A small but committed group turned up to the Goulburn Soldiers Club to voice their ideas.

Lilac City Festival Committee president Cr Carol James said the idea of the meeting was to spruce up the festival and ensure it continued. 

She said the festival began in 1952 as a way to bring new visitors to the city.

"It was named the Lilac City Festival because at that time they grew all along the back of Belmore Park and near the railway station , so one of the first impressions people got of the city was the scent of the lilac bushes when they got off the train," Cr James said. 

"Sadly the bushes have reduced in number throughout the city in recent years, but that is one thing we want to do - plant more of them around the place.

"Now we have a new committee and new reporting procedures in place and we are open to ideas about how to continue the festival." 

She said some things already in planning included a Lilac Ball to be held on the Saturday night of the long weekend, which is being organised by the Goulburn Dance Group. 

Various sub-committees have also been formed to carry out specific tasks.

One of these is the idea of lighting up the city with lilac and a sub-committee is investinging using perspex to do so - to light up St Saviour's Cathedral and the Courthouse and other buildings in the city.

A street parade will be held on the Sunday morning of the weekend and this is being organised by Wendy Antony and Julie Judd, who helped organise Spyfest. They were not at the meeting, but a letter by Mrs Antony was read out at it, in which she recalled the early glory years of the festival, as witnessed by her in her childhood. 

Former Lilac Queens Lois Hill, Robyn Hollands and Jan Cooper are assisting and there is the idea of a reunion of former Lilac Queens and Lois Wood had compiled a list of all of them and produced this at the meeting. 

It was decided to not limit the Lilac Queen competition to gender and that it it would be a Lilac King or Queen Competition, with Cheryl Tozer starting organise the Lilac Prince and Princess Competition. 

Goulburn Show Society president Jacki Waugh is coordinating the garden competition and said she was looking to create new categories. 

Denise Calligeros suggested the idea of a sensory tent in Belmore Park as a space for children with disabilities to re-focus and a chill-out tent for teenagers was also discussed. 

PCYC manager Mark Croker was asked to consider organising a boxing demonstration and also a Lilac Disco to coincide with the weekend. 

The carnival will be held across the weekend and markets will also be held in Belmore Park on the Saturday

The Pet Parade will return in all its glory and there will be continuous entertainment in the park rotunda of various styles throughout the long weekend.

The idea of having a billy cart derby, similar to the one held in Yass, was suggested, but getting insurance for it was flagged as being an obstacle. 

Other ideas suggested included an open church service in the park, shop dressing competition and a shuttle bus to ferry visitors to various attractions around the city.