Rochester’s Lilac Festival is branching out — literally and figuratively — as it celebrates 127 years with expanded programming, alcohol-free options and the city’s iconic lilac blooms in peak form.
Held across 155 acres of Highland Park, the 10-day event draws tens of thousands each spring for its live music, art vendors, family activities and what organizers call the largest collection of blooming lilacs in North America.
This year’s lineup introduces several new attractions designed to broaden the experience and welcome a wider audience.
Among them is the Zero-Proof Social Club, a non-alcoholic bar serving craft mocktails, alcohol-free wine, cider, and beer — part of a broader push toward inclusivity.
“Every day is something new here at the Rochester Lilac Festival,” said Executive Producer Jenny LoMaglio. “We really pride ourselves on accommodating everyone.”
Other updates include the Lilac Local Farmers Market, open on select weekdays, and twice-daily guided tours — one focused on Highland Park’s flora and fauna, and the other on its historical legacy. Self-guided versions of both are available in English and Spanish.
The event also includes the annual 5K and 10K races, alongside a nightly concert lineup that spans genres from funk and R&B to Afrobeat and indie rock. Organizers are committed to accessibility this year, offering ASL interpretation at all headline shows.
“The Rochester Lilac Festival is so special because it’s a time-honored tradition,” LoMaglio said. “We have nearly half a million people each year celebrating the grand opening of spring and festival season in Rochester.”
For Terry Sinopoli, whose family has been painting faces at the festival for nearly 30 years, the event is more than seasonal — it’s generational.
“You end up seeing people you haven’t seen in a while,” she said. “It’s just a special time to enjoy that time.”
Sarah Bozza, a longtime Rochester resident, said the festival remains a personal tradition as much as a public one.
“We come every single year,” said Bozza, who attended the festival with friends. “We were born and raised here. It’s just a part of our lives — something to look forward to, and something that feels like home.”
According to Monroe County Parks, Highland Park is home to over 500 lilac varieties and more than 1,800 individual bushes, making it the largest collection of its kind in North America.
