Lilac Festival 2023: What to know about parking, music and more

Victoria E. Freile, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Updated ·4 min read

Rochester's annual Lilac Festival kicks off this weekend.

The city’s signature festival is set against the backdrop of North America’s largest collection of lilacs: 1,800 fragrant bushes representing 500 varieties planted in Highland Park, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The 10-day festival begins Friday, May 12 at Highland Park and is now celebrating its 125th year.

Festival grounds will be open daily between Friday, May 12 and Sunday, May 21, from 10:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., according to the festival's website.

How much does it cost to go to the Lilac Festival?

The festival is free, although you can purchase tickets to tour the Lamberton Conservatory for $3 per adult or $2 for seniors and children (ages 6 to 18.) Children 5 and younger are free.

Lilac Festival parking for 2023

Parking costs $7-$10 per vehicle and is available at several nearby sites close to Highland Park. Rates vary depending on time of day dates, with the more expensive rate on evenings and weekends. There is no parking at Monroe Community College this year.

Visitors seeking a place to park can find directions to each of the three lots on the festival's guest Info page.

The lots include parking at:

  • Main lot at the festival site, across the street from 1111 Elmwood Ave.

  • Goodman Street lot at 1065 Elmwood Ave.

  • Elmwood Avenue lot at 1201 Elmwood Ave. (shuttle available to festival site)

Certain lots may be closed due to inclement weather, according to festival officials. People with disabilities who have a wheelchair hang tag should park in the Goodman Street lot, entering from South Avenue.

What is there to do at the Lilac Festival?

While the Lilac Festival's website lists its full schedule, some of the more significant events are taking place this weekend, including the Lilac Parade, which starts at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The parade will begin on South Avenue at Science Parkway and travel north to Highland Avenue where it turns east, past the lilac gardens before ending at the corner of Highland Avenue and Goodman Street. The parade will be live-streamed by WROC-TV (Channel 8).

A Wine Tasting Expo will be held on Saturday, May 13 and a Craft Beer Expo on Saturday May 20. Tickets are required for both events.

Additional activities include Art in the Park, a juried art and craft show held both festival weekends - May 13 and 14, and May 20 and 21, beginning at 10 a.m., and the annual Lilac Run - 5K and 10K road races held the morning of Sunday, May 21, which begin and end by the slope along Highland Avenue. There are also children's rides, activities and games on the festival grounds.

Live music from different bands daily at the festival's main stage within the park, located near 1440 South Ave. Some days the music will begin as early as 1 p.m., but most days it begins around 4 p.m. Here is the full list of scheduled performances.

More: Lilac Festival 2023 sets musical lineup for 125th anniversary celebration

Festivalgoers interested in purchasing a VIP ticket can do so online. The festival will also have two ASL interpreters for each concert night.

What food is available at the Lilac Festival?

Here's more on the 2023 festival food vendors:

Near the purple crosswalkThis is the main crosswalk that takes visitors from the food and entertainment area across Highland Avenue to the lilacs.

  • Avenue 29 Foods (vegetarian fare)

  • Big Kahuna Smoothies

  • Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

  • Debbie's Concessions (strawberry shortcake)

  • Eat Greek

  • Frozen Dreams

  • Henry's Kettle Corn

  • Ice Cream N Chill

  • Nancy's Fried Dough

  • Rita's Italian Ice

  • Rudy's Bubble Tea

  • Sonny's Landing

Near the purple arches:These are right around the corner from center stage

  • Bully Hill Wine Grove

  • Le Petit Poutine

  • Marty's Meats/Marty's Birdland

  • Munchies Roc City Empanadas

  • Wraps on Wheels

Highland and South Avenues

  • Henry's Kettle Corn

  • Island Wraps

  • Kona Ice

  • Macarollin

  • Meatball Truck

  • TacoDero

  • Tuscan Wood Fired Pizza

Big Top Food Tent:This tent also has a bar.

  • Abbott's

  • Big Kahuna

  • Bloomin Onions

  • Effortlessly Healthy

  • KO-BQ (Korean fusion)

  • Neno's Gourmet Mexican Street Food

  • Oberst Concessions (grilled chicken sandwiches, loaded baked potatoes, roasted corn)

  • Red Osier

  • Rob's Kabobs

  • Rochester Hots (hots and plates)

  • Steve and Al's Steakout (bombers)

  • Turkey Legs

Traffic Circle Trail:This runs from the southern entrance on South Avenue toward the big food tent.

  • Oberst Concessions (cotton candy, popcorn)

  • Mary's Foods

  • The Big Cheese

  • Mediterranean Cuisine

  • Nancy's Fried Dough

  • JMB Concessions (cinnamon buns)

Art in the Park:This three-weekend art and craft show is located on Reservoir Avenue; the food is near South Avenue.

  • Dainty Donut Factory

  • Kona Ice

  • Macarollin

  • Roc City Sammich

  • Travelin Tom's Coffee

  • Tuscan Wood Fired Pizza

  • Wraps on Wheels

  • KO-BQ (Korean fusion)

  • Melt Truck ROC

  • Effortlessly Healthy

  • Chef's Catering

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Lilac Festival 2023 parking, music, parade info for Rochester NY