It was the perfect evening last night for wandering amongst some of our city’s landmarks that have been lit up beautifully for Canberra’s annual ‘Enlighten’ Festival. The selection of images and artwork relate in some way to the particular buildings that they are being projected onto. Street performers entertained as we made our way between the various locations. Museums and galleries stayed open late with food, drinks and entertainment. It really was a wonderful evening out!
For a number of you who may be unaware, Canberra is in fact the Capital of Australia. Sydney is our largest city, but Canberra is where our parliamentarians debate, where you’ll find our High Court, along with our National Museums and Galleries. It is not a huge city… about 380,000 people… often feeling more like a large country town. We’ve lived in many cities over the years and if asked, I usually struggle to answer the question of “Where is home?”, however as time goes by, increasingly my answer to this is Canberra.
Street Performer (Max of ‘Dan & Max’) with her flaming hula-hoop!
Horse, Street Performer
Fountain on Fire
National Gallery | images linked to Inca Exhibition
Flames
Questacon Building
Questacon Building | Fiesta Friday!
Old Parliament House | Guys & Polls
Old Parliament House
Old Parliament House | Rudd Vs Abbott
National Library | images linked to Mapping Exhibition
Street Performer (Dan of ‘Dan & Max’)
I’m linking this post to Angie’s Fiesta Friday, particularly as one of the images projected onto the Questacon building made me think of her. There appeared to be a little Fiesta dancing and happiness going on (see the 7th photo down)! 🙂
Gather & Graze 
I had visited this post before. These photos are feast to the eyes!
Thanks Fae – this is a festival we look forward to each year! Such a fun week filled with creativity and beauty!
These photographs are beautiful; you are very good at capturing the spirit. I am very intrigued (architecturally) with the Questacon building. Are they able to manipulate the images on the building through projection?
Hi Stacey, thanks so much for your very kind comment! The Questacon building was the most engaging of all of the projections – changing and being manipulated constantly. They also had the public (and in particular children) pressing buttons on a console to create some of the changes, including little explosive effects in the projection – very clever! Most of the other buildings simply had a variety of static images that were rotated through. The Portrait Gallery had some moving images, which was also fun to watch, though unfortunately my photos of this were a little out of focus… a video camera on the night would have been fabulous! Cheers, Margot
The Enlighten Festival looks so magical! I would love to go!
It is indeed a magical evening! There’s always next year Mary… let me know if you’re able to make it! 🙂
I’ve heard many wonderful things about Canberra and regret not making time to visit your city when I was in Oz. “Enlighten” sounds like such a beautiful festival. What a wonderful way to spend an evening! I doubt a fest of this kind could be done in a larger metropolitan area. You need open spaces to see the effects and those are a rarity in large cities. How fortunate for you, Margot, that you were able to get down there and stroll about.
There’s so much to see and do in Australia, that I completely understand that Canberra wasn’t at the top of your list of places to visit John. Great to visit if you have the time, but the likes of Sydney and Melbourne certainly have much more of an energy about them.
The Enlighten festival is always great though… lights, music, food and wine – what’s not to like!? 🙂
These are very lovely photographs, I love a good festival and this one seems to be very artful and well presented.
Thanks Seana, I love how each year the themes and projections of this festival change, so you never know what you’re going to get! Canberra also has it’s Hot Air Balloon Festival on at the moment, which is beautiful as well – though it’s a very early start to the morning!
I used to live in a town where the Hot Air Balloon Festival took place every year and I loved it! Your are right, it is early in the morning. Always loved the dawn patrol. I would stay up all night just to get there early enough to watch. I was in my 20;s so it was easy… 🙂
Thank you for the tidbit about Canberra and the festival, as I knew nothing about either. What a fun celebration by the looks of those amazing projects!
It was a great night out Ngan – such a feast for the eyes! Cheers, Margot 🙂
Thanks for taking pictures of our first ever street show! So glad you were in our audience. All of your photos are beautiful 🙂
Such a surprise to see your comment here Max! I’m so excited that you found my photos online… just wish I’d had more time to hang out and take more photos of your performance – it was getting a little late when we came across you guys and our kids were well and truly ready for bed by then. Hope you had a fabulous week at Enlighten! Cheers, Margot
These photos look amazing! When we lived in Canberra I worked in the Parliamentary triangle, so it’s nice to see some “old friends” (like the National Library, Quetacon, Old Parlt House) in these photos, beautifully dressed for the party. Rudd v Abbott…also makes me think of the Keven 07 campaign, and those Canberra references from Keating the Musical, do I sound like an old public servant yet?? 🙂
Thanks Saucy! Happy to have brought back a few good memories for you… 🙂 My favourite buildings all lit up were the Library and Old Parliament – just beautiful!
Never realised Canberra was that small. Where I’m living now is only 60,000. Way too small for my liking!
Anyway, good choice for F&F. Do hope you weren’t wearing your finest DE frock!
Thanks! My vast array of shimmering, wisteria-hued DE frocks are standing by for the day I present a suitably lavish dish for FF… somewhat unlikely (with my style of cooking) that that will ever happen… 😉
If you like crowds so much, why haven’t you some to FF6? There’s no point in hiding, Johnny! I know who’s missing. I can count. 🙂
Gorgeous photo’s, one day I would love to visit Canberra during the festival!
Thanks Suzanne! That would be so exciting! Let me know when you’re coming and I’d love to be your tour guide. 🙂
I would love that I definitely will.
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Beautiful pictures!
🙂 Thanks so much!
I love it, Margot! Have to say I haven’t heard a lot about Canberra, always Sydney and maybe Melbourne, so this is appreciated. I would love to visit Canberra some day. And how nice of you to think of Fiesta Friday. That picture does show some fiesta dancing, how cute! Sounds like you’re having a fun time! XOXO
I’m not surprised that you haven’t heard much about Canberra Angie… it’s often the way when the capital isn’t one of the largest and most populated cities in the country. That image really did make me smile and think of your Fiesta Friday! I knew right then that I had to post a little something and link it through to FF#6. Enjoy your weekend! 🙂