Rochester Lilac Festival

For ten days every May, Rochester's flagship festival celebrates the community—and its flowers—in beautiful Highland Park, designed by renowned landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted. The park's world-famous lilac collection was started by horticulturist John Dunbar in 1892 with 20 varieties. Today, over 500 varieties of lilacs cover of Highland Park's. The usual summer festival staples are all here, such as kiddie rides and food vendors, but also tons of activities, a parade, a craft show, a festival-sponsored 5K race, and a packed schedule of music and entertainment. You can even buy Highland Lilac perfume!

Address: Highland Park (Highland Ave betw South Ave & Goodman St)
Getting there: Sa Su: Park at MCC, 1000 E Henrietta Rd, Brighton
Hours: Mid-May
Price: Free
Website: rochesterevents.com (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Rochester (New York), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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