It’s almost time for the annual Lilac Festival in Rochester, New York!  The 2024 dates are May 10-May 19, and at least at this point, it seems like the forecasters have been about right for the lilac blooms.  If you happen to be seeing this in a different year, know that the city hosts the festival every year, usually in May, in Highland Park.

The first lilac festival was in 1902 and has run every year since, except for 2020.  At this point, the festival is known for its blooms (my favorite!), food trucks, and live music.  It’s appropriate for children and adults of all ages (there is a playground for the kids).  Some of the paths are paved or hard-packed stone, while other parts of the park are grassy hillsides. Admission is free to the public (though you’ll probably have to pay for parking).

I visited in the middle of the festival (weekday evening) last year.  I wandered all over Highland Park and photographed much more than just the famous flowers.  Blooming trees, more traditional flowers in the beds, and even ferns and fallen flower petals found their way in front of my camera lens.  I found the park to have people in it, but it wasn’t crowded by any means, especially once I got away from the food trucks.  Enjoy the photos – and feel free to visit Rochester to see the flowers for yourself!

GPS Coordinates & Things Like Parking

I’ll state the GPS coordinates of Highland Park at 43.128478268, -77.60790349, though this is a parking area near a playground.  Usually the food trucks are also not too far (slightly west) of this area.

There are a fair number of places to pay for parking; I was able to find a side street to park for free, but 1) this is not guaranteed, and 2) most of the side streets in the area are blocked off (not so much for the money-makers as for the peace and privacy of the neighbors).  So if you don’t mind walking, you can probably find free parking, but it’s a whole lot easier to find paid parking closer to the park.

There is no walking tour; just hike around the park and you should come upon flowers and lilacs.

More Things to Do near Rochester

This book showcases some of the best things to see and do in and around Rochester, New York!  From charming towns and museums to waterfalls and swimming holes, there’s simply so much to explore.  Buy your copy here!