The city is preparing to celebrate the spirit of long running Goulburn Lilac Festival held annually in October.
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This year's festival marks the re-incarnation of the street parade has a long history of community involvement and has been missing for the past few years.
A wave of nostalgia washes over its organiser, councillor Carol James, when she remembers the parade that has been an integral part of the festival and community.
"I was three years old when I participated in the parade for the first time. Thousands of people used to line up on the streets to get a glimpse of it. There would be many people who would have been part of the parade over the years in the form of marching or as part of the float," she said.
The parade will commence on Sunday, October 6 at 11am from Verner Street, turn left into Auburn Street travelling in north bound lane to Goldsmith Street. It will turn left and continue along Goldsmith Street, then left into Elsmere Street, which is the finish point of the parade route.
"Everyone can be a part of the parade whether it's a business or an individual. They need to register and share details about their float, whether they will be marching and if driving, what type of vehicle they will be driving," she said.
The Lilac City Festival established in 1951 is Australia's longest continuously-run community festival.
Julie Judd, the Lilac City Festival Parade coordinator, feels that the parade has always been an important part of the festival.
"Both the parade and Lilac Festival queen have always been a big part of the festival and have slipped away in recent years. We want to remember the past and are re-inventing the festival for the future," she said.
The festival was named the Lilac City Festival because lilacs grew all along the back of Belmore Park and near the railway station at that time.
"In the earlier days, Goulburn used to have abundance of lilacs. Lots of new settlers would come to Goulburn to see the lilac blooming but as times go by not many people grow the lilac anymore. Going forward, we want the festival to be more about celebrating lilac as a colour rather than just a flower. So, we want to paint the town lilac," Miss Judd said.
The festival will also crown the Lilac Festival Queen this year.
"It is a fundraising event and the Queen will represent Goulburn for a period of 12 months after being crowned. We are also trying to get in touch with the queens from past festivals and would love them to be a part of the parade," she said.
"We are also trying to connect with people who have memorabilia from parade and festivals gone by," Miss Judd added.
During the three-day festival, Joyland Carnival will be held next to Belmore Park. Markets will be held in the park, there will be a garden competition, pet parade and prince and princess will be crowned too.
Cr James wants everyone to get behind the festival.
"It's a community event and everyone can get together and think about decorating their windows, putting in a float and kids can wrap lilac paper around their bike and participate in the parade," she added.
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