Lilac Festival (Mackinac Island) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lilac Festival |
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|---|---|
| Status | active |
| Genre | festivals |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Mackinac Island |
| Coordinates | 45°50′57″N 84°37′08″W / 45.84917°N 84.61889°W |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 76 |
| Inaugurated | 1949 |
The Lilac Festival is a super fun, ten-day event. It celebrates the beautiful common lilac flower. This festival happens every year on Mackinac Island in Michigan, USA.
The festival started way back in 1949. It begins on the second Friday of June. The fun ends on the third Sunday of June. The last day features a special Lilac Parade with horse-drawn floats.
Contents
History of the Lilac Festival
People in America started planting lots of common lilacs during the Victorian Age. Soon, folks on Mackinac Island found something amazing. The island's special weather helps lilacs grow super big and live a long time. This is much longer than in most other places in the United States.
Some lilac trees on Mackinac Island are very old. They were planted during the Victorian Age. These trees are more than 150 years old!
In 2020, many festival events were changed. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some activities were held online instead.
What Happens at the Festival Today?
The festival is planned to happen when the lilacs on Mackinac Island are blooming. This makes sure there are lots of flowers to see. Organizers use bunches of white and purple lilac flowers as the festival's main symbol.
The Unique Lilac Parade
No private cars are allowed on Mackinac Island. This means the parade floats are special! They are all pulled by strong draft horses. You might see horses like Clydesdales and Percherons.
This makes the Lilac Parade one of the few horse-drawn parades left in the United States. It's a really cool sight to see!
Who Started the Festival?
The festival was created by people who live on Mackinac Island all year. Two important founders were Stella King and Evangeline "Ling" Horn. The festival has even been recognized as a "Local Legacy" event. This special honor comes from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
See also
- Lilac Festival (Calgary)
- Lilac Festival (New York)
