Spring Festival success
The numbers for Council’s premier event are now in and they’re looking better than ever, Lockyer Valley Regional Council’s Mayor says.
Mayor Tanya Milligan said the community buy in continued to strengthen, attributing this to several Festival elements, including increased parade entries across the board and cross-collaboration from various community groups.
“Our local businesses, schools and community groups continue to showcase their pride in the Grand Street Parade, while the event couldn’t succeed without the teamwork from the various community group committees that run individual elements of the Festival, such as the Laidley Garden Club’s organisation of the Spring Garden Fair and the Lockyer Valley Orchid Society’s Orchid Show.
“Other Festival events are championed by organisations like the Laidley Uniting and Redeemer Lutheran Churches, Gatton Lapidary Club, Under 5s and the Laidley Community Centre, Marburg & District Art Society and Das Neumann Haus, with the Laidley & Districts Netball Association running the bar in the Festival Entertainment Precinct.
“The Spring Gardening Fair welcomed almost 5000 attendees through the pavilion, allowing the Laidley Garden Club to donate $6000 to the Laidley Ambulance Committee.
“The Spring Gem Show, brought together by the Gatton Lapidary Club, were thrilled with the outcome of their event and are looking forward to collaborating with the Laidley Garden Club for future site plans.
“The Spring Orchid Show experienced a five per cent increase in attendance and 15 per cent rise in sales from 2024, while the Under 5’s Day experienced a significant increase with more than 970 ticket registrations.
“The Uniting Church Op Shop experienced their biggest year ever for visitors, while Kelli’s Diner sold more than 300 milkshakes and Grace Eats’ High Tea was sold out!
“Community enthusiasm grows every year.
“It really goes a long way towards shaping the event as a whole – which has priorities of the community at its core,” Mayor Milligan said.
At its recent Ordinary Meeting of Council, councillors gave the green light to the 2026 Budget, with Council staff to once again seek out a range of sponsorship opportunities to further bring the event to life.
“As Council gains even greater local and visitor attendance, sponsors understand the Festival offers the chance to meaningfully engage with both locals and visitors, be it by supporting the stage entertainment program, children’s activities, the parade or the new Producers’ Patch, which was a resounding success in 2025.
“Council currently applies to Tourism Events Queensland each year and is awaiting final advice on the success of this funding round, having secured $15,000 in TEQ Qld Destination Events Program (QDEP) funding last year,” Mayor Milligan said.
