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Mackinac Island's Annual Lilac Festival

June 9th-18th, 2023

A celebration of lilacs takes place every June on Mackinac Island where this Northern Michigan destination features many varieties of gorgeous lilacs in a 10-day festival.

With dozens of varieties, some brought to the island before the Civil War, the lilacs are the stars of this spectacular celebration. Don’t miss the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival with 10 days of activities in a spectacular setting.

Here's the typical schedule for the event:

Daily

Times Vary – Free Family Fun Playground at Windermere Point- M-185, Mackinac Island. Bounce houses on weekends. 15 foot customized coloring mural for the entire event.
9am-8pm – Collection of all the Lilac Festival posters on display at Mission Point Theatre- One Lakeshore Dr.
Evenings – Downtown entertainment. Listen to live music and local musicians downtown.

First Friday

4-5:30 pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
5pm– Coronation of the Lilac Festival Queen and unveiling of the Lilac Festival Poster at Marquette Park- 7200 Huron St.
6-8pm – Watercolor Lilacs at Watercolor Café – 6939 Main St. All supplies provided. Fee is $45 and registration is required ahead of time online (stay tuned for more info).

First Saturday

9am-4pm – Fire the cannon at Fort Mackinac at 6:30pm. Sign up before 4pm at the Tourism Booth on Main Street for a chance to fire the cannon.
9:30am – Rolling start of the Lilac Festival 10K Run & Walk. Starts in front of Windermere Point and finishes in the Mackinac Island School Yard.
10am – McGulpin House and American Fur Co. Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum opening day. Admission
included with Fort Mackinac Ticket.
10am – British Landing Nature Center opening day. Free admission
10am-5:30pm -Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum- 7070 Main St.
10:30am-12-pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “Bloody Mary & Mimosa”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
10:30am-12:30pm – Lilacs: A Fortnight of Fragrance book signing by lilac expert and book contributor Jeff Young at The Island Bookstore- 7372 Main St.
11am-4pm – Annual Used Book Sale at the Mackinac Island Public Library- 903 Huron St.
11:15am – Lil Lilac Kids Run. Start at Mackinac Island Public School- 7846 Main St.
1pm – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet at Marquette Park.
1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
2-4pm – Cayenne and Cake, Jena Gruits local jewelry artist at Little Luxuries- 7372 Main St.
3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar, with Lilac Expert Jeff Young at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church grounds- Main St.
5-6:30 pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
6:30-8:30pm – Dancing on Market Street with West Michigan Bootscooters. Located on market Street between Fort Street and Astor Street. Free event.
8:30-10pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “At Sunset”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
Dusk – Movie in the Fort at Fort Mackinac. Free admission, bring a chair or blanket.

First Sunday

10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum
10:45am-12:15pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “Easy Like Sunday Mornin”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
1pm – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet at Marquette Park.
1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar, with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Saint Anne’s Catholic Church grounds.
5:30-7:30pm – Dried Bouquet Floral Design at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $75 and registration is required ahead of time online (stay tuned for more info).
6:30pm – Free Lilacs and Warblers Birding Adventure! Meet in Marquette Park.

Monday

10am – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet in front of the Mackinac Island Post Office.
10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
10-11am – Lilac Festival Photography Tour with Sara Wright. Bring your camera and learn fundamental photography skills, composition, settings and great vantage points on Mackinac Island! Meet at Marquette Park by the statue, hiking and stairs involved.
1pm – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet in front of the Mackinac Island Post Office.
1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar, with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Saint Anne’s Catholic Church grounds.
4-6pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “Great Turtle Voyage ” with Myk Rise. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
8:30-10pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “At Sunset ”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).

Tuesday

10am – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet in front of the Mackinac Island Post Office.
10am – Grand Hotel History Lecture with Bob Tagatz at Grand Hotel- 286 Grand Ave. Admission is $10.
10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
12:30-2:30 pm – Nature Tour with Trish Martin, starts at Bogan Lane Inn- 14520 Bogan Lane.
1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar, with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Saint Anne’s Catholic Church grounds.
4-5:45pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “Mackinac Island Great Turtle History Cruise”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
4-6pm – Artist appearance event with Michigan artist, Emily Frushour from 37 Prime. Meet + Greet Emily, a beautiful watercolor artist. Located at Little Luxuries.
6pm – Free Mackinac in the 1830’s Tour. Meet in front of The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
6pm – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet in front of the Mackinac Island Post Office.
6-8pm – Watercolor Lilac Vase class at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $45 and registration is required ahead of time online (stay tuned for more info).
8:30-10pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “At Sunset”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).

Wednesday

9am – Free Lilac Festival flag giveaway at Flagship. While supplies last.
9:30-11:30am – Free Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence Tour.
10am – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet in front of the Mackinac Island Post Office.
10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar, with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Saint Anne’s Catholic Church grounds.
5-6:30 pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere” with Wixie Harrington. Tickets are $49
and can be purchased online. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
6-8pm – Lilac Scrub Workshop at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $45 and registration is required ahead of time online (stay tuned for more info).
8:30-10pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “At Sunset”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).

Thursday

10am – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet in front of the Mackinac Island Post Office- 7316 Market St., Mackinac Island.
10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac- 7127 Huron Rd.
2pm – Magic Show at Mackinac Island Public Library- 903 Huron St.
3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar, with Lilac Expert Jeff Young on Saint Anne Catholic Church grounds- Main St.
4pm – Exploring Mackinac’s Natural Wonders. Meet at the Avenue of Flags behind Fort Mackinac- 7127 Huron Rd. Free event.
4-5pm – Music & Meditation at Saint Anne Catholic Church. No applause please. Free event, come and go as you please.
4-5:30pm – Beer sampling event with Saugatuck Brewing Co and Cheboygan Brewing Co. at Little Luxuries- 7372 Main St.
5-6:30pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
6pm – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet in front of the Mackinac Island Post Office.
6-8pm – Lilac Resin Jewelry Workshop at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $45 and registration is required ahead of time online (stay tuned for more info).
8:30-10pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “At Sunset”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).

Second Friday

9am-4pm – Fire the cannon at Fort Mackinac at 6:30 pm. Sign up before 4:00 pm at the Tourism Booth on Main Street for a chance to fire the cannon!
10am – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet in front of the Mackinac Island Post Office.
10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
12-4pm – Mackinac Wellness and Watercolor Café hosting “energy shot bar”. Stop in for discounted rated of b-12 injections. Located at Watercolor Café.
1pm – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet in front of the Mackinac Island Post Office.
1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar, with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Saint Anne Catholic Church grounds.
5pm – Feast of Epona, “Blessing of the Animals” with Trish Martin at Little Barn- Truscott Ave.
5-6:30 pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
6-8pm– Lilac Resin Jewelry Workshop at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $45 and registration is required ahead of time online (stay tuned for more info).
8:30-10pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “At Sunset”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).

Second Saturday

9am-4pm – Fire the cannon at Fort Mackinac at 6:30pm. Sign up before 4pm at the Tourism Booth on Main Street for a chance to fire the cannon!
10am – Michigan Cornhole Tournament at Windermere Point. Registration at 10am, bags fly at 11am
10am-12pm – Lilacs: A Fortnight of Fragrance book signing by lilac expert and book contributor Jeff Young at Little Luxuries.
10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
1pm – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet at Marquette Park.
1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
2-5pm – Free Live music at the Cannonball.
3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar, with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Saint Anne’s Catholic Church grounds.
4-5:30pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “MI Craft Beer Cruise”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).
7-9pm – Lilac Bouquet Paint & Sip at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $45 and registration is required ahead of time online (stay tuned for more info).
8:30-10pm – Sip N’ Sail Cruise “At Sunset”. Tickets required (stay tuned for more information).

Second Sunday

8:30am – Free Walking Tour with Lilac Expert Jeff Young. Meet at Marquette Park.
1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
1:30-4pm – Free Concerts in Marquette Park.
4pm – Special cannon firing to kick-off the Lilac Festival Parade which begins at Mission Point Resort and ends at Windermere Point.
5:30pm – Raffle Party at Mary’s Bistro. Tickets are $100. First place is $3,000 and 2nd-8th place is $1,000 each. Drawing is at 6:30pm.