The spectacular Jacaranda blooms of See Park in Grafton will once again become a night-time wonder when they are lit up for Illuminate.
The free event will run every night from 7.30pm to 10.30pm throughout the Jacaranda Season from Friday 20 October to Friday 10 November.
“Embark on a mesmerising journey and witness the breathtaking spectacle of 20 fully grown jacarandas in See Park, aglow with the brilliance of 126 spotlights every evening from dusk,” Clarence Valley Council Event Development Officer Deborah Merritt said.
“This is an absolute must-see experience, immersing you in a world of enchanting purple magic.
“We also can’t wait to unveil a dazzling new feature that will further enhance the sparkle of the magnificent reflections in the pond.”
Photo credit: Destination NSW
The Clarence Valley Council initiative was created in 2021 to encourage visitors during the Jacaranda Season to stay overnight to enjoy the enchanting experience of exploring See Park after dark.
“This means more visitors staying overnight in the Clarence Valley, providing a boost to local businesses via the visitor economy,” Mrs Merritt said. “Last year 578 visitors filled out a Jacaranda Festival survey and 48 per cent of respondents indicated they stayed for more than one night, with many staying a week or more.
“Illuminate is also somewhere residents can go with their visiting friends and family to show off Grafton’s beauty, either for a twilight picnic or an evening meander.”
Clarence Valley Council is also supporting the official 2023 Grafton Jacaranda Festival, which runs from 27 October to 05 November, with the help of $33,000 through the Special Event Sponsorship program. It is anticipated the 89th edition of Australia’s longest-running floral festival will attract an estimated 30,000 day visitors and more than 3,000 overnight stays, pouring an estimated $4.4 million into the local economy.
The Grafton Jacaranda Festival Committee will celebrate at See Park each Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening (except 21 October) throughout Illuminate with live entertainment, food vans and refreshments (weather permitting).
Steensen Varming and local company Summertime Electrical and Security install the lighting extravaganza. Check out the work that goes into installing the project:
DID YOU KNOW*:
- Tourism contributed an estimated $257 million to the Clarence Valley economy in 2021/2022.
- 8.1 per cent of jobs in the Clarence Valley are in Tourism, compared to the NSW average of 6.7 per cent.
(*SOURCE: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research)
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