The Lilac Fest opens Friday, May 13, and runs through
Sunday, May 22. It is 10 days of heady fun not only celebrating our city’s love
affair with a certain purple bloom, but also heralding the opening of a long
and full summer festival season.

With 1200 bushes and 500-plus varieties throughout our
prized Highland Park, this is a
botanical spectacle. But as at least one person has observed, if the flowers
aren’t exactly at their peak during festival time, all the better. If you love
lilacs, they’re best enjoyed alongside a little peace and quiet, either post
festival dates or in the early morning and late evening, when they are all dewy
and perfumey.

The Lilac Festival is open every day
from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and admission and all music events are free. Here
is a partial list of activity and music highlights. For full music schedules,
see City‘s music listings, beginning
on page 18. For more information on the Festival, visit the comprehensive www.lilacfestival.com
or call 256-4960. Have fun, leave your pets at home, and don’t pick the
flowers.

Lilac Fest activities

The festival’s opening
ceremonies are on Friday, May 13, on the ESL Lilac Stage, Highland
and South Avenues, at 12 p.m.

The Lilac Parade is on Saturday, May 14, down South and Highland Avenues, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The arts and crafts will be out on the weekends. Hundreds of
exhibitors will display their handmade wares at the Lilac Festival Arts & Crafts Show, Saturday and Sunday, May 14
and 15, and at the Art in the Park Show,
May 21 and 22. Both shows are open from 10 a.m.
to 8 p.m., along South
Avenue.

New to the fest this year is Hispanic Day on Tuesday, May 17, with Latin music performances,
vendors, food, and health information.

Both kids and seniors get their own
special treatment during the fest. Every afternoon and early evening the Lilac
Pavilion at Lilac ‘n’ Kids Zone will
offer free entertainment — including music, juggling, sing-a-longs, and plays
— and activities. The Lilacs ‘n’
SeniorsDay is Wednesday, May
18, with music throughout the day and lunch at the Cornell Cooperative
Extension. (Reservations are required. 262-3829.)

The
Wine, Jazz & Blues DayFarmer’s Market is Thursday, May 19,
under the Big Top Tent, more than a dozen regional wineries and food vendors
will have treats to sample or buy. The Gala
in the Park benefit for FOODLINK is also on Thursday, May 19, in the
Lamberton Conservatory. Tickets, which are $50, include dinner, music, and
wine. (328-3380)

5K and 10K races are on Sunday, May 22, beginning at 8:15
and 9 a.m. respectively. Registration
is $18 in advance, $20 the day of the event. Registration forms are available
at www.lilacfestival.com.

Parking

It will be fierce, as always. Avoid the temptation to park
on side streets or on people’s lawns, and you can avoid tickets and towing. On
the weekends, park for free at MonroeCommunity College, 1000
East Henrietta Road, and take the $1 RTS shuttle
(lift-equipped) to the festival site. Monday through Friday you can park for
free in marked Festival Lots: on Goodman Street south
of Highland Avenue or on Elmwood
Avenue east of South
Avenue. Handicapped parking during the week is in Goodman
Street and South Avenue
lots. For the duration of the festival, people can park for $5 at the ColgateDivinitySchool,
1180 South Goodman Street.
www.lilacfestival.com, 256-4960.

This article appears in May 11-17, 2005.