UQ Life

BLOOM Festival 2022

Celebrate - Innovate - Illuminate

15 - 30 October 2022

Celebrate with us at a number of events and activities that bring the UQ community together
Discover a variety of innovative projects, collaborations and achievements produced by UQ students
Enjoy the brilliant light displays that will illuminate our campus; and immerse yourself in beautiful outdoor spaces and exhibits that will be on display throughout the festival

BLOOM festival will be celebrating its fifth year in 2022, filling St Lucia, Gatton and Herston campuses with vibrant, innovative activities and celebrations for everyone to enjoy. From 15 - 30 October 2022 the festival will celebrate the UQ community during jacaranda season. 

Over the course of the festival, we welcome students, staff, alumni and the UQ community to relax under their favourite jacaranda trees, explore our light installations and interactive exhibits, enjoy live music and workshops and indulge in pop-up picnics and indigenous foods. 

We can't wait to celebrate the most beautiful time of year with you.

UQ's Great Court Carvings Audio Tour

Join us for a leisurely walk around the Great Court taking in the exquisite carvings that reflect The University's history and give meaning and purpose to UQ. Learn all about the stories behind one of the largest stone carving installations in the country.

Illuminating your experiences

10 Years of TEDxUQ
17-30 October
Explore the history of TEDxUQ and find your new favourite TEDx Talk! Visit TEDxUQ's interactive poster display in the Great Court to find out how you can get involved in TEDxUQ 2023. Details to come.
Blooming through enrichment experiences
15-30 October | Great Court
This installation shares stories from UQ Alumni who have taken part in experiences and programs available to students. These stories detail how their experiences equipped them for post-university life and given them the skills and confidence to make informed decisions about their future.
SSP Showcase – Illuminating Partnership
20 October, 2–4:45PM
The Showcase is an opportunity for the SSP community to highlight the wonderful work carried out during the year, and to share the bright ideas and learnings ignited through partnership.
Speaker's Corner: Tom Bizzell
20 October, 1:30–2PM
A Speakers' Corner is an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion are allowed. Join our session with Chief Student Entrepreneur Tom Bizzell where he'll talk about his wealth of experience in the start-up ecosystem.
Business Breakfast: Ed Bastian, CEO Delta Airlines
25 October, 8–9AM
One of the largest air lines in the world, USD$30billion revenue, 83,000 employees. Hear how CEO Ed Bastian navigates the highs and turbulences.
Speaker's Corner: Eliza Canabal and Nadia Aleksandrova
26 October, 10:30–11am
A Speakers' Corner is an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion are allowed. Join our session with Eliza Canabal and Nadia Aleksandrova from the grad school as they discuss aspects of their research and experience.
Great Court light installations
15-30 October
The Great Court and neighbouring areas will have a number of beautiful light installations displayed for the duration of the festival. Each star on the map indicates a light installation. Grab some friends, your camera, and capture some magical memories this Bloom Festival!

Celebrating and relaxing
Celebrate Bloom with Patina at Alumni Court
17 October – 28 October
Come celebrate UQ BLOOM Festival at Patina at Alumni Court with a special Bloom 2 Course Dinner including a complimentary glass of house wine or tap beer per person. Check event details for relevant dates.
Free Outdoor Yoga
17 and 24 October, 7:30–8:15AM
Looking for a chance to relax and regroup before your week begins? Our relaxing Outdoor Yoga sessions are the ideal activity to unwind and clear your mind!
Herston Hangouts: Bloom Edition
19 October, 11AM–2PM
Enjoy some live music and de-stress before exams! Enjoy a sausage sizzle and 4 Paws on the Floor with a puppy. Free for current students from medicine, public health and dentistry (bring your student ID).
Gatton Chill: Giving Day
19 October, 10AM–1PM
Enjoy the picturesque Gatton campus and get involved in some fun, relaxing activities. There will be free snacks and lantern painting.
Sunset Picnic
21 October, 4:30–6:30PM
Spend the evening with friends or family this BLOOM festival in the iconic Great Court while enjoying live music under the blooming Jacarandas. Delight in a shared platter with vintage cheeses, deli meats, olives and crackers.
Moonlight Movie – Encanto
21 October, 6:30–8:30PM
Come and join us for a free movie night screening Encanto (2021) at Moonlight Movie in celebration of Bloom Festival at UQ!
Gatton Chill: Bloom Edition
26 October, 10–2PM
In honour of Bloom, Gatton Chill has designed a range of activities for students and staff to enjoy.
Free Pick up and Play – Badminton
26 October, 12–2PM
If you’re low on funds and high on fun, grab your mates for Pick Up & Play, FREE student sport each week during semester!
Carvings Tour
27 October, 4–5PM
Join Rhyl Hinwood AM for an exclusive tour of the carvings and sculptures around the Great Court,. She will introduce you to highlights of work she selected, designed and carved since 1976.
Herston Hangouts: Bloom Edition
26 October, 11:30AM–1PM
With SWOTVAC just around the corner, we've got free Survival Kits, snacks, and arts and crafts activities that will help you unwind, recharge and get ready for exams

BLOOM Festival Photo Competition

Show us how you celebrate BLOOM! Whether its fun festival events, our magical light installations or the beautiful blooming jacaranda trees, we want to see how you're enjoying the festivities. Submit a BLOOM-themed photo and you will go into the draw to win a $50 gift voucher. 

Submissions open 12PM, 18 October and close 9AM, 27 October 2022. 

Submit your photo here

Illuminating arts and expression
4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony exhibition
13 September –26 November
The 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony is the National Gallery’s flagship exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. See the exhibit at the UQ Art Museum before 26 November 2022.
Oceanic Thinking exhibition
13 September–17 December
Oceanic Thinking is the inaugural exhibition of the multi-year project Blue Assembly. In collaboration with campus partners including UQ’s Centre for Marine Science, the project coincides with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).
DIY Jacaranda resin coaster workshop
17 October, 12–2PM
Make your own personalised resin coaster, with Jacaranda flowers picked from our own UQ campus. Capture the beauty of UQ permanently by bringing a piece of the scenery home!
The Clothesline Project
18 October, 11AM–1PM
This event is an interactive exhibit. Students are invited to paint or write on a t-shirt to raise awareness of the impact on violence and abuse. The t-shirts will be turned into an art installation displayed at Student Central from 19-20 October.
DIY bookmarks with dried flowers
18 October, 4–8PM
Come and make your own DIY bookmark with UQCSSA. They will provide a transparent bookmark and dried flowers, including jacaranda.
Ribbon Lei workshop
20 October, 12–1:30PM
Come and learn on how to make a ribbon lei led by UQ SPIA.
Calligraphy Workshop with UQCPCC
20 October, 12–1:30PM
Join the UQ Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Club for an exciting workshop where you can learn calligraphy.
Jacaranda lantern painting
25 October, 4–6PM
In celebration of BLOOM festival, arts and crafts guru Yin will be hosting a LIVE painting class under the blooming jacaranda trees. Learn how to paint your own Jacaranda Tree on lanterns and take home your creation! All materials are included in the cost.
Sunlight & Shadow Art workshop
26 October, 12–3PM
Let your creativity flow! Use fallen Jacaranda blooms to make unique art with blueprinting.
Light painting with UQ Photography Society
28 October, 4–6PM
Capture epic swirls of light and colour as you and your friends wave glow sticks and flashlights around the UQ BLOOM Festival. The top 3 most awesome photos will win a secret prize!

Mobile friendly festival program

Celebrating culture and diversity
Giving Day
19 October,10AM–3PM
Celebrate UQ Giving Day across all our campuses this year with fun activities to support a range of important causes at UQ.
Diwali
24 October at St Lucia and Gatton
Celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights with us! Enjoy the Diwali experience with free traditional Indian food, live entertainment, workshops and activities! We invite you to wear your traditional dress to this event.
Blooming through diversity - Poetry and art
24 October, 12–1PM
Celebrate and share your identity through art! Join our poetry reading where you can bring your favourite poetry, or share your own, that speaks to the theme and how it relates to you.
Bush Foods Bloom Picnic
25 October, 11:45AM–1PM
Celebrate BLOOM Festival with a delicious Bush Foods picnic experience and a guest speaker from Figjam.
Blooming with Pride: Intersex Awareness Day at UQ
26 October, 10AM–2PM
Join the UQ Ally Network as we celebrate the intersex community at UQ! Check out our stall in Campbell Place to learn more, and sign up to the Darlington Statement!
UQ HSW Network Lunch (UQ staff event)
27 October, 12–1PM
This is a UQ HSW network lunch, intended to broaden and build connections across the UQ HSW network, to raise awareness about the importance of work health and safety and the benefits of mentally healthy workplaces.

Innovating and unique experiences
UQ Ventures Annual Showcase
20 October, 5–8PM
We’re proud to showcase and celebrate our community of innovators and leaders that we have seen grow through Ventures programs and activities throughout the year.
Get started with edible gardening!
21 October, 12–1PM
Whether you have a tiny balcony or a sizeable garden, make a start with growing your own herbs, vegetables and edible flowers. Learn the basics of what to grow, and how to keep plants thriving.
Artemis XR Opera
22 October, 5–6PM
Artemis' is a tech opera based on the myth of the Greek goddess of nature and the hunt, each aria (Autumn Ayre, Mi amor la luna) and duet (Licht und Liebe) (Winter Duet) represents a different season of Artemis' life. '
Blooming through failure - Stories of career growth
25 October, 5:30–7:30PM
Join BEL Careers and Employability for a night under the jacaranda bloom to celebrate professional failure! Hear from speakers who believe that failure is something to be celebrated.
UQ Racing Car Launch
26 October, 6–8PM
This event is about celebrating the great achievements of the UQ Racing Team and to thank those who have supported them along the way. There will be a short presentation about the season and the 2022 Electric and Autonomous-Electric Vehicle will be unveiled.
Design Computing Studio 3 Exhibit
26 October, 2PM–6PM
The event will showcase innovative IT projects developed by over 90 teams in the Design Computing Studio 3 Build course.

Celebrating sustainability
Spring into Spring - Seasonal Produce demonstration (St Lucia)
20 October, 11AM–1PM, St Lucia
Join us down at the St Lucia Community Garden to learn how to make your plants BLOOM this Spring!
Get started with edible gardening!
21 October, 12–1:00PM
Whether you have a tiny balcony or a sizeable garden, make a start with growing your own herbs, vegetables and edible flowers.
Tree Planting Working Bee with CWCN
23 October, 7–10AM
Come along and help the Cubberla-Witton Catchment Committee as we re-plant the riverside!
Spring into Spring- Seasonal Produce demonstration (Gatton)
24 October, 11AM–1PM, Gatton
Join us down at the Gatton Community Garden to learn how to make your plants BLOOM this Spring!
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Pollinators and Predators)
25 October, 11AM–11:45AM
Many insects provide invaluable pollination services and natural pest control. Come along to learn about what to look out for in your garden and on campus!
Bushcare Group Working Bee (GAP x GEMS x UQ Greens)
30 October, 7:30–10:30AM
Join GAP, GEMS & UQ Greens for a Sunday morning bushcare working bee!

Long Table Dinner (Sold out)
Night 1: Thursday 27 October
Enjoy decadent food and a cash bar with live entertainment, and an extravagant light installation across the Great Court. As our feature event in BLOOM and one of our major events of the year, this dinner will be a night to remember!
Night 2: Friday 28 October
Enjoy decadent food and a cash bar with live entertainment, and an extravagant light installation across the Great Court. As our feature event in BLOOM and one of our major events of the year, this dinner will be a night to remember!

Celebrating your contributions (Invite only)
HASS Celebration
20 October, 6–8PM
(Invite only)
Join us for a night of celebration acknowledging HASS students, staff, alumni, and industry guests and their achievements throughout 2022!
Celebration of Volunteers Event (COVE)
21 October, 5–8PM
(Invite only)
The Celebration of Volunteers event (COVE) is an annual event that recognises UQ’s student volunteers, mentors and student representatives through their invaluable contribution to the UQ Community and beyond.
SSP Celebration – Illuminating Partnership
20 October, 4.45–6PM
(Invite only)
The Celebration will shine a light and celebrate the wonderful work SSP community carried out during the year, with drinks, canapes, and live music.
HaBS Student Recognition
17 October, 4:30–6PM
(Invite only)
Its a night of celebration! This event is in recognition of HaBS students, staff and alumni who have contributed to Student Experience initiatives throughout 2022.