BLOOM LOCALLY AT POPPYFIELD COMMONS
A MONTH OF FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS
Spring is blooming in Dickson! Poppyfield Commons is proud to be part of Floriade About Town, with a colourful program of free workshops, art, live music and creative experiences for the whole community. Visit our unique Poppy Selfie Spot, make your own poppy lantern, explore Dickson through words and sketches, or join our glowing evening lantern walk. Discover the full program below and book your place at your favourite events.
FLORIADE ABOUT TOWN: POPPY SELFIE SPOT!
SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER - SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER 2026
WED-MON | 3PM-9PM
Poppyfield Commons, Dickson
A bespoke art installation by local artist Anna Jagiello
Bring your Floriade experience into the heart of Dickson and visit the Poppy Selfie Spot at Poppyfield Commons.
Created especially for Floriade About Town by local artist Anna Jagiello, this colourful, handcrafted installation offers a beautiful backdrop for photos and a unique celebration of spring, creativity and community.
Anna is an Australian National University art graduate specialising in sculpture and street art. Her work features annually at the Light Up Lyneham festival, and she creates public art in partnership with the ACT Government’s Street Art Coordinator.
Visit the Poppyfield Commons courtyard during Floriade About Town, capture your photo at the Poppy Selfie Spot and share a little spring colour with family and friends.
[FREE EVENT: NO BOOKINGS REQUIRED]
FLORIADE ABOUT TOWN: CANBERRA TALES: FLORIADE EDITION
MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 | 6PM-8PM
Poppyfield Commons, Dickson
Step into the hidden history of the Inner North this spring!
PT. Gallery invites you to the spectacular debut of Canberra Tales, an enchanting monthly storytelling series celebrating our city's vibrant cultural heritage and the deeply inspiring personal journeys that shape it. Officially featured in the iconic Floriade 2026 program, this inaugural evening brings local history alive through an artistic, community-focused lens.
Beautifully curated by Bohemian artist and curator Petra Jungmanova, our launch event features lifelong resident William Maloney as he uncovers the fascinating, forgotten secrets of Poppyfield Commons and the surrounding Dickson area.
Travel back in time to discover the Inner North's unique wartime and agricultural roots. At the heart of our story is the old Dickson Experiment Station—a site once secretly used by the CSIRO during World War II to cultivate opium poppies, providing critical, life-saving pain medication to frontline troops. Canberra Tales beautifully bridges this historical "poppy field" legacy with the breathtaking, blooming floral celebrations of Floriade today.
Come for the history, stay for the human connection, and experience Canberra like never before.
[FREE EVENT: BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL]
FLORIADE ABOUT TOWN: POPPY LANTERN WORKSHOPS & WALK
SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 | 10AM, 3:30pm & 6pm
Poppyfield Commons, Dickson
Get crafty with Tracey Johnson and make your own poppy lantern to light up the night!
Artist Tracey Johnson will lead three lantern-making workshops for up to 60 participants, including children and adults, to create poppy flower and pod lanterns. The completed lanterns will be brought together for an evening lantern walk through the Dickson restaurant precinct.
The first workshop of the day is at 10am and is a 2-hour workshop to create large lanterns for our evening walk. Participants to this workshop need to be 10 and over and assisted by an adult.
The second workshop of the day is at 3:30pm and is a 1 hour workshop to create small poppy lanterns for our evening walk. Participants to this workshop need to be 5 and over and need to be assisted by an adult.
The last workshop of the day is at 4:45pm and is a 1 hour workshop to create small poppy lanterns for our evening walk. Participants to this workshop need to be 5 and over and need to be assisted by an adult.
At 6:00pm, participants will gather at Poppyfield Commons for shared light refreshments before the lantern walk at 6:30pm.
A musician will also be playing from 3:30-5:30pm within the Poppyfield courtyard to build the atmosphere before the light refreshments and lantern walk. We are proud to be participating in Floriade About Town!
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: FREE EVENT
FLORIADE ABOUT TOWN: SCHOOL HOLIDAY LANTERN WORKSHOP
WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 | 10AM - 12PM
Poppyfield Commons, Dickson
Join Poppyfield Commons Placemaker and artist Gemma Bonshek Kane for a fun, hands-on poppy lantern-making workshop during the school holidays.
Inspired by the Poppy Selfie Spot at Poppyfield Commons and the lanterns created during Tracey Johnson’s Poppy Lantern Workshop, participants will create their own colourful poppy-themed lantern to take home.
Bring your completed lantern along to the Floriade NightFest Lantern Walk, proudly display it at home or simply enjoy creating something special inspired by Floriade.
The workshop runs for two hours, with places limited to 25 participants. For ages 6 -12. Children will need a parent or guardian present.
FEAST OF FLOWERS: WALKING WITH WORDS
SUNDAY 4 October 2026 | 9:30am–12:30pm
Poppyfield Commons, Dickson
Experience Dickson through fresh eyes during a special Floriade edition of Walking with Words, facilitated by Lynn Berry from the social enterprise When Together.
Beginning at Poppyfield Commons, participants will take a relaxed guided walk through the Dickson town centre, collecting words, names and observations or creating quick sketches of the interesting details they discover along the way.
Draw inspiration from Dickson’s vibrant restaurant precinct, its spring flowers and the Floriade Poppy Selfie Spot at Poppyfield Commons. These local sights and discoveries will become creative prompts for writing and reflection.
After the walk, the group will return to Poppyfield Commons to discuss what captured their attention and take part in a series of guided writing exercises. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their work with the group if they wish.
No previous writing or drawing experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and enjoy connecting with your surroundings and fellow participants. Your finished piece will become a unique creative memory of Dickson and the details that stood out to you along the way.
Tea and coffee will be served during the workshop.