May 2016

Few occasions will make you feel as lucky to live at Elmwood Manor as will the Rochester Lilac Festival. This annual event is the true kickoff of the local festival season, and it’s the largest festival of its kind in the country! That means a huge influx of visitors to the Flower City, and all the traffic congestion and parking headaches you’d expect that to bring. Fortunately for you, this profoundly popular festival is right in your backyard in Highland Park! So tune up your bike or update your walking shoes. This year’s festival runs May 6th through 15th from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm.

Here are some festival highlights you won’t want to miss.

The Flowers. Highland Park is lilac-central thanks to the 500 varieties and 1200 plants that make it the largest lilac collection in the United States. Even if the lilacs aren’t in full bloom during the festival, the park’s sprawling gardens provide more than enough natural beauty to inspire locals and visitors alike.

The Concerts. You’re likely to hear the tunes from Sahlen’s Center Stage, so it only makes sense for you to catch a few free concerts up close. Have you seen this lineup featuring Matisyahu, Keb Mo, and Rusted Root? There’s also plenty to keep the little ones busy at the Kids’ Stage.

The Art. A Lilac Festival tradition, Art in the Park features the handmade creations of more than 160 artists, makers, designers and craftspeople during both festival weekends. In addition to the juried art exhibition, there are abundant opportunities for festival-goers to purchase handmade goods, plenty of which make the prefect lilac-themed souvenirs.

The Food. Festival patrons will have an awful lot of cuisine choices this year thanks to Rochester’s recent food truck revival. In addition to the rolling restaurants, you can expect international delicacies, Upstate New York favorites, and classic festival fare…not to mention Abbott’s.

The Drinks. Every sunny celebration needs a variety of thirst-quenching refreshments. You’ll find Hawaiian shaved ice, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and other sweet sippables at refreshment stands throughout the park. Grown-ups will find soda, water, and beer on tap at several strategically located bars. Craft beer enthusiasts can sample 100 artisan beers from 30+ breweries & cideries at the Lilac Brew Fest on Saturday, May 14th.

Are you ready?

If you’ve been going to to Lilac Fest for your whole life, we’re suspicious that you may have moved to Elmwood Manor just for its clutch location. If you’ve never been, don’t let the crowds intimidate you. Seize the opportunity to make this fantastic festival your very own. Just be prepared for some unusual traffic patterns in the neighborhood during the last few weeks of May.