Drummers (from left) Adam Swoboda, Mory Traore and Lance Radus entertained the crowds at Enlighten. Photo: Jay Cronan
Canberra Day organisers are working with one-tenth the budget of the controversial One Big Day held during last year's centenary but Canberrans will still get bang for their buck and enjoy a host of activities.
And there is an array of events during the weekend leading to the Canberra Day festivities on Monday.
They include the Canberra Balloon Spectacular, starting on Saturday morning; the final night of Enlighten and Le Diner En Blanc on Saturday night; the Black Opal Stakes on Sunday; and Symphony in the Park on Sunday night.
Events ACT general manager Neale Guthrie said Canberra Day celebrations on Monday would return the focus to Stage 88, in Commonwealth Park, after the venue was not used during One Big Day, which instead was spread around Lake Burley Griffin, with varying success.
This year's Canberra Day would have a budget of about $300,000 compared to last year's 100th centenary party, which cost $3 million.
''Last year was a 100-year celebration. We didn't do the centenary of federation every year and we didn't do the bicentennial every year,'' Mr Guthrie said.
He expected thousands of people to enjoy Canberra Day in the Park with a program of community-focused, family events from 2pm to 7pm on Monday.
It will include three free live Scooby Doo shows, face-painting, jumping castles, water bomb throws, picnic games and amusement rides. Local bands will perform on Stage 88.
Mr Guthrie said there would be 19 food vendors, after complaints about last year's celebrations about long lines at the scant outlets.
''We've got lots of food this year - that was a lesson from last year,'' he said.
There would also be plenty of toilets and water available near Stage 88.
''The challenge last year was it was such a big site, and we've already invested in Stage 88, so we should be using it,'' he said.
An effort has been made to spread the events over the long weekend.
''There's something to do from when you wake up to when you go to bed,'' Mr Guthrie said.
He expected more than 10,000 people to attend the free Symphony in the Park at Stage 88 from 7pm to 9pm on Sunday.
The Canberra Symphony Orchestra will perform the musical score of the Disney classic Fantasia as the movie is played.
There would be no fireworks during the Canberra Day weekend but fireworks can be seen over the lake on Saturday March 15 for Skyfire.
Mr Guthrie said the You are Here experimental arts festival and Parties at the Shops celebrations in the suburbs later in the month were both legacy events from the centenary.
Enlighten had already attracted big crowds to the Parliamentary Triangle with anecdotal evidence suggesting that crowds to ticketed events were bigger than last year's.
Among the final events on Saturday will be Feel the Beat, at Questacon, a drumming workshop from 7.30pm to 9pm on Saturday. Entry fees apply.
And if Canberrans want to continue the party, Frank Madrid has organised a 101st anniversary celebration at the Street Theatre, on Tuesday, starting at 7pm with appearances by Belgium's La Chiva Gantiva and Colombia's Frente Cumbiero.
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