christmas in the City and Lunar New Year, our calendar is full of activities for everyone to enjoy. We even have families and dogs covered with regular events in Haig Park!
Last year’s Winter in the City brought 24,000 people to the City Centre and contributed $1.8 million in local economic activity. More than 18,000 people gathered on Civic Square to enjoy Enlighten Festival’s City Illuminations, and 5,000 people attended La Fiesta in City West.
Image: People enjoying the entertainment at La Fiesta in City West’s Latin American Plaza
Our Placemaking Grants program helps bring the City Centre to life through innovative, creative and inclusive ideas across the categories of events, marketing, vacant space activations and installations. Last financial year’s recipients, EggPicnic, Blank, Skeehan Studio and Church developed awe-inspiring ideas and events to bring the City Centre and Braddon to life.
Image: Our Place Team planting garden beds in City West
On top of all the events, activities and public spaces, we keep our city thriving by keeping streets clean, removing graffiti, planting garden beds and adding furniture pathways and lighting. These effective measures maintain the City Centre as a beautiful, safe, inclusive and inviting space to live, work and visit.
Read the Place Experience and Marketing Action Plan to see what we have in store for you this year.
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We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.
