Jacaranda Festival set to impress

2009 Grafton Public School captains, Nikita Avery and Timothy Page, display their school’s banner at last Jacaranda’s Parade of Youth and Banner Competition. This event will be held again on Saturday.

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Jacaranda Street Parade 2009

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AFTER kicking off with the Children’s Party in Market Square last Saturday, Jacaranda festivities will blossom into full bloom this weekend with a packed schedule of events ushering in the business end of the 2010 Jacaranda Festival.

Festival coordinator Libby Power said this year’s festivities were proceeding smoothly and expected this weekend’s events to go off without a hitch.

“Preparations are coming along very well. Fortunately, we have a band of volunteers who are working tirelessly and putting in lots of hours, which really helps,” Ms Power said.

This weekend will feature some of the festival’s more ceremonial events, including the Jacaranda Ball on Friday night, where guest of honour Spiro Notaras will officially open this year’s festival, followed by the Jacaranda Queen crowning ceremony on Saturday night.

Saturday morning will see local school students marching to Market Square along Prince Street in the Parade of Youth and Banner Competition.

Ms Power said this event invited schools to design a banner based on a theme and was always an impressive sight.

“This year the theme is your favourite beach in the Clarence Valley,” she said.

“The work that goes into those banners is absolutely amazing, if anyone hasn’t seen it before, they should make an effort to go down and have a look because they are truly amazing.”

This Saturday will also mark the beginning of the iconic Spot-it competition, where would-be sleuths are invited to stroll down Prince Street “spotting” things that are amiss in shop window displays.

Other events this weekend include the opening of the Antiques and Collectibles Fair, the Grafton Aero Club’s annual Jacaranda Muster and JADA festivities at the Grafton Regional Gallery, including the announcement of the 2010 JADA winner on Friday night.

Ms Power said crowds of more than 30,000 were expected to visit during the course of the festival and she hoped the packed schedule of events would deliver a memorable experience to every person who attended.

“We want everyone to come along, participate, have some fun and make this one of the best Jacarandas yet,” she said.

For event details call the festival office on 6642 3959 or Ms Power on 0439 466 380.