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June 10, 2023 at 8:00 am – 11:00 pm
This year marks the 75th Annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival! It is the largest and most historic festival on Mackinac Island. It’s 10 days celebrating the lilacs and their uniqueness and history to Mackinac Island. Join us for 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!
Daily Events
Times Vary: FREE Family Fun Playground at Windermere Point. Bounce houses on weekends. 15-foot customized coloring mural for the entire event.
Times Vary: Kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling excursions with Great Turtle Kayak Tours. Visit their website for pricing and schedule.
Times Vary: Morning, Historic, and Sunset cruises with Sip N’ Sail cruises. Visit their website for pricing and schedule.
9:00 am – 8:00 pm: Collection of all the Lilac Festival posters on display at the Center for the Arts at the Mission Point Theatre lobby. Free
9:00 am – 8:00 pm: The Top 20 posters from this year’s Lilac Festival Poster Contest on display at the Center for the Arts at the Mission Point Theatre lobby. Free
10:00 am – 8:00 pm: View local artists, Nicki Griffith and Pat Pulte, new works in the Murray Hotel Lower Gallery
Evenings: Downtown entertainment. Listen to live music and local musicians downtown Mackinac Island.
June 10th Events
9:00 am – 4:00 pm: Fire the cannon at Fort Mackinac at 6:30 pm. Sign up for the drawing before 4:00 pm at the Tourism Booth on Main Street for a chance to fire the cannon!
9:30 am: Lilac Festival 10K Run & Walk. Starts in front of Windermere Point and finishes at the Mackinac Island School Yard.
10:00 am – 5:00 pm: Family Fun Bounce House Playground at Windermere Point. Free event.
10:00 am – 5:30 pm: Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
11:00 am: Vintage Bicycle Rally on the Rock. Meet & Greet, Best of Show, Ride around the Island, and more. Meet at Marquette Park. Sign up here! https://forms.gle/rCcbpSGXf1ctJiocA
11:00 am – 4:00 pm: Annual Used Book Sale at the Mackinac Island Public Library.
11:15 am: Lil’ Lilac Kids Run. Begins and ends at Mackinac Island Public School
12:00 am – 3:00 pm: Smart Gardener program for everyone and planting activity for kids at Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds. Come and go, free event.
12:30 pm: Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet at the west side of Marquette Park. Free event.
1:00 pm: Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Book signing at Little Luxuries with local author Sue Allen, author of Lilacs: A Fortnight of Fragrance on Mackinac Island
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Book signing at Island Bookstore. Katy Klimczuk will be available to sign her book M is for Mackinac: A Nature Alphabet Book. Free event.
3:00 pm: Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds. Free event.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Lilac Resin Jewelry Workshop at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $54. Space is limited, register on their website ahead of time.
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Line Dancing in the Street with West Michigan Bootscooters. Located on Market Street between Fort Street and Astor Street. Free event.
9:00 pm – 11:30 pm: Movie in the Fort: The Wizard of Oz. Located in Fort Mackinac. Free admission, bring a chair or blanket and your favorite snack