Beautiful Blooms

May 29, 2015

The 2015 Mackinac Island Lilac Festival

When The Lilacs Blossom:

The 66th annual fest will run June 5-14 this year, in sync with the lilacs’ own schedule. Some of the flowers have already begun to bloom, but the majority should be in full force by festival week if the Chamber of Commerce has anything to say about it. There are over 100 varieties of lilacs on the island, many of which were planted during the Victorian era. The island’s microclimate helped some of the lilacs grow much larger than is typical and some are more than 150 years old.

Getting There:

I-75 brings you right to the Mackinaw City ferry docks and, from there, it’s just a boat ride to the island and all those lilacs. Choose from Arnold, Shepler’s or Star Line ferries (prices range from $18 to $25 for an adult round trip). If you prefer the air, Great Lakes Air offers a seven-minute flight from St. Ignace (just across the Mackinac Bridge) to the island for $56 round trip, with a twoperson minimum.

Sights To See (and Smell):

The fest started as a way to bring people to the island earlier in the summer, to let them enjoy the lilac fragrance and the relative peacefulness of this tourist destination.

Now, it’s expanded to 10 flower-filled days of activities, including an elegant afternoon tea with chamber music at the Grand Hotel, wine tastings, the island’s popular Dog and Pony Show, boat tours of the island’s harbor, concerts and dances and, of course, guided "Lilac Strolls" to see and smell the flowers in bloom (locals say this is the only time of year that the flower scents overpower the presence of the horses).

Island Royalty:

The coronation of the Lilac Festival Queen and Court has been a big part of the festivities since 1949; the school-aged Queen is selected by her fellow students at Mackinac Island Public School for excellence in public and school service. After being crowned by Mayor Doud, these local royals will be showcased at the festival’s signature event, the horse-drawn Lilac Festival Grand Parade, which has been recognized as a "local legacy" event by the American Folklife Center of the U.S. Library of Congress.

Where to Stay:

The most impressive choice is, of course, The Grand Hotel, the island’s landmark lodging destination, which offers packages that include lodging, breakfast and five-course dinner, lilac and garden tour, free golf on The Jewel course, free admission to the Manoogian Art Museum and additional discounts for $424-$499 per night. The appropriately named Lilac Tree Suites and Spa is another option, and many of the other hotels on the island offer special Lilac Festival rates and packages too, so be sure to check around before you book.

Lilac Specialties:

The Taste of Mackinac culinary event is one of the fest’s most popular happenings. Held on the lawn of the Harbor View Inn, where some of the island’s oldest lilac plants reside, the Taste offers locals and visitors the chance to sample dishes from the island’s restaurants, with cuisine ranging from Colonial to New American, French, Mexican and Jamaican. You can also expect to see a lot of people wearing various shades of purple while they’re sampling the delicacies.

Scented Souvenirs:

Lilac Festival posters – painted for 2015 by Noel Skiba – are available at select island galleries and at The Island Bookstore, and are a perfect and pretty piece of memorabilia, as are artist Mary Lou Peters’ unaffected folk art lilac watercolors, but that’s only the beginning. The island’s many quaint stores carry plenty of lilac-themed gifts like The Balsam Shop’s lilac candles, lotions and stationery. Or, you can make your own souvenir at Mission Point Resort, which offers flower-pressing classes so you can bring some of the blossoms home with you (but don’t just pick lilacs anywhere; many of them are protected species, so make sure to ask first).

For more information and a schedule of events, visit mackinacisland.org/event/lilacfestival