Long considered Calgary’s unofficial kickoff to summer this year’s Lilac Festival (Sunday May 26th) brought close to record breaking crowds, an estimated upwards of 120,000, to 4th street. The weather was probably the cause of this; the day was warm and sunny, with a clear blue sky. The Lilac festival is a great way to spend a day immersed in vibrant street culture, and offers something for everyone to enjoy. Next year’s festival will mark a quarter century of the event, and organizers are eager to hear feedback on what people liked or didn’t like about this year’s festival.
The festival was first held in 1989 in celebration of the lilac flowers. The one day festival is held annually the last
Sunday in May and features attractions such as entertainment stages, street performers, and a variety of vendors.
This festival is definitely not for the crowd shy however, nor can one go to the event with the expectation of a short trip; the streets are jam packed, making movement near impossible.
Vendors offered a broad range of items, many of them handmade and unique. Food vendors included restaurants which put booths outside of their business, food trucks, carnival food choices (like mini donuts and cotton candy), and more. Join fellow Calgarians in celebrating the start of summer next year, during the 25th annual Lilac Festival!
can’t stand lilac. so many other events that support important causes that have to compete with it. the ones that can’t compete (including one that’s been going on for 28 years, and was held nationally on the last Sunday of May) have to move their events. I guess that’s just the way it is, if people can have fun and do good, or just have fun, they’ll choose to just have fun, as it’s so much easier!