For more than 80 years, the magic of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival has captivated and enchanted locals and visitors alike. 

And as the community prepares to celebrate the iconic event in 2022, the Clarence Valley Independent hit the streets and spoke with residents and tourists to find out what makes the Grafton Jacaranda Festival such a special occasion.

Emma Pritchard

Zipporah Carlston: I love coming to the Grafton Jacaranda Festival each year. I get to catch up with all of my friends who live here, and we always hang out together and go to all the events like the Venetian Carnival, Retrofest and Jacaranda Thursday. Its just such a cool event which brings people together, and I especially love that the Jacaranda Festival Committee made the event gender neutral this year, because now it’s inclusive for everyone. That means a lot to me as a visitor, and I think more people are going to feel welcome at the festival.

Julia Qi Lin: The colours of the trees when they open their flowers are very beautiful. A lot of people come to Grafton to see the jacaranda trees every year, including myself and my family. We always come from Sydney. I always look forward to seeing the jacaranda trees when they flower every year because it is a very special sight to see. The festival is very famous, and it brings a lot of people together, and as a visitor, you feel very privileged to be a part of it.

Leanna Bell: It’s such an iconic community event, and I don’t think it matters where you live in Australia, everyone has heard of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival, and I think that says a lot about it. It has something for everyone, and it has a different meaning to different people as well. I love how the beauty of the trees draw people together, and how much the community loves this time of year. It’s a community celebration.

Jessica Bowling: The whole festival has such an infectious energy and everyone in Grafton pulls together to help make the event a success year after year. I think the festival is an important part of the history of Grafton. All the local businesses have a proud association with it, and the whole of Grafton becomes a hive of activity which is pretty awesome for a country town.

Leila Holroyd: It’s right up there as being one of the best festivals in the country. So many people love it, and it’s established such a huge following through the years. I’ve only been to a couple of festivals, but what makes it so special is how it continues to evolve every year. Even with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the event is still going strong, which is fantastic, and I think that demonstrates how much it means to Grafton. I love the crowning ceremony and Jacaranda Thursday, because they have such an exciting ambience. I can’t wait for the festival this year.

Cheryl Barnes: The Grafton Jacaranda Festival means everything to me. I was born on Jacaranda Thursday, and I’ve definitely got purple blood in me. Ever since I was old enough to know about the festival, I’ve always loved it. Living opposite Market Square for many years, I would always look over and see the purple blossoms appearing on the trees and watch all the festival activities. It’s a part of the history of Grafton.