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Winter in the Woods festival transforms National Arboretum into seasonal drawcard

New winter program running June to August aims to give Canberra's signature venue a year-round appeal beyond spring and summer tourism peaks.

By The Daily Canberra · Published 26 June 2026 at 7:30 pm · 1 min read

The National Arboretum Canberra is launching Winter in the Woods, a new winter festival running from 26 June to 9 August that combines firelight, food and forest activities, according to announcement details. The initiative represents a deliberate effort to activate the site during months when Canberra's tourism and visitor economy has traditionally slowed, complementing the city's broader winter programming.

For Canberra's hospitality and tourism operators, the festival offers an opportunity to extend the visitor season and encourage repeat visits from locals who might otherwise see winter as a quiet period in the city. The Arboretum's established reputation and natural appeal provide infrastructure for what could become a regular drawcard comparable to the city's spring and summer events.

The venture reflects a wider tourism strategy playing out in Canberra, where venue operators and the ACT Government are increasingly focused on smoothing out seasonal demand by creating reasons to visit at times traditionally associated with lower foot traffic. If successful, Winter in the Woods could provide a model for other major attractions considering year-round programming.

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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