News International Rose Garden Festival
6-7 Nov 2026 | Stop and smell the roses, then stick around for the glow-up at the International Rose Garden Festival.
Every year the spellbinding display of thousands of roses draws festival goers and garden lovers to Morwell to swoon over the delicate blooms. Held in November while roses are in peak bloom, there is a show-stopping performance at this internationally recognised rose garden. Returning for its 9th year, this free festival pairs the garden’s spring colour with aerial acrobatics, familiar faces and a couple of evenings of illuminated displays.
2026 INTERNATIONAL ROSE GARDEN FESTIVAL MORWELL
When: Fri 6 - Sat 7 Nov
Where: Morwell Centenary Rose Garden, 2 Avondale Road, Morwell
Cost: Free
The 2026 program delivers a vibrant mix of free, family-friendly activities and entertainment for all ages. Visitors can wander through the gardens in full bloom, enjoy hands-on workshops, indulge in a traditional Devonshire Tea at the CWA marquee, or browse a variety of market and garden stalls.
The festival launches Friday evening with food trucks, live performances, and a high-energy kid’s disco featuring DJ Nige from 6.30pm. On Saturday, Sway Aerial Theatre unveils Bloom! a jaw-dropping aerial performance inspired by the fleeting grace of flowers.
Families are in for a treat with performances by Costa the Gnome, dirtgirl and scrapboy from dirtgirlworld, who will bring their “Grubby Bucket” live stage show to life, along with a fun-filled Storytime session. Budding gardeners are also encouraged to enter the cut rose competition for a chance to win great prizes.
A highlight of the festival is the Night Light Installation, proudly presented by AGL Loy Yang. As the sun sets, the garden is transformed into a luminous wonderland with fairy lights, festoons, and colourful LEDs.
Bring a picnic blanket, rug up under the stars, and enjoy local musicians as you relax among the roses.
2026 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
AGL Loy Yang Night Lights Installation
The garden gets its evening glow-up as the AGL Loy Yang Night Lights installation returns across both nights. Explore illuminated displays, encounter roving performances and discover pop-up attractions as the gardens take on a whole new look. A unique, vibrant way of seeing the roses, this event is full of fairylights, roving performers, live music and food trucks.
Rose Festival Workshops
Get hands on with a variety of workshops, from a crochet flower workshop to learning how to compost. Watch a bushtucker bites cooking demo, join a mobile phone photography workshop to capture the perfect bloom, or bring along a rose from your own garden to enter the cut rose competition.
A highlight of 2026 will be the pop-up sound bowl healing session - master the art of doing absolutely nothing while gongs, bowls, and positive vibrations wash over you allowing your nervous system to slow down. Make sure you book your ticket for this one!
Family Friendly Entertainment
The whole family will be entertained with Bloom! a vibrant aerial performance inspired by the ephemeral beauty of the world of flowers. The 20-minute performance runs at 7.45pm on Friday night, and 2pm, 3pm and 5pm on Saturday.
Check out the Grubby Bucket stage show, with Dirtgirl, Costa the Gnome and Scrapboy, live Saturday 11.30am on the main stage.
Becky Bubbles once again hosts a fun filled interactive bubble activity, where you get the chance to get their hand's soapy and create your very own magical, giant bubbles.
There's also a dedicated Kid’s Zone featuring Fairy Julie Rainbow Unicorn shows, facepainting, and a kid’s wand making workshop on the Saturday.
GUIDED TOURS & TOUR BUS
Get a guided walking tour of the Morwell Centenary Rose Garden with the experts - the Friends of the Rose Garden volunteers.
When you've had your fill of rose-scented action you can visit some of the other attractions of Latrobe City on the Saturday, aboard the free Festival Tour Bus. Visit Old Gippstown, Powerworks or the Immigration Park by bus. Bookings are essential.
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