Celebrating 126 years in 2024! Featuring stunning gardens in an Olmstead-designed park, with hundreds of varieties of lilacs and other flora. This 10-day event features live music all day, everyday from 10:30am-8:30pm with local and national musicians.

All 10 days are filled with FREE live music on our Main Stage and celebrate the coming of spring in Rochester, New York with the many varieties of lilacs in Highland Park.

Kids' Zone:

The Rochester Lilac Festival is for everyone, and we have a special place specifically for our little lilac buds. Open every day of the festival, the Lilac Festival Kids' Zone is a vibrant and exciting space dedicated to providing fun for our young festival-goers. Enjoy rides, bounce houses, midway games, face painting and more!

Festival Schedule:

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024

Music Lineup:

7:00pm Rayland Baxter
Americana bliss that blends country, roots, and vintage pop.

(For fans of Fleet Foxes, The Lumineers, and Jack Johnson)

5:30pm Left-Handed 2nd Baseman

4:00pm Bellwether Breaks

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024

10:30am: Lilac Parade

Over 2000 participants welcome spring: Marching bands, dance troupes, popular characters and specialty vehicles hit the streets! Watch from among the lilacs.

10:00am - 6:00pm: Art In The Park

The festival runs 10 consecutive days, featuring Art in the Park on each weekend. Art in the Park takes place up the hill from the main festival site, on Reservoir Ave. Several pathways from the festival site weave their way through Highland Park up to Reservoir Ave, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors through the lilacs and onto the avenue. The avenue is a paved street surrounded by magnolias, tulips, pansies and more.

Music Lineup:

7:00pm Butcher Brown
A genre-bending feast that blends jazz, hip-hop, and funk into an eclectic fusion.

(For fans of The Roots, Sly and the Family Stone, A Tribe Called Quest)  

5:30pm Zahyia

4:00pm Aaron Rizzo Band

2:30pm Sage Bava

12:00pm Girls Rock! Rochester

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024

10:00am - 5:00pm: Art In The Park

The festival runs 10 consecutive days, featuring Art in the Park on each weekend. Art in the Park takes place up the hill from the main festival site, on Reservoir Ave. Several pathways from the festival site weave their way through Highland Park up to Reservoir Ave, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors through the lilacs and onto the avenue. The avenue is a paved street surrounded by magnolias, tulips, pansies and more.

Music Lineup:

7:00pm Ghost-Note
A fresh blend of afrobeat, and funk, led by Snarky Puppy’s percussion duo.

(For Fans of James Brown, Soulive, and Thundercat)

5:30pm Grace Serene and the Super Clean

4:00pm Head to The Roots

2:30pm Fall Creek Brass Band

12:00pm Roc Star Academy

MONDAY, MAY 13, 2024

Music Lineup:

7:00pm Pachyman
A breezy, dub and reggae-infused experience where the artists Puerto Rican roots shine bright.

(For fans of Bob Marley, King Tubby, and Fela Kuti)

5:30pm The Medicinals

4:00pm Nuyorican Project

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024

Music Lineup:

7:00pm Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Masters of high-energy swing, BBVD has been integral in revitalizing swing music for over 30 years.

(For fans of Louis Prima, Duke Ellington, and Brian Setzer Orchestra)

5:30pm Horacio & La Fama Salsa Band

4:00pm Ellen Pieroni & The Encyclopedia of Soul

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024

Music Lineup:

7:00pm The Skycoasters
A Rochester Institution! This nationally recognized, lively 9-piece cover band has been the life of the party for over 40 years.
(For Fans of Classic Rock, Funk, and Pop)

5:30pm Teagan & the Tweeds

4:00pm Adrianna Noone

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024

Music Lineup:

7:00pm An Evening of Soul Curated by Danielle Ponder
Rochester native and nationally touring artist brings masterful songwriting, bold vocals, and soulful storytelling to the stage.
(For fans of Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Black Pumas, and Aretha Franklin)

5:30pm Chi TheRealist

4:00pm EKUA featuring ZWENA

FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024

Music Lineup:

7:00pm Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
An electrifying eight-piece band performance blending brass, funk, and hip-hop.
(For Fans of Trombone Shorty, Vulfpeck, and Earth, Wind & Fire)

5:30pm Claude Bennington’s Fever Dream

4:00pm The Sideways

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024

10:00am - 6:00pm: Art In The Park

The festival runs 10 consecutive days, featuring Art in the Park on each weekend. Art in the Park takes place up the hill from the main festival site, on Reservoir Ave. Several pathways from the festival site weave their way through Highland Park up to Reservoir Ave, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors through the lilacs and onto the avenue. The avenue is a paved street surrounded by magnolias, tulips, pansies and more.

Music Lineup:

7:00pm Dopapod
More than just a jam band, they deliver a mind-bending blend of funk, jazz fusion, and progressive rock.
(For fans of STS9, Disco Biscuits, and Yes)

5:30pm Eli Flynn & The Everymen.

4:00pm The Pete Griffith Group

2:30pm Judah

12:00pm Submarine School of Music

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024

Lilac Run:

The 45th Annual Lilac Run 5K, 10K and Dunkin' Dash will take place on the final day of the festival. Choose to run or walk in one, two or all three events! Both in-person and virtual race experiences will be offered! Participants in the 5K & 10K will receive an event T-shirt, donuts & finisher medal.

8:00am: 5K Run
9:30am: 10K Run
11:30am: Dunkin' Dash

Click here to Sign Up

10:00am - 5:00pm: Art In The Park

The festival runs 10 consecutive days, featuring Art in the Park on each weekend. Art in the Park takes place up the hill from the main festival site, on Reservoir Ave. Several pathways from the festival site weave their way through Highland Park up to Reservoir Ave, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors through the lilacs and onto the avenue. The avenue is a paved street surrounded by magnolias, tulips, pansies and more.

Music Lineup:

7:00pm Trousdale
This powerful female band brings melodic and heartfelt harmonies that spread a message of self-acceptance and love.
(For fans of The Chicks, Kacey Musgraves, and HAIM)

5:30pm Claudia Hoyser

4:00pm The Honey Smugglers

2:30pm Meg Williams & Travis Bowlin

1:00pm AKOMA Choir

Fest Date: May 10 - 19, 2024

Location: Highland Park, 450 Highland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620

Click here for more information.