Balmy weather, clear skies, and festive spirit made the perfect setting to enjoy the 69th Lilac City Festival celebrations on Monday.
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Adults and children gathered at Roberts Park to cheer on the participants of the canoe race which was being held for the first time.
Carol James, president of the Lilac Committee said that it was a "great start" to the canoe race event and hope to make it bigger and better in the coming years.
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The winners of canoe races were Cameron Schultz for under 12 category and Jackson Schultz in general category.
Follwing the success of today's event, the organisers are planning to hold a canoe race on Australia Day too.
The Lilac City Festival was held virtually this year and several events like the markets and Joyland carnival had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.
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"People participated in the events and enjoyed the festival. The organisers of the festival ensured that required safety measures are in place and appropriate social distancing is maintained," she added.
Earlier today, participants took part in Fun Run and covered the 4km track starting from Quiberon Way off Marys Mount Road.
Paul Chalker along with his son Leigh, the organisers for Fun Run, said that participants enjoyed being a part of the event.
"We are forward to holding the event again next year and build on it," he said.
"Given the current situation due to COVID-19, we are happy that people participated in the event."
The winners were Claudia Chambers and Jonathan Moore.
Established in 1951, Lilac City Festival is Australia's longest continuously-run community festival.
In 2019, the festival marked the re-incarnation of the street parade which was missing for the few years and has a long history of community involvement.
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.
The three-day festival is held over the October long weekend.
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