In order to make a more secure and better defined festival
area, Monroe County Parks will install a fence around this year’s Rochester Lilac Festival, organizers announced Monday morning. The green, plastic mesh
fencing will be installed around the event’s entertainment area in Highland Park for the
duration of the festival, which will run May 9-18.
The fence, a first for the festival, will include five
entrance points staffed by security, and there will be a Rochester
Police Department and Monroe County Sheriff presence. The fence will only be around the entertainment area, with the Lilac Gardens still open.
“We still consider this to be the safest festival in Monroe
County,” said Larry Staub, Monroe
County Parks director during a press conference.
Security will check bags and IDs at the entrance points —
checking IDs at these central locations and using bracelets will also make it quicker for of-age
festival-goers to obtain alcohol at bars inside the festival grounds, Staub added.
The addition of fencing comes in the wake of safety concerns
following last year’s Lilac Festival. Multiple fights broke out near the
festival on Saturday, May 18, 2013, leading to 16 arrests and two officers
being injured. The fights occurred in near-by neighborhoods with no occurrences
on park grounds and no interruptions to the festival itself.
Staub said, with the use of professional security staff, the festival hopes the entrance points will be quick and smooth. The checkpoints will also reinforce the festival’s “No Pets” rule.
“We’ve been talking about [a fence] for several years. And a few of the incidents from last year made us revisit it,” Staub said. “It seemed like the right time … We think it’s a positive step we can take, without going to a ticketed kind of event, that will have the impact of increasing public safety and providing an enjoyable experience for families to come down and have fun.”
Organizers also announced an attempt to break a Guinness
World Record the first day of the festival, Friday, May 9, with an event being
referred to as Passion for Purple. The Lilac Festival hopes to form the world’s
largest “human flower” by attempting to organize more than 2,200 people into
the shape of a lilac. The record is currently held by University Church of
England Academy in Ellesmere Port, England, which formed a poppy with 2,190
people in 2012.
The record-breaking attempt will be made at 12:30 p.m. at
the Lilac Center Stage in Highland Park.
Those interested in participating can register as
individuals, a team, or company at www.LilacFestival.com. Registration is not required and
walk-ups are welcome.
“This will be the biggest kickoff event in the history of
the Rochester Lilac Festival,” said Festival Producer Jeff Springut.
“All the record-breaking moment will be recorded and photographed from the air
by a helicopter, so everyone will be able to see Rochester’s Passion for Purple
and the spirit that makes this community such a great place.”
The Rochester Lilac Festival will take place May 9-18 at
Highland Park. Admission to the festival is free. Each day will begin at 10:30
a.m. Headliners performing at the Lilac Center Stage include: Duke Jupiter on Friday,
May 9; The Skycoasters on Saturday, May 10; Rubblebucket on Sunday, May 11; Classic Albums Live – “Dark
Side of the Moon” on Tuesday, May 13; The Infamous Stringdusters
on Wednesday, May 14; Keller Williams on Wednesday May 14; Rusted Root on Thursday,
May 15; The Original Wailers on Saturday, May 17; and Eddie Money on Sunday,
May 18. A headliner for Friday, May 16, is yet to be announced.
More information can be found at www.LilacFestival.com.
This story was updated with new information on April 7
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2014.
What does “check bags” mean? That seems to be a big issue. This is such a fundamental issue that it’s in our nation’s basic law. How is going to a festival consenting to a search? Has there been public discussion about this? Has the police department discussed this issue, the festival organizers, the Parks Department? I am curious if no one has raised legal issues and I wonder if we should.
It is not, if I need to say it, a problem with an individual’s bags being checked, but a problem with not discussing the issue of why we have a protection from unwarranted searches in the Constitution.
They’re not grabbing you on the street to check your bag, they’re checking it when you choose to enter an enclosed area. You don’t want a search, don’t go to the festival.
Lies! A violent fight broke out right in front of my family the festival was full of loud, rude people the fight was right in the middle of the park we saw it the city is trying to make light of it so people continue to go and spend their money this festival is no longer for families and children
It’s about time to get control of the Lilac festival if it isn’t too late already. I’ve felt less safe in the crowd the last couple of years and I wasn’t planning on going this year, although I’m still undecided about being searched and tagged. The problem with the Lilac festival is overcrowding and groups of loud and pushy youths without any adult supervision. It just creates the potential for trouble. Not to mention the people who still insist on bringing their dogs to the festival. What is it with them? Dogs can’t enjoy the flowers and crafts. They end up tripping people with their leashes and barking and fighting with other dogs. Just leave them home!