Winter Fest Draws 41,000, Boosts City Centre Sales
Canberra’s City Centre has received a boost in foot traffic as Winter in the City attracted over 41,000 attendees from 5 to 19 July. The event activated City Walk with a 14-metre-wide temporary stage and a 15-day program of free entertainment spanning circus, theatre, music, and fire shows. With an estimated economic impact of $4.4m, the event brought customers to the doorstep of businesses, reinforcing the City Centre’s role as a hub for community events and economic activity.
The program featured a mix of local and national acts, including Circus Firemen and the space-themed Mission to the Moon in week one. Week two was headlined by Circus Oz’s ‘Non-Stop’, a high-energy spectacle of trapeze, clowning and acrobatics. Each night concluded with three fire performances by Flux Entertainment. The finale, held in collaboration with The Forage, drew over 14,000 attendees, the largest single-day crowd who enjoyed a range of gourmet street food, music and performances.
Winter in the City by the numbers
“Winter in the City was more than just a spectacle and this year’s program was our most exciting yet,” said Teresa Comacchio, Acting Executive Branch Manager, Place Experience and Communications.
“The event demonstrated the power of activating our public spaces, attracting visitors and energising our City Centre. It was great to see many attendees exploring the city and its businesses before and after each performance.”
A marketing campaign running throughout July has accompanied the free entertainment program to encourage residents and visitors to explore and enjoy the city. Featuring over 40 businesses in the City Centre and Braddon, content from popular Canberra creators has reached more than 556,000 accounts and generated over 730,000 views. The campaign has amplified the event’s impact and allowed businesses to be part of the activation.
Winter in the City program is co-funded by the City Centre Marketing and Improvements Levy and forms part of City Renewal’s annual Place Experience and Marketing Plan which aims to draw visitors to the City Centre, encourage spending at businesses, and improve the appeal of the City Renewal precinct.
Looking ahead, La Fiesta will return to Latin American Plaza in City West on Saturday, 25 October 2025. Last year’s event drew over 5,000 attendees and featured music, dance, food, and performances from 75+ artists and 16 participating embassies. This year promises another exciting celebration of Latin American culture.
About the City Renewal Authority
City Renewal is charged with shaping the growth of central Canberra, envisioning the City Centre as a captivating gathering place where creativity, work, life, and leisure come together.
Its mission is to transform Canberra’s City Centre into a contemporary and magnetic destination by creating culturally rich, sustainable, and thoughtfully designed places, facilitating new investment, celebrating unique characteristics, attracting people to local businesses, engaging with the community, and activating welcoming, lively spaces.
City Renewal delivers design-led and people-focused urban renewal with a focus on social and environmental sustainability, working within the City Renewal Precinct across Dickson, Braddon, the City Centre, Northbourne Avenue, Haig Park, and Acton Waterfront.
https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/act-city-renewal-authority-media-releases/2025/winter-in-the-city-brings-41,000-attendees-and-seasonal-surge-to-city-centre-businesses