ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The 123rd edition of the Rochester Lilac Festival is underway. It's the first local major festival moving forward in the pandemic era.
The festival traditionally runs several consecutive days but this year it will be held on three separate weekends.
Dozens of people made their way to the festival grounds as soon as it opened at 10:30 a.m. on Friday.
In their opening remarks, festival organizers assured the public that coming out to grounds is always free, with no proof of vaccination required. However, reservations will be required for some of the festival’s special events and masks are a must. Other safety measures are in place, including capacity limits and sanitizing stations placed around the festival grounds.
Many of the regular attractions and activities that festival-goers are used to will still be part of the event this year. There will be live music, a craft beer expo, Art in the Park, kids zone and much more.
Those that showed up on Friday morning enjoyed the lilacs and visiting some of the vendors. Several people who spoke with Spectrum News say they were excited to go back and enjoy a festival for the first time in a long time.
"Right off the bat, I love the smell in the air. I grew up in Penfield, this is my home and I come here every year this is open," said Justin Garlington of Greece.
"This has always my entire life been my favorite festival. I love the lilacs, I love seeing the vendors hanging out with my kids," said Andrea Kleve of Rochester.
The 2021 Lilac Festival is also making a big push to get as many people vaccinated as possible. There will be clinics for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine held each Saturday and Sunday of the festival from 10:30 a.m - 5 p.m.
The festival will be held from 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. on:
- May 7-9
- May 14-16
- May 21-23
For more information on the festival, head to rochesterevents.com/lilac-festival/.
For parking and shuttle information, click here.