Of all the signs of spring, few compare to the return of the Jacaranda. The warmer months bring an explosion of purple across Australia’s streets, and one of the best places to see the trees in full bloom is right here in NSW. Once you’ve had your fill of frolicking around tulips and paper daisies closer to Sydney, plan a getaway to the historic town of Grafton for a stunning exhibit worthy of the jacaranda’s splendour. Perched on the banks of the Clarence River, the small town hosts Australia’s oldest floral festival with plenty of pomp and show. Expect parades, lilac-hued food and drink, live entertainment, and thousands of purple blooms lining the streets of the picturesque town. Here is everything you need to know about the Grafton Jacaranda Festival and its 91st edition in 2025.
Grafton Jacaranda Festival, 2025
The community festival is a wonderful escape with plenty of country town quirks, charming local markets, lovely blossoming boughs in every corner, and an after-hours program from Friday, October 25, to Sunday, November 3.
Set to kick off when the blooms typically peak, the event will delight locals and out-of-towners with 10 days of festivities with the rich lavender blossoms as the centrepiece. The opening day will see a sparkling late-night event with illuminated jacarandas, live entertainment, and food trucks galore. The following days will feature garden parties, dance spectaculars, long lunches, afternoon teas, highland dancers, and much more.
Highlights include the spectacular Float Procession on Saturday, November 1, where Grafton’s entire CBD will transform into a riot of colour, an after-party featuring food trucks, bars, and vivid blooms at night, and Wine & Dine Long Lunch, which will take place outdoors surrounded by jacaranda on October 25 from 12pm onwards.
The festival will also run jacaranda history walking tours on October 24, 25, 26, 31, and November 1 and 2, so you can see all the local landmarks up close. You can also see the trees illuminated at See Park until Sunday, November 9. Find the full 2025 program here.
It is believed that the first jacaranda trees were planted in Grafton in the 1870s; they’ve since grown both in numbers and popularity, with most of these brightly coloured trees now at least 100 years old.
Getting there
Grafton is a 6.5-hour drive from Sydney. For a longer journey, train services operate from Sydney to Grafton every few hours. You can also opt to fly into Grafton and see the festival and the town on a bus tour.