Emma Pritchard

While dark clouds loomed ominously in the west, Prince Street, Grafton, was an animated scene of vibrant colours and rapturous celebrations on November 4, as thousands gathered to watch the 2023 Newcastle Permanent Float Procession.

A proud tradition and one of the feature attractions during Grafton’s annual Jacaranda Festival, a convoy of vintage cars, heavy vehicles, busses, and several small trucks and trailers, brightly decorated by Clarence Valley schools and local businesses, slowly made their way into the CBD.

The 2023 Jacaranda Royal Party floats drew plenty of admiration from onlookers, while other participants including Junction Hill Tennis Club, Jacaranda Preschool, Grafton Redman Rugby, Westlawn Preschool, and Grafton District Girl Guides, also attracted plenty of praise.

Local groups including the Clarence Valley Filipino-Australian Community Club Inc, SES volunteers, the Clarence Valley BMX Club, and crews from Grafton Fire and Rescue 306 Station also took part in the parade, with emergency services personnel receiving additional rounds of applause as they passed by.

As he acknowledged and applauded participants, Manager of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival Mark Blackadder said it was fantastic to see so many community organisations, sporting groups, schools, and businesses take part in the event this year, with Grafton Jacaranda Festival President Amanda Brotherson revealing more than 70 entries had been received.

In between snapping selfies and sending dozens of photos to their families and friends in Hong Kong, international visitors Shii Yiu, Teetan Tsui, and Michael Cheng, told the Clarence Valley Independent they loved every minute of the 2023 Newcastle Permanent Float Procession, and said they had never seen anything like it before.

“It’s fantastic,” they said in unison.

“We definitely want to come back and watch it again next year.

“We loved seeing the decorated trucks and cars go by, and everyone around us was really getting into the spirit of the event.”