JacaRANDA Festival 2026
October 30th-November 8th
Happy Jacaranda 2026
During the months of October and November, Grafton, New South Wales comes to life and turns purple with the full blooming of the magnificent Jacaranda tree.
Be our guest and immerse yourself in 10 glorious days of celebration. Raise a glass of something good, to the all-too-brief natural wonder of the blossoming Jacarandas. Here’s to everything that’s great about the regional life.
Beautiful, welcoming, fun, creative, inclusive…and a little bit crazy!
From Jacaranda Queens to Drag Queens…and everyone in between.
It’s where we all belong.
Grafton turns purple
with thousands of
Jacaranda Trees in
bloom and a festival
that embraces
community.
A special thanks to our Major Sponsor
This year's theme of "Shining Bright", a celebration of community involvement and connection made throughout the festival. This is an important part of the Festival which is still shining bright after 92 years.
Upcoming Events
-
![People with illuminated fabric costumes performing a dance outdoors at night, with large purple-flowered trees and festival signs in the background.]()
illuminate
Date: Fri Oct 23rd- Sat 24th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: See Park
Light Projection | Food | Licensed Bar | Live Entertainment
-
![Children and adults participating in a festival in a park with trees and purple decorations, including a banner that says "JACARANDA" and various tents.]()
Jaca Children's Party
Date: Sat Oct 24th
Time: 10am
Location: See Park
Dress up | Games | Prizes | Food Trucks | Live Entertainment
-
![A woman in a black and blue sequined costume with a large yellow feathered headdress performs on stage. She is standing in a pose with one arm raised and smiling brightly. The stage has purple lighting and musical instruments in the background.]()
Jacaranda Ball
Date: Sat Oct 24th
Time: 6pm
Location: Grafton Barn
Premiere Event | Candidate Intro | 3 Course Dinner | Live Entertainment | Dancing
-
![Group of children and a woman dressed in fairy princess costumes at an outdoor event, with a decorated purple and green arch, tents, trees, and parked cars in the background.]()
Jacaranda Youth Connect Expo
Date: Sun Oct 25th
Time: 10am
Location: See Park
Youth Run Market Stalls | Food Trucks | Work shops | Entertainment | Youth Services
-
![Two men with paint on their faces and bodies are playing wooden didgeridoos. They are shirtless and appear focused. The background is dark.]()
River Dreaming
Date: Fri Oct 30th
Time: 10am
Location: Market Square
Aboriginal Culture | Bush Tucker | Dancers | Performers | Food Trucks.
-
![]()
PARADE OF YOUTH & BANNER COMPETITION
Date: Sat October 31st
Time: 9am
Location: Prince St to Market Square
Family Entertainment | Food Trucks
-
![A lively outdoor gathering in a park with a large purple flowering tree at the center. Under umbrellas, people sit at long tables enjoying food and drinks. Some individuals are walking, and there is a food stand in the background, along with parked cars and houses.]()
ULTIMATE LONG LUNCH
Date: Sat Oct 31st
Time: 12pm
Location: Market Square
Grazing Boxes | Licensed Bar | Live Entertainment -
![A group of women, girls, and two men in formal and royal costumes posing on a stage with a white backdrop and decorative round gold accents. The women and girls are wearing tiaras, sashes, and holding bouquets, suggesting a pageant or celebration event.]()
JACARANDA ROYAL PARTY CROWNING
Date: Sat Oct 31st
Time: 7pm
Location: Market Square
Food trucks | Licensed Bar | Live Entertainment
-
![A woman wearing a purple floral dress is spinning and twirling on a wooden dance floor at an outdoor fair or festival. The background shows purple flowering trees, a Ferris wheel, and other people enjoying the event.]()
RETROFEST EVERYTHING 50'S & 60'
Date: Sun Nov 1st
Time: 10am
Location: Market Square
Rock ‘n’ Roll | Pin up Comp | Classic Cars
-
![Close-up of a textured surface with torn paper and a portion of a recipe card titled "MEDITERRANEAN ONION & CHEESE" featuring a decorative rhinestone crown. The background shows a dark surface.]()
JACARANDA AFTERNOON TEA
Date: Mon Nov 2nd
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Clarence River Jockey Club
Guest Speaker | Raffles | Afternoon Tea
-
![A Jacaranda Festival tent set up outdoors at night under blooming Jacaranda trees.]()
CVCON MUSICAVIVA ESTAMPA
Date: Mon Nov 2nd
Time: 7pm
Location: Market Square
First Nations Choral Group | Food Trucks
-
![A large group of adults and children at a celebration or pageant, with some children wearing sashes and crowns, and a few women wearing tiaras and sashes, inside a decorated indoor venue.]()
SPONSORS COCKTAIL EVENING
Date: Tues Nov 3rd
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Grafton Brewing Co
Cocktails | Live Entertainment | Catered Food
-
![Children wearing colorful headbands and shirts, playing drums on stage during a performance.]()
VALLEY SCHOOL'S ON SHOW
Date: Wed Nov 4th
Time: 10am
Location: Market Square
Live Entertainment | Food Trucks
-
![People cooking food at an outdoor event on a grill, with eggs and food on trays and boxes nearby.]()
FREE COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
Date: Thurs Nov 5th
Time: 7am
Location: Market Square
Free Breakfast
-
![Crowd walking and shopping at a street festival with purple flowering trees, tents, and palm trees, Advertises Grafton Jacaranda Festival.]()
JACARANDA THURSDAY
Date: Thurs Nov 5th
Time: 7am to 3pm
Location: CBD & Market Square
Live Entertainment | Markets | Food Trucks | Rides
-
![A performer spinning fire in front of a stage at night, with a banner reading 'Grafton Jacaranda Festival' in the background.]()
VENETIAN CARNIVAL
Date: Fri Nov 6th
Time: 7pm
Location: Memorial Park
Local Talent Entertainment | Food Trucks | Licensed Bar
-
![People watching a fireworks display at night, with colorful bursts of fireworks in the sky over a body of water.]()
FIREWORKS
Date: Fri Nov 6th
Time: 9pm
Location: Memorial Park
Food Trucks | Licensed Bar | Live Entertainment
-
![Group of five young women in plaid skirts and black tops performing a dance on stage with a black curtain backdrop and purple stage lights.]()
SPLASH OF TARTAN
Date: Sat Nov 7th
Time: 1pm
Location: Market Square
Food Trucks | Licensed Bar | Live Entertainment
-
![A mobile childcare and preschool float decorated with paper flowers and butterflies, labeled 'IMAGINE Childcare,' part of a parade, with people watching on the side and trees in the background.]()
JACARANDA FLOAT PROCESSION
Date: Sat Nov 7th
Time: 5pm
Location: Prince St
Food Trucks | Licensed Bar | Live Entertainment
-
![Live band performing on a stage at the Grafton Jacaranda Festival, with colorful stage lighting and an audience watching.]()
PARTY IN THE PARK
Date: Sat Nov 7th
Time: 7pm
Location: Market Square
Food trucks | Licensed bar | Live Entertainment
-
![]()
JACARANDA RUNNING FESTIVAL
Date: Sun Nov 8th
Time: 7am
Location: Memorial park
Fun Run over Bendy Bridge | Food & Beverage Trucks
Our Partners
