Largest Free Festival of its Kind to Feature Thousands of Lilacs in Bloom, Over 50 Musical Performances, Wine and Craft Beer Tastings and More!

The 119th annual Rochester Lilac Festival will take place May 12-21, 2017, in Rochester, N.Y.

The largest 10-day free festival of its kind in North America the Rochester Lilac Festival welcomes more than 500,000 attendees annually. It is only fitting for Rochester, the “Flower City,” to be the home of the largest display of lilacs in North America. Visitors come to Rochester's famous Highland Park, designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, to experience the incredible beauty and intense fragrance of more than 500 varieties of lilacs on 1,200 plants.

Alongside the largest lilac collection in North America, visitors enjoy non-stop entertainment, a wide variety of foods, and one-of-a-kind shopping. Special events inside the festival include the televised Lilac Parade, Garden Battles, Seniors Day, Lilac 10K and 5K races and new this year: the Lilac Craft Beverage Expo. The Craft Beverage Expo is a three-day tasting event and celebration of New York State beer, wine, cider and spirits.

The lilac festival is a time-honored tradition in the northeast, and marks the official start of Rochester's summer “festival season.” Rochester hosts more than 140 festivals on an annual basis, and the Rochester Lilac Festival is one of the most beloved.

Rochester Lilac Festival Special Events

• Art in The Park, Weekends

Saturday, May 13, 2017 10:30am – 6:00pm | Sunday, May 14, 2017 10:30am – 5:00pm

Saturday, May 20, 2017 10:30am – 6:00pm | Sunday, May 21, 2017 10:30am – 5:00pm

THE VERY BEST SHOPPING

The perfect chance to score the perfect find for yourself or someone special, Art in the Park at the Rochester Lilac Festival features the handmade creations of more than 160 artists, makers, designers and craftspeople. You'll discover unique pieces from across a variety of media including ceramics, drawings, graphics, fiber, glass, jewelry, sculpture, wood and mixed media along with specialty packaged foods and body care products.

• Craft Beverage Expo, Thursday, May 18, 2017 – Saturday, May 20, 2017

The Craft Beverage Expo is an escalation of the traditional tasting event and designed for those who crave regional, artisanal, and specialty release selections. This event has something for everyone featuring beer, wine, cider and crafted spirit tastings over three big days.

MAY 18 & 19: WINE, CIDER & SPIRIT TASTING

Sample a variety of wines, craft ciders and spirits. Purchase wine and store purchases with wine valet for convenient pick-up. Enjoy cheese, chocolate and farm products for purchase and tasting.

MAY 20: BEER, CIDER & SPIRIT TASTINGS

Sample more than 100 craft beverages. Expo features specialty craft beverage releases and the chance to meet the brewers behind your favorite beers. Cheese, Bavarian pretzels and sausage available for purchase/tasting.

Tickets: $47.50 for two days; $20 for wine/cider/spirits (May 18-19); $35 for beer/cider/spirits (May 20)

21+ Only | Valid ID Required | Please Drink Responsibly | No Children | Tickets good for one session only | VIP ticket is applicable for 1 session on May 18 or 19 + 1 session on May 20

• Headliner Entertainment, May 12-21, 2017

Free admission

• Lilac Run 5K & 10K, Sunday, May 21, 2017

Enjoy a run in what could be the most beautiful racecourse in the country. Regardless of your skill level, this race will restore your faith in Mother Nature and re-invigorate your workouts for the summer season ahead. The famous lilac gardens of Highland Park, also the backdrop for the race after-party, mark the beginning and end of the races. With the aroma of 1,500 lilacs filling the air, runners start out heading east on Highland Avenue, move through the rolling hills of the park and then turn south through the residential town of Brighton before returning back through the park.

Race day registration: $40 per person

• Garden Battles, Saturday May 13, 2017

Where Better Homes & Gardens meets Chopped. Working with identical plant and hardscape materials, teams will create 8'x8' gardens aided by Master Gardeners from the Cornell Cooperative Extension. One winner will make a $1,000 donation to their charity of choice, and $500 will go to the runner-up charity. In addition to your insights as the celebrity judge, festival attendees (more than 500,000 people are expected to attend this year's festival) also will vote on their favorite garden throughout the 10-day festival, with the winner being announced on the main stage at the end of the festival.

Free admission | On display throughout the festival

Lilac Festival Calendar Listing

Rochester Lilac Festival: Thousands of fragrant lilacs, live entertainment featuring national headliners, children's amusements, arts and crafts, garden battles, wine & beer tastings, Lilac Run (5K & 10K) and more. May 12-21 Highland Park, Rochester, N.Y. (10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily)

FREE ADMISSION

For more information about the festival visit lilacfestival.com.

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