[REMOVED] Grafton Jacaranda Festival

From the last weekend in October to the first weekend of November every year the longest running floral festival in Australia, the Grafton Jacaranda Festival, is held under canopies of purple blossoms. The festival commences regally with the crowning of the Jacaranda Queen and Princesses. Local arts, crafts and sporting groups take the week long opportunity to showcase their work to the masses. The city of Grafton comes to a standstill on Jacaranda Thursday with the main street lined with market stalls, rides and entertaining skits performed by local businesses. The mighty Clarence River is a spectacular backdrop for the Riverlight event on Friday evening where spectators line the riverbank to watch local performers before a fantastic finale of fireworks. The festival culminates with a float parade of enormous proportions on Saturday afternoon followed by a sunset family concert on the Riverbank. On Sunday morning, for one last chance to tread the Jacaranda blossom carpeted streets, there is a Fun Run which includes a run across the famous bendy bridge.