While there is no Jacaranda Festival this year, the event has teamed up with the Grafton Chamber of Commerce and Clarence Valley Council to celebrate Jacaranda season in support of local business.

The GO PURPLE campaign encourages businesses in Grafton, South Grafton, and surrounding villages to decorate their premises and for staff to dress in purple to promote themselves to locals and visitors to help increase turnover.

The campaign, which has a first prize of $1,000, will be held during Jacaranda Season from Friday 16 October and Wednesday 11 November while the trees are in full bloom.

Jacaranda Festival Manager, Mark Blackadder said while the Festival’s focus is still on the health and wellbeing of the broader community, the GO PURPLE campaign was designed to support local business and promote the experience of this once-a-year spectacle.

“Local businesses, including many accommodation providers, benefit from this time of year for a large part of their income, but due to coronavirus and the ongoing uncertainty will almost certainly experience a downturn in trade,” he said.

“The Jacaranda trees will still bloom however, and this is our way of saying thank you for all the support we’ve received from local businesses over the years.

“The Chamber of Commerce are promoting the ‘Go Local First’ campaign and Clarence Valley Council are promoting the season to a wider audience, so this was a great way for the three of us to work together on another initiative to help.”

All registered businesses will be visited during the dates of Jacaranda Season to be judged and the best GO PURPLE themed business will win a $1000 cash prize.

All registered businesses will also receive a promotional post on Grafton Jacaranda Festival’s Facebook page which has 12,700 followers.

To register your business, go to www.jacarandafestival.com.