Its official opening this year, hosted in Belmore Park on Saturday afternoon, included the naming of some celebrated local individuals.

Lilac City Festival patron and former mayor Tony Lamarra again officiated from the rotunda in a blustery breeze, thanking the city for its support.

Longtime resident and volunteer Lois Wood was named the festival’s Citizen of the Year, much to her surprise and pleasure, she later told the Post.

Mrs Wood is a volunteer with many Goulburn groups, such as founding ‘We Love Goulburn’ in 2004, and gardening at the St Clair museum, around the waterworks at Marsden Weir and the historic Riversdale homestead.

Mrs Wood has “the most amazing, boundless energy; that’s why she's in everything!” enthused fellow Riversdale volunteer gardener, Ros Loftus.

Meals on Wheels coordinator Sharon Grummer estimated Mrs Wood had been a volunteer delivery driver with them “for more than 30 years”.

”I just love Goulburn,” Mrs Wood said. “It's why I garden  … and I am forever ringing-in trolleys! It's funny: whenever I'm away, there's a bit of a build up...”

Meals on Wheels were “very short on delivery volunteers when I joined,” she said, joking that she did “so I didn’t feel guilty if I needed it when I got older”.

“One thing I would really like to see is more people getting out to volunteer because it is so rewarding. You make friendships and learn about the city.

“It makes people feel welcome, too; and the city more caring, and safer.”

Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker was named Achiever of the Year.

He was unable to attend the ceremony because of a family commitment.

First-time parents Steve McCulloch and Madison Liddle of Goulburn were thrilled to have daughter Peyton named as the Lilac City Festival baby.

The annual honour, sponsored by Blooms the Chemist, is bestowed upon the first bub to be born in the festival period.

Peyton Anita McCulloch was born on Thursday, September 28 at 6.55pm, weighing eight pounds, eight ounces (3855 grams) at 51 centimetres.

She is a grand daughter for Peter and Helen McCulloch of Goulburn and Steven and Tracey Liddle of Canberra.

The couple simply liked ‘Peyton’, which they think may be a Gaelic variant, and chose ‘Anita’ for Madison’s grandmother (and her own middle name).

See photos, videos from Lilac City festivities so far: Sunny days and sunny smiles