One of Australia’s favourite festivals returns, 2020-style, with something to please every man… and his dog!
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is the first big event to blossom, post-Covid. And this year, four-legged flower lovers and their human friends will enjoy their own special program.
Petals and Pups promises to be the key to the city for every kind of dog – with three suggested itineraries for cultured canines, playful adventurers and pampered pooches.
Stop in at Grinds Espresso Rail for a cappuccino and puppy-cino to start your day of exploration – before heading to one of the city’s 27 off-leash parks, including a generous space at glorious Queens Park. There’s a good chance you’ll run into Rambo – the carnival’s official ambassadog – and a well-loved dog celebrity around town.
Stop by Picnic Point Parkland and pay homage to the Carnival’s very first ambassadog. “Puppy” the Pomeranian is immortalized in bronze. He led the first Carnival of Flowers parade back in the 1950s, strutting out in front of the Thistle Pipe Band to the delight of crowds.
Drop into Harold’s Finishing Touches – a home-wares store that welcomes well-behaved hounds – and browse for that perfect objet d’art. Yes, the owner is a dyed-in-the-wool dog lover and daddy to a pair of wonderful whippets called Wilbur and Winston.
And for a bite to eat, Bar Wunder wins paws down. It’s Toowoomba’s top dog-friendly eatery – with a retro courtyard for diners and their doggy pals.
The menu includes dog-friendly ‘barkery’ snacks and beverages made just for bow-wows. Think Pawroni and Pawsecco. Oh, humans can eat too – there’s an extensive menu that features share plates to satisfy both carnivores and herbivores.
The staff even play pup-a-razzi – taking snaps of every four-legged patron. It’s a delight to pour (paw?) over the hundreds of happy hounds on show in Bar Wunders’ photo gallery.
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2020 runs for 10 fun days from Friday 18th September.
And to dig up more fun ideas for the whole family – including the resident pooch – head to www.queensland.com.
