Inflatables pump up Jacaranda Thursday

By Tim Howard

Jacaranda Thursday celebrations in Grafton hit their peak in the post pandemic period with crowds packing the market-stall filled CBD on Thursday.

And after a morning of fun and frivolities in Prince St and environs, the crowds flocked into Market Square to watch local business houses compete for the the Gold and Silver cups for business shows.

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Inflatable costumes hit peak usage on centre stage with three of the eight performances employing the devices.

But it was Clarence Valley Council which was able to defend its Gold Cup win in 2022 with a show stopping performance.

The staff reincarnated some stars who have left us, with Dame Edna Everage, Freddy Mercury and two versions of Tina Turner putting in surprisingly lively performances.

And they did fit or royalty with King Charles and Queen Camilla and the Sussexes, Harry and Meghan giving the show regal approval.

Newly crowned Jacaranda King Toby Power and Jacaranda Princess Tilly Sparrow out about about with their loyal “subjects” on Jacaranda Thursday.

The council had to beat out some tough opponents in Dougherty Property and Westlawn Finance.

Dougherty Property’s Inflatable Talent Show put blow up costumes to inspired uses and told some appalling dad jokes.

Who would have thought a raffle held in space could have a constellation prize?

They also created another reincarnation of Tina Turner, who chose the more sedate role of a judge handing out scores for acts in their show.

Westlawn Finance double down on its Clarence Valley Monopoly promotion, recreating skits around the locations featured in the game.

Grafton July Carnival racing, the Jacaranda Festival, the jail, Yamba lifesavers and many more places in the game featured prominently.

The Wesley Mission maypole dance took the entertainment from the stage for a bit of audience participation.

There was also fierce competition for the Silver Cup, open to smaller businesses, which this year went to disability services provider Wellways.

Perhaps their “fiercest” competition came from Paper Daisies Florist, whose Jaca-Arassic Park show provided a few surprises for the cohort of young dancers in front of the stage.

The mystery began with the arrival onstage of a massive egg from the Jacarassic period.

Scientists had found the eggs had a remarkable property, they only hatched on the Jacaranda Thursdays.

And this one did not disappoint with a three-metre jacasaurus bursting from the egg to the shrieks of fear and delight from the rapidly back-pedalling young audience members.

They were also treated to a Jacarassic battle royal when a rare flameasaurus found its way onto the stage.

Earlier the staff and clients of NDIS service provider Liveable had kicked off the entertainment with a medley of energetic dance numbers.

Holding the Jacaranda Gold Cup for a second year in a row, the Clarence Valley Council cast celebrate their win stage on Thursday.

Wesley Mission, the major sponsor of the Jacaranda Festival, took attention away from the stage and back to the early days of Jacaranda, with a maypole set up nearby.

Staff danced merrily around the maypole weaving patterns with purple coloured streamers.

A partner at competition sponsor, Findex, Glenn Thompson, was delighted to hand out the spoils to the winners.

He said the judges had been placed under plenty of pressure to award the Gold Cup.

“It was very close between the last three acts, but I think the council’s last couple of items brought it home for them,” he said.

Jacaranda Festival manager Mark Blackadder was excited by the response to this year’s Jacaranda Thursday program.

“It feels like the crowd was bigger again this year and there have been no problems,” he said.

“And we had seven or eight entries for the silver and gold cups, which was another plus.”

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