Rochester Lilac Festival 2024 kicks off with lilacs in full bloom
Hang Bui takes a photo of a lilac flower.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
The weight of the blooming lilacs begins to take its toll on the branches of this shrub.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
Pam Rosado of Pennsylvania inhales the scent of lilacs. She and her husband came to the area to capture two alpacas and discovered and came to the Rochester Lilac Festival. Rosado said it was her favorite flower.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
Some lilac varieties in Highland Park aren’t grown anywhere else, said Joshua Miller of the International Lilac Society.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
Joshua Miller of Beverly, Massachusetts, and Joe Anderson of Lyon, collect a tissue culture specimen for Comtesse Horace de Choiseul. This type of lilac is known to mutate and they were going to send it out to see how stable the plant was by growing it from tissue culture. The two are with the International Lilac Society’s Conservation Committee.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
Today is opening day of the Rochester Lilac Festival.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
Rick Carr and Erica Bucktooth talk about where the sign will be delivered as they prepare for customers to arrive.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
A robin sits on a branch amidst blooming lilac flowers.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
The children’s area is located along Southern Avenue in the park.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
Highland Park is filled with a variety of lilacs that vary in color and shape.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
People find a place near the stage to listen to music.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
The bloom grows at the base of a Jesse Gardner lilac bush.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
Gregory Chism is trying to get a family to come and try out a mini basketball game in the kids area.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
Lilacs are in full bloom just in time for the opening day of the Rochester Lilac Festival.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
This type of lilac, chinensis, is known for its mutation, and has flowers of two different colors. This shrub is mostly purple, but this one branch had purple buds growing on one branch and white buds growing on another. The rest of the bush remained purple.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
Many of the lilac bushes that were cut are still flowering.
Tina McIntyre-Yee / Democratic and Historical
