00:00For almost a century, the city of Grafton has blossomed every spring, thanks to its
00:06embrace of the colour purple.
00:09Purple pleats, purple performances, and most importantly, purple petals.
00:13The blooming is by far the best I've seen in five years I've been back home.
00:17It's just sensational to see, it's got a lot to do with what rainfall we had throughout
00:20the year.
00:21An estimated 45,000 people will take in the sights at this year's Jacaranda Festival,
00:26which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, and bringing on a new wave of nostalgia.
00:32They're very vivid memories for me, and a lot of us here in the house.
00:36We all held a streamer, and we went round and then come back again.
00:40It was really lovely to share.
00:43The city's signature jacarandas go back even further.
00:46This is where it all started.
00:49Grafton's first jacaranda trees were planted right here in the 1890s, and many of those
00:55originals can still be seen here today.
00:57That's why this street is known to locals as Jacaranda Avenue.
01:02Many of the festival traditions have also lasted the test of time, including the crowning
01:06of a Jacaranda Queen.
01:08But some new traditions are being born, including a half-marathon passing by many of the city's
01:141,700 jacarandas.
01:16Sarah Blackman has been training for it, while also getting students involved from the local
01:21high school.
01:22It's just wonderful being able to run in an event with all our local running community
01:28here together, in our town, among the beautiful jacarandas.
01:32Look how many people are here.
01:35There's nothing negative, it's always positive.
01:37Everyone has a good time at Jacaranda.
01:39I love getting to see them enjoy it as much as we used to when we were kids.
01:42I love the town, and I love my history, and I love this place.
01:47Sing about the wonders that are known to all mankind.
01:52Memories old and new, sowing the seeds for a new generation of Jacaranda fans.
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