2021 Grafton Jacaranda Festival gets Covid approval to proceed with changes
The purple flowers are ready to go, and so is the festival! Check out all the changes that Covid will make to this year’s Jacaranda Festival Celebrations
Grafton
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In blooming fantastic news, the Jacaranda Festival will go ahead this year.
Following its postponement last year, the event will be held in Covid-safe conditions from Friday October 29 to Sunday November 7 with many of the regular events still able to proceed.
Festival Manager Mark Blackadder said the committee had been working hard to gauge what would be possible to promote, while the roadmap out of lockdown was still evolving.
“It’s really good news, and we’ve been in negotiation with our supporters Destination NSW and council to put together a plan,” he said.
“The final decision had to come from NSW Police, and we’ve been working with the head of Grafton police Jo Reid who pushed the plan higher.”
Mr Blackadder said for the festival to go ahead, Market Square had to be designated as a major recreational area with the capacity to hold up to 2000 people, allowing for social distancing and the one person per four square metre rule.
“The park will be fully-fenced to provide designated entry points with QR code scanning and sanitiser stands to ensure the safety of attendees and the general public,” he said.
The only two events not able to go ahead are the Jacaranda Fun Run, and the popular street parade, with Covid check-in and control regulations unable to be maintained.
“We’ve had to straddle the need to continue the Festival and provide arts and entertainment for the community, while recognising some of the things we want to do just aren’t possible,” he said.
Mr Blackadder said the festival was also waiting on notification of the public holiday for Jacaranda Thursday, but encouraged all businesses to still get behind the annual day of fun.
All current entertainment booked, including the headlining concert of Troy Cassar-Daley and Ian Moss was still going ahead at this stage, and a new program would be released within 24 hours on the Jacaranda Festival website www.jacarandafestival.com.
“There are still a few tweaks to be made but we’re excited the program will essentially allow for what a normal Grafton Jacaranda Festival provides,” Mr Blackadder said.
“I think what we’ve come up with achieves this and keeps the extremely important tradition of the Festival very much alive, including it taking place over 10 days.”
Other Covid-safe venues to be used for the ticketed festival events include the Saraton Theatre and See Park.
Officer in Charge of Grafton Police Station – Coffs/Clarence Police District, Chief Inspector Joanne Reid, said she was confident the plans put in place would provide for a safe and compliant festival.
“NSW Police have reviewed the festival’s event plan and the designation of Market Square as a major recreation facility within the definition of the Public Health Orders and support the event,” she said.
The festival will begin with the Illuminate See Park event on October 28, and the Jacaranda Ball at Market Square on October 29.
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