Grafton Jacaranda Festival

What it is

Grafton stands on the Clarence River in northern New South Wales. Its wide streets were planted with jacarandas from the late nineteenth century, and many of those trees are still there. From late October into early November they form purple tunnels over the roads. The town has held a Jacaranda Festival since the 1930s, which makes it one of the oldest flower festivals in Australia. It includes a street parade, the crowning of a festival queen, markets and a day when shop staff dress up. See Street, with its great fig trees as well as jacarandas, is a favourite avenue.

Before you go

• The festival runs from the last weekend of October into the first week of November.
• Walk or cycle the avenues early, before the heat.
• Book accommodation ahead. The town is small.

The flowers you will see

Also part of it, and being written: Jacaranda mimosifolia, Jacaranda.

More in Australia

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