This year's Lilac City Festival was built up to be the best one ever and it was by a country mile.
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President of the festival committee Carol James and committee member Daniel Strickland were both in agreeance on the high standard of this year's event compared to previous ones.
Ms James was especially pleased with the Lilac Ball at Veolia Arena on Saturday, October 5.
"The ball was beautiful," Ms James said.
"The social dance club made it look amazing. A lot of those who came were from out of town. Hardly anyone was sitting when the music was playing."
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Mr Strickland felt the first street parade for a few years on the Sunday was a big highlight.
"We've had over 50 entries for the parade and you could see the main street was full of people," Mr Strickland said.
"We've well and truly brought back the parade and the atmosphere."
At the official opening on Saturday morning, Ms James said the aim of the festival this year was to make Lilac time grow and prosper.
"We hope visitors see how beautiful our city is, smell the lilac, see the beautiful sights and decide to visit again," she said.
Goulburn Mulwaree mayor Bob Kirk was in charge of welcoming everyone declared the festival open.
"It's held dearly by many people," Cr Kirk said.
"It's been a little on the downside for a while, but the signs are good and the interest is certainly there."
A big focus at the opening was crowning April Watson as the 2019 Lilac Queen.
"I grew up knowing that the Lilac Queen was something special," Ms Watson.
"To me, being queen means to be kind, considerate, is about being a good friend and excepting everyone for who they are."
Cr Kirk said Ms Watson's role was to represent her city with grace and pride, to help at official ceremonies across the year and to be a role model for future generations.
Plenty of awards were also handed out at the opening, including the garden competition and the civic business display awards.
Terry Betts and Kath Walcott won the first time garden entry and senior citizen garden awards respectively and Lorna Cody won the small garden award while Ron and Kathy Sykes won the large garden award. Lynelle Fleming Kippilaw and Fletchers Ark won the country garden and business garden awards while Riversdale won both the Heritage garden and best overall garden award.
The Salvation Army store won the best display overall.
The festival concludes today with the community bike ride at Carr Confoy from 9.30am and the Goulburn RSPCA pet parade and the champion small and large dry dog food muncher from 2pm.
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