Rochester set a new Guinness World Record for the Largest Human Flower on Friday.
At the kickoff of the annual Lilac Festival, 2,297 people assembled into a lilac bush on the Highland Park lawn wearing pink, purple or green plastic ponchos. In order to set a new record, participants had to stand in the shape of the flower for 5 minutes.
Matthew Intini was one of them.
"When they said 2000 people I was a little skeptical whether we broke it or not. But when the 97 came it felt awesome to be a part of something that actually changed the world. Something that came down that we're going to be in a record book and everybody across the country is going to know about this."
Students and staff of Farnborough Sixth Form College in England formed a human poppy a week ago with 2,250 people. Rochester beat that number by 47 people.
The flower was 160 feet long, with a stem and leaf by 80-90 feet wide.
The producer of the Rochester Lilac Festival, Jeff Springut, says setting a world record is a good way to start the 10-day festival.
"People really came out and supported us during the lunch hour. It was great. Rochester is on the map a world record holder, and we have nothing but great things to think and say."
Don Jefferies, the president of Visit Rochester, says they expecting bigger crowds at the festival this year than the previous one.
The new record and warmer temperatures, he says, also help.
"We expect 20 thousand plus people, visitors from out of town. So that translates to a $3 million economic impact for the community. Our restaurants are busy. Little things: our dry cleaners, gas station besides the restaurants some of the local hotels pick up room nights some of the vendors are from out of time."
The Lilac Festival draws a half of a million people from around the world each year. It runs until May 18th.
