The 10-day celebration is the first and largest summer event on the Island, attracting thousands of visitors. A celebration that blends the Island’s historic varieties of lilacs – many of which were brought here during the Colonial era; distinctive equestrian culture; fine food, drink and accommodations plus a range of other activities, the festival is one of the Island’s biggest attractions.

Festivities include the coronation of the Lilac Festival Queen and Court, Movies at the Mission, Grand Hotel Garden Tour, Grand Hotel History Lecture, horse drawn carriage tours, numerous concerts, sailing tours of the harbor, boat cruises under the Mackinac Bridge, wine tastings, Lilac Festival 10K Run, A Taste of Mackinac Culinary Event, Dog and Pony Show and the festival’s signature event, the all horse hitch Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Grand Parade.