Emma Pritchard

The persistent wet weather failed to rain on the enthusiasm of attendees who watched the jacaranda trees in See Park, Grafton, light up on October 20 during the opening night of Illuminate.

While the unfavourable conditions resulted in some last-minute changes to the program with the live entertainment promptly rescheduled to later dates, along with the highly anticipated arrival of 6m tall kewpie doll Jacaranda Jill, Jacaranda Festival President Desan Padayachee said he was thrilled to see so many people enjoying the ambience of the occasion, and the shining beauty of the blossoming jacaranda trees against the dark sky.

“There was a buzz around that night,” he told the Clarence Valley Independent.

“It was great to see so many people come along and watch the See Park jacaranda trees being lit up.”

John and Celine Connelly from Brisbane said they were enchanted by their first visit to Illuminate last week.

“We had actually planned to head back to Queensland a day earlier, but we changed our minds when we heard about this event because we wanted to see the jacaranda trees from a different perspective, and they looked amazing,” the couple said.

“It was a shame the live entertainment couldn’t go ahead, but there’s nothing you can do about the weather.”

While he revealed his disappointment after the rain forced the cancellation of live performances by the Clarence Valley Conservatorium’s Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band, Ashley Albert Performing Arts, and popular Northern Rivers group The Ninth Chapter, Mr Padayachee said the Jacaranda Festival Committee feels very prepared for the 2022 Grafton Jacaranda Festival.

“We’ve had so much time to prepare, and we’ve learned so many lessons,” he explained.

“One of the huge lessons we’ve learned is to not umm and ahh, and to make definitive decisions like we did on Thursday morning to postpone Jacaranda Jill being set up, and to reschedule the three nights of entertainment during Illuminate.

“Had we gone ahead, and given the forecast which came through on the night, it wouldn’t have been a success.”

While The Ninth Chapter moved their performance to the Village Green Hotel on October 21, the Clarence Valley Conservatorium’s Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band’s collaboration with Ashley Albert Performing Arts has been rescheduled to take place at Market Square on October 31.

The jacaranda trees in See Park will continue to be lit up between 7:30 – 10:30pm every night until November 10.