Another Huge Flower Festival! Lilacs Are the Stars in Rochester!

This is one big beautiful festival! In fact it is so big and wonderful that it takes ten days to share it with everyone. From May 9-18 it is all about "the color purple" in Rochester.

More than a half-million visitors will come to the great city of Rochester to enjoy a festival of fun while all the time being wrapped in a magnificent cocoon of almost 2,000 flowering lilac bushes. Yes, you can only imagine what the air smells like here. Ahh...sweet spring.

The festival has it all, including lots of food, more than 120 live performers of all stripes (including national acts and the headliner, the winner of the 19th season of American Idol). There is a large kids section with rides, activities and bounce houses to keep the wee ones happy. The whole party begins with a "Lilac Parade" and there will be plenty of surprises during this 10 day festive event.

This gallery only touches the surface of things going on during the Lilac Festival. Be sure and visit the final post, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO, for a link to the festival website where you can get any information or contact links you will need.

Also, check out the amazing video in this gallery that shows nearly 3,000 attendees all working together to create the "World's Largest Human Flower." It is crazy cool, and happened at the festival in 2014.

From tulips, to cherry blossoms, to lilacs, all of Upstate New York is in full bloom this season. Go and see them all!

500,000 Will Attend the Rochester Lilac Festival This Year!!

The Rochester Lilac Festival is one of the largest flower festivals in North America. A half-million people are estimated to come this year to the fun flower event in the city of Rochester's historic Highland Park. The park itself is celebrating its 127th year in 2025. An uncountable number of lush lilac bushes and trees will be full dramatic lavender burst for the event. (Take a whiff....the air is sweet here!). Bring the family, too! There is live music (including national acts), vendors, small businesses, lots of food, a large kids activity area, and plenty of fun for the length of the festival. This is a MAJOR Upstate New York festival, and USA Today, just recently (2025) has named Rochester's Lilac Festival as the 4th best flower festival in the entire United States!

The festival runs a full 10 days (beginning on May 9, 2025) so there are plenty of opportunities for you to find a date, make your plans, and head to the great city of Rochester for this stunning event!

21 of Upstate New York's Beautiful "Red Door" Churches

There is no shortage when it comes to beautiful churches around the Upstate New York region. But, have you ever noticed how many of these houses of worship have bright red painted front doors? I have. Having put thousands of miles on the roads of the region writing and researching books, I always notice these "red door" churches. And I always think, "gee, wouldn't they make a great calendar?" The idea is yours, my friends.....no charge!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

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