- Source: Lilac Festival (Calgary)
Lilac festival is an annual street festival held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The festival has grown to entertain over 100,000 people each spring. The lilac (Syringa) flowers are often blooming throughout the area at this time.
The festival takes place in the Beltline and Mission neighborhoods, along the thirteen blocks of 4th Street between 12th Avenue SW and Elbow Drive, and also on 17th Avenue between 2nd Street and 5th Street SW. It is an all day free event and is open to all ages. The festival features over 500 vendors such as entertainment stages, street dancing, musical talent, artisan vendors, food, and other business stalls. The festival also includes bouncy castles for young children.
History
The Lilac Festival started out as a small neighborhood celebration in 1989 by the Cliff Bungalow-Mission Community Association and the 4th Street Business Revitalization Zone. In 2005 it had an estimated 120,000 attendance. Lilac Festival was voted Calgary's best free festival in 2006.
In 2023, the festival was held on June 4.
In 2018, the approximate attendance was over 100,000 people.
The festival was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed in 2022.
Sponsors
Multiple organizations sponsored the 2023 Lilac Festival:
TD Bank
The City of Calgary
Alberta Culture and Tourism
Alberta Foundations for the Arts
4th Street BIA
17th Avenue BIA
Media Sponsor was Calgary-based radio station X92.9
See also
Festivals in Alberta
Lilac Festival (Mackinac Island)
Lilac Festival (New York)
List of festivals in Calgary