Rochester Reporter

The Rochester Lilac Festival, a major annual event, is set to introduce several new features for its 127th edition in 2025. This year, the festival will offer free guided walking tours, a local farmers market, and a non-alcoholic bar among its attractions.

Visitors can explore Highland Park through two distinct walking tours: the Flower City Flora Tour and the Highland Park Historical Tour. Both options are available as scheduled guided tours or self-guided tours in English and Spanish. Jenny LoMaglio, Executive Producer of the festival, expressed enthusiasm about these additions, stating: “We’re thrilled to showcase the historic beauty of Highland Park and give our 500,000 annual visitors another way to celebrate the culture of our city and this historic Olmsted-built park.”

A new Lilac Local Farmers Market will take place on May 12 and May 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., offering farm-to-table foods and artisanal goods. LoMaglio commented that this market complements the weekend Arts & Crafts Show by providing more opportunities for families and visitors.

In addition to these features, the festival will introduce the Zero Proof Social Club, offering non-alcoholic beverages including mocktails with zero-proof spirits. “Creating inclusive experiences is a top priority for me and my team,” said LoMaglio.

Karen Iglesia from Primetime585 has been named Grand Marshal for this year's Annual Lilac Parade. Iglesia advocates for local high school athletes and aims to foster unity between young adults and law enforcement.

The festival's schedule includes events such as Mother’s Day Experiences on the Vision Financial VIP SkyDeck, Art in the Park weekends, Small Business Circle gatherings, Seniors Day on May 14, and the Annual Lilac Run on May 18.

Local businesses have opportunities to partner with the festival through sponsorships or vendor participation. The event is supported by sponsors including KeyBank, Vision Financial Group, Pepsi, Wilkins RV among others.

Since its inception in 1898 coinciding with lilac blooming season in Rochester's Highland Park area, this festival draws over half a million attendees annually from across New York State and beyond.

For further details about this year’s Rochester Lilac Festival activities or partnership opportunities visit www.roclilacfest.com or follow their social media channels.