ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Mother Nature has been kind to the blooms at Highland Park for the annual Rochester Lilac Festival. The Monroe County Parks Department says the lilacs are in peak bloom.

Year-to-year it can be hit or miss when timing a festival around lilacs, but Mark Quinn from the Monroe County Parks Department knows this year it's right on. 

"We are right on the money this year, the lilacs are at peak right now. We're very happy because it was a cold spring and that warm weather we had a few days back really pushed them along," said Quinn.

"The best tip is to come here when it's not particularly windy. I like to come here for scent early in the evenings when the wind tends to die off. Bloom color is not a predictor of how good they smell," said Quinn.

The Lilac Festival, the largest free festival of its kind in the country, continues until Sunday with live music, plenty of food and drinks and of course the lilacs!