Jacaranda season is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Australia so it’s only right to have an entire festival dedicated to celebrating the purple-hued plant. Lucky for us, the (small) city of Grafton in NSW, which is 3.5 hours south of Brisbane, is serving up a stunning display that is well worth travelling down for. Expect trees, markets, pomp and pageantry at the 10-day event, all in the midst of blossoming jacaranda.
What to expect
Grafton has been famously dubbed the Jacaranda city so you can expect a stunning display of purple canopies in all their glory. The festival will take place from October 24 to November 2 with the annual float parade, drag queen bingo, buzzy markets and more lined up. The festivities won’t end after hours with the lovely trees of See Park illuminated as the sun goes down. This year’s festival blends its rich history with a touch of modernity with an inclusive vision in mind.
One event to mark on your calendar is Jacaranda Thursday which will see Grafton’s main street close down with a license for the entire town to join in and let their hair down. Join the crowds meandering throughout the CBD and take in the dreamy atmosphere or get your hands on some purple ice cream for the perfect Instagram pic. The final weekend will feature the Float Parade with more than 100 floats down Grafton’s Prince Street, and a fun run to cap it all off.
Practical information
Grafton is just a 3.5-hour drive south of Brisbane, along the Pacific Highway (A1/M1). You can also take the train or a bus.
Once you’re in Grafton, you’ll be able to feast your eyes on jacarandas far and wide, and there’s even a handy map so you can lose yourself in the purple hues without actually getting lost.
The festival has a mix of ticketed and free events will run throughout the festival. See this year’s program here, sign up for the Jetts Running Festival here, and head here to get your tickets to all events!
Editorial contribution by MJ Gayón.