Community
7 September, 2026
Deadline looms for festival entries
Preparations for the 2026 Goulburn Lilac City Festival are gearing up with entries now open in a range of competitions being held as part of this year’s event.
Preparations for the 2026 Goulburn Lilac City Festival are gearing up with entries now open in a range of competitions being held as part of this year’s event.
This year marks the festival’s 75th anniversary – making it the longest running festival in NSW and possibly the country – and organisers are keen to ensure it is the best yet.
There will be a packed four-day program from Friday, October 2 to Monday, October 5, offering all the old favourites that have kept the festival so successful and with some new additions as well.
One of the highlights of the festival each year is the crowning of the festival Queen – which can now also be a festival Sovereign or festival King, depending on who takes out the title.
Entries for the competition – open to people over the age of 16 – will close on September 25.
The winner will be the entrant who raises the most amount of money for their chosen charity between now and September 25.
At least one entrant has already hit the ground running with a number of fundraisers planned over the next three weeks.
Entrants will this year be competing for a $2000 Harvey Norman gift card – along with the honour of being crowned Sovereign, King or Queen and a prime position in this year’s festival street parade.
People under the age of 16 can compete for the title of Junior/Senior Prince or Princess – with signed entry forms to be handed in prior to the festival’s official opening on the morning of Saturday, October 5.
The annual business window display competition is designed to inject some festival energy into the city’s CBD for local residents and visitors.
This year entrants are being asked to reflect on the festival’s long history under the theme ‘Celebrating Our Story – 75 Years of Lilac Time’.
Entries are open until September 25 in a range of different categories.
The competition is being coordinated by the Soroptimist International of Goulburn.
There will be winners in each category as well as an overall winner who will receive a $1500 advertising package.
Local businesses are advised not to leave it until the last minute to start working on their window display as judging will commence on Tuesday, September 29 – just a few days after entries close.
Local green thumbs are being encouraged to get their entries in for the Goulburn Lilac City Festival Garden Competition before Thursday, September 24.
Judging will take place on Wednesday, September 30 with three prizes on offer: the Best Overall Garden Trophy, the Ken and Betty Jane May Award and the Judge’s Choice Special Award.
Entrants are advised that extra points will be awarded for lilac trees or for any annuals or plants in lilac colours.
It is hoped that all of the gardens will be open to the public over the festival weekend – if only just for viewing from the footpath.
For the photographers, entries in this year’s photography competition will close at 5pm on October 1.
Judging will take place on October 3 with the entries to be displayed in the window of Top Shop Framing + Printing in Clinton Street.
The theme for this year’s competition is ‘Lilac Reflection, Honouring the Past, Embracing the Future’.
For the young people of the Goulburn-Mulwaree region, entries in the colouring competition will close this Friday, September 11.
Entries in the creative art show need to be delivered between 1pm and 2pm on Friday, October 2 for judging that same afternoon.
This year’s theme is ‘Anything Lilac or Alice in Wonderland – Celebrating 75 years’.
The creative art show is open to paintings, drawings, sewing, sculptures, jewellery, Lego and mosaics. For entry forms and more information, visit www.goulburnlilaccityfestival.org.au
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