Toowoomba Trip - Festival of Flowers 2010
  Since its inception in 1949, the Toowoomba Carnival of  Flowers has flourished into an iconic Queensland event
The brainchild of Essex Tait and the Toowoomba Chamber of  Commerce, Carnival was introduced as a way for the city to use their “Garden  City” reputation to promote increased economic activity following the recent  hardships of war.
On October 21, 1950 the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers  commenced with a street procession that stretched three miles in length. Led by  a bullock team and watched by a crowd estimated to be 50,000 strong, the Parade  was a resounding success. The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers subsequently became  firmly cemented as an annual event in the region’s community calendar.
As the years passed, Carnival’s appeal widened, attracting  tourists from across Queensland, interstate and internationally.
2009 represented another milestone in the Event’s rich  history, as Toowoomba and its surrounding regions commemorated 60 years of  Carnival celebrations. More than 80,000 spectators lined the inner city streets  to experience the Grand Central Floral Parade. The Ergon Energy Flower, Food Wine Festival attracted visitors range from a broad range of ages, families and  young couples through to mature aged travellers and retirees. The Young  Ambassador Program raised more than $43,000 for charities in the Toowoomba  region. That money went directly to helping young people in our communities.