Lilac Festival 2024: Crowds stream to Highland Park for beautiful panoply of colors, sounds

Thousands of people are expected at Highland Park for opening weekend of the 10-day Rochester Lilac Festival.

The Flower City's signature festival is set amid the fragrant backdrop of North America’s largest collection of lilacs: 1,800 colorful bushes representing 500 varieties planted in a historic park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

The festival grounds open daily between from 10:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., according to their website.

The Sensory Space at the Lilac Festival

This year, the Lilac Festival has taken a step towards inclusivity with a new addition for children with Autism. The Sensory Space, a collaboration with the local nonprofit AutismUp, is a haven of calm amid the excitement of the festival. Tucked away from the performance stage and the main attractions, it offers a safe space for kids to enjoy games and activities.

Volunteers from AutismUp, Kristin Malvaso and Morgan Jackson, have been overwhelmed by the positive response from parents, who appreciate the inclusivity it promotes in the midst of the festival's loud noises and large crowds. To find the Sensory Space, keep an eye out for the signs scattered around the Highland Park grounds.

'Beat The Bar' at the Lilac Festival

One of the most significant crowds at the Lilac Festival gathered around a game that will give you $150 if you can complete its challenge. "Beat The Bar" challenges festivalgoers to hang from an exercise bar suspended in the air for two consecutive minutes without falling. If you can beat the bar, the game operator will send you $150 on the spot.

"Let's find a winner," he screams from a microphone. Dozens of people surround the game to see if anybody has the endurance to get the cash, and one by one, people attempt to beat the bar, but it may be more challenging than it may look. Seasoned athletes fell after holding on for their lives. Stop by the exciting game at the rear of the festival stage if you have what it takes to walk away with the cash.

'I love drawing kids' Get a portrait at the Lilac Festival

Lo Flaural, a Rochester native, has been drawing caricatures of people on the spot for 22 years, beginning at Darian Lake. She will help families make memories this weekend with incredible hand-drawn portraits at the lilac festival.

"I love drawing kids," Flaural said.

And kids love being drawn. The line gets longer and longer as Democrat and Chronicle journalist Rob Bell sits for a color portrait with a forest green background.

Flaural can finish an illustration in under a minute, a skill she's honed over the years by working at festivals and competing with other artists all over the country.

If you want a portrait of yourself, stop by the booth at the Lilac Festival near the bounce house.

2024 Lilac Festival: International Food Tent offers yummy treats

One of the best places to get a bite to eat at this year's Lilac festival is the international food tent, which provides a medley of food options from Rochester and around the world.

The tent has thirteen options, including Rob's Kabobs, Korean Fusion Grill, Neno's Gourmet Mexican Street Food, and Big Kahuna's Chicken and Greek Gyro. The tent is located adjacent to the main festival stage. Some popular options are the smoked turkey legs and the birria tacos from Neno's. Hurry before the lines get long!

Rochester Lilac Festival: New security measures in place 

Bags are being checked by security this year as you enter to festival grounds

• No pets allowed

• No weapons allowed

• Bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates are not allowed

• Guests may not bring food or beverages onto festival grounds (except for one sealed bottle of water)

• Bandanas are not allowed

All children 17 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 or older (ID is required) on festival grounds. Any non-parental guardian may only escort up to two children.

Bags will be checked by security upon entry to festival grounds.

Cooking Channel will be at the Lilac Festival today

Three local food trucks will get their time in the sun today.

Lilac Festival 2024: Looking for free parking? Avoid these streets 

Here are places to avoid parking if you don't want a ticket.

Alpine Street – No parking on the north side from South to Mt. Vernon avenues.

Arbor Drive – No parking on the north side.

Cook Street – No parking on the North side from South to Mt. Hope avenues.

Greenview Drive – No parking on the east side from Highland Parkway to Greenview Drive.

Highland Avenue – No parking from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the north side between South and Mt. Hope avenues.

Highland Parkway – No parking on the north side from S. Goodman Street to South Clinton Avenue.

Langslow Street – No parking on the north side between South and Mt. Hope avenues.

Meigs Street – No parking on the east side from Gregory Hill Road to Rockingham Street.

Rockingham Street – No parking on the north side, between Meigs and South Goodman streets and between Meigs Street and Mount Vernon Avenue.

Robinson Drive – One way eastbound, from Mt. Hope Avenue to South Avenue.

Where to find paid parking 

Parking costs $7-$10 per vehicle and is available at several nearby sites close to Highland Park. Rates vary depending on time of day with the more expensive rates on evenings and weekends.

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:

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

• Goodman Street lot at 1065 Elmwood Ave.

• Golisano Institute lot at 150 Sawgrass Drive. This lot is open only on weekends and offers a shuttle to the 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 at 1440 South Ave.

Lilac Festival parade: Route and street closures

The Lilac Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. It will follow the same route as last year, according to event organizers, and begins on South Avenue at Science Parkway and travels north to Highland Avenue. where it turns east, past the lilac gardens before ending at the corner of Highland Avenue and Goodman Street.

Here is Monroe County's list of streets closed for the parade from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Boothe Street – closed between East Henrietta Road and to South Avenue.

South Avenue – closed from East Henrietta Road to Highland Avenue.

Stewart Street – Closed at South Avenue.

*The intersection of Elmwood and South avenues is closed in both directions from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Lilac Festival weather: Glorious spring day early, bring umbrella for later

If you are headed down to the Lilac Festival today we have good news: It's going to be a beautiful morning.

Early festival-goers will enjoy partly sunny conditions this morning, but showers and possible thunderstorms are expected this afternoon as a cold front moves through the region, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Highs today will range between the mid-50s and mid-60s.

Showers will linger into Sunday, with the rain gradually moving out of the region. Sunday's high will be in the low 60s.

Photos from Opening Day of the 2024 Rochester Lilac Festival

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Lilac Festival 2024: Rochester weather, parking info, live updates