Fragrant lilacs bloom on Mackinac Island. When you can celebrate in 2025

With its famous lilacs in bloom, Mackinac Island is preparing to welcome visitors for 10 days celebrating the fragrant flowers that grow throughout the downtown area. The Mackinac Island Lilac Festival is set for June 6-15; it’s the largest and most historic festival on Mackinac Island, according to the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.

The festival “celebrates the lilacs and their uniqueness and history to Mackinac Island,” according to the Bureau. Two local residents started the festival in June 1949 and the 2025 theme is “Mackinac Island is COOL.”

Events include the lilac queen coronation, official poster reveal, 10K run/walk, lilac walking tours, lilac planting seminars, bounce houses, Michigan cornhole tournament, live music, the grand parade and more.

The Mackinac Island Lilac Festival was ranked third among the 10 best flower festivals in the U.S., according to USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.

When is the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival?

The 77th annual festival begins on Friday, June 6. The first event is the Lilac Festival Wheel of Fortune, giving guests a chance to win prizes every day of the event from 9 a.m. to noon at Sanders on Mackinac.

The festival ends on Sunday, June 15. The final day includes the parade at 4 p.m. It’s considered a local legacy event by the U.S. Library of Congress, according to the tourist bureau. The parade includes marching bands, horse-drawn floats, the lilac queen and court, clowns and other participants.

What are some of the other events during the festival?

The festival poster contest winners will be displayed at Mission Point Resort Theater.

The Lilac Festival 10K run and walk is set for Saturday morning, June 7. The course starts in front of Windermere Point and concludes at the Mackinac Island school yard. Register online at runsignup.com.

The Michigan cornhole tournament is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Windermere Point. The cost is $50 per team.

Other events include art exhibitions and galleries, open houses, cruises, bounce houses, walking tours, book signings, book sales, kite flying, live performances, live music and more.

Where can you see the lilacs?

Lilacs are everywhere on Mackinac Island, but the biggest concentration is in Marquette Park, according to the tourist bureau. Some of the oldest lilacs are in front of the Harbor View Inn. Twisted lilac trunks can be found along the boardwalk from Windermere Point to Mackinac Island Public School.

Learn more at mackinacisland.org/mackinac-island-lilac-festival.

— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at [email protected]. Follow him on X @SalsaEvan.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Fragrant lilacs bloom on Mackinac Island. When you can celebrate in 2025

Reporting by Evan Sasiela, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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