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National Arboretum launches Winter in the Woods festival as seasonal offerings expand

A new winter festival taps into Canberra's growing reputation as a year-round destination with distinctive seasonal experiences.

By The Daily Canberra · Published 26 June 2026 at 7:29 pm · 1 min read

The National Arboretum Canberra will host Winter in the Woods, a new festival running from 26 June to 9 August, featuring firelight, food and forest adventure, according to The Riot Act. The festival complements Canberra's expanding winter program and represents a strategic effort to activate the city's cultural and recreational assets across all seasons.

Canberra's winter period has historically been quieter than its summer months, when Floriade and other major events draw significant visitor numbers and spending. The proliferation of winter offerings like this festival reflects recognition that the capital's cool-season conditions can be attractive rather than prohibitive. The Arboretum's native woodland setting, combined with carefully curated food and entertainment, creates a distinctive winter experience that differentiates Canberra from other Australian capitals.

For the Canberra tourism sector and hospitality businesses, winter activations extend the commercial season and distribute visitor spending across the calendar year. The festival also encourages locals to engage with the Arboretum and surrounding districts during months when outdoor visitation might otherwise decline, supporting retail and hospitality precincts near tourist attractions. As Canberra works to build its reputation as a destination offering year-round experiences, such initiatives become increasingly important to economic vitality.

Sources: the-riotact.com.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.

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