AFTER more than 15 years of Bundy in Bloom, the month-long festival has been canned.

Bundaberg Region Council community services councillor Judy Peters said the move was about updating and transforming what was Bundy in Bloom into a more relevant representation of the Bundaberg region.

The festival will be replaced by a one-day event called Bundy Flavours.

It will be held on Sunday, September 22, in Alexandra Park.

Cr Peters said the Bundy in Bloom parade had taken a lot of work in previous years.

"And those people who do all the work don't really get to enjoy it," she said.

But long-time event participant Terry Hough, 58, disagreed. He had participated in a flower festival - which had gone by various names - since he was three years old.

"I'm very disappointed after I've been involved with it all these years," he said.

I'm very disappointed after I've been involved with it all these years.

He said it was most definitely a loss to Bundaberg.

"It was enjoyment for kids and the public; it will be a sad loss," he said.

The NewsMail asked Cr Peters whether the announcement had been made public yet.

Cr Peters said it had not.

"We're announcing it now," she said.

Bundy in Bloom had "run it's length", she said.

"So we thought, 'What's the best way to celebrate our region?'," she said.

Cr Peters said locally grown products and celebrating all things gardening was the solution.

"We had discussions with councillors and some of the previous entrants in the garden competition," she said.

Cr Peters said it had not been an official meeting, rather a series of phone calls.

"It was (done) leading up to this year's event," she said.

She said previous entrants were asked their opinions and how they thought the process could be updated.

The Bundy and District Australian-Filipino Association Incorporated had won the open local/decorated float competition for the past three years.

President Mila Schneider said it was sad the event would not continue.

Cr Peters said he believed people would generally be relieved, not disappointed, with the changes.

"Perhaps they will be (disappointed) - but I believe the people who had put all the effort in will be relieved and happy to come along and enjoy the day," she said.

She said the change had nothing to do with talk of a farmers' market.

"It's celebrating what's best in our region and celebrating all things gardening," she said.

The one-day event, in Alexandra Park on Quay St, will include markets for local growers and producers, entertainment, bands, a kids' corner, jumping castles, face painting and a food court.