Photo by Justin DoCanto on Unsplash.com

Mackinac Island's Annual Lilac Festival

June 7th-16th, 2024

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 what happened last year:

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.
  • Times Vary – Kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling excursions with Great Turtle Kayak Tours. Visit mackinackayak.com for pricing and schedule.
  • Times Vary – Morning, Historic, and Sunset cruises with Sip N’ Sail cruises. Visit sipnsailcruises.com for pricing and schedule.
  • 9am-8pm – Collection of all the Lilac Festival posters on display at the Center for the Arts at the Mission Point Theatre Lobby- One Lakeshore Dr. Free event.
  • 10am-8pm – View local artists, Nicki Griffith and Pat Pulte, new works in the Murray Hotel Lower
    Gallery- 7260 Main St.
  • Evenings – Downtown entertainment. Listen to live music and local musicians in the downtown area.

Friday

  • 12-5pm – Family Fun Bounce House Playground at Windermere Point. Free.
  • 3-4:30pm – Lilac Festival Poster Contest artist reception at the Center for the Arts at the Mission Point Theatre lobby. Free and open to the public.
  • 4-5-pm – Music & Meditation with Pianist John Kissane at Ste. Anne Catholic Church- Main St. Free, come and go event, donations accepted. No applause please.
  • 5pm– Coronation of the Lilac Festival Queen and unveiling of the Lilac Festival Poster at Marquette Park- 7200 Huron St. Free event.
  • 6-8pm – Lilac Resin Jewelry Workshop at Watercolor Café – 6939 Main St. All supplies provided. Fee is $55 and registration is required ahead of time at watercolormackinac.com.
  • 6-8pm – Market Street Art Walk. Galleries and shops on Market Street open for viewing. Free event.

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- 7846 Main St. Register at runmackinac.com.
  • 10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum- 7070 Main St.
  • 10:30am-12:30pm – Katy Klimczuk will be available to sign her book M
    is for Mackinac: A Nature Alphabet Book. Free event. Island Bookstore- 7372 Main St.
  • 11am – Vintage Bicycle Rally on the Rock. Meet & Greet, Best of Show, Ride around the Island, and more. Meet at Marquette Park.
  • 11am-4pm – Annual Used Book Sale at the Mackinac Island Public Library- 903 Huron St.
  • 11:15am – Lil Lilac Kids Run. Starts and ends at Mackinac Island Public School. Register at runmackinac.com.
  • 12-3pm – Smart Gardener program for everyone and planting activity for kids at Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds. Come and go, free event.
  • 12:30pm – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet on the west side of Marquette Park.
  • 1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac- 7127 Huron Rd.
  • 1-2:30pm – Book signing at Little Luxuries with local author Sue Allen, author of Lilacs: A Fortnight of Fragrance on Mackinac Island. 7372 Main St.
  • 1-3pm – Book signing at Island Bookstore. Katy Klimczuk will be available to sign her book M is for Mackinac: A Nature Alphabet Book. Free event. 7372 Main St.
  • 3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds- Main St.
  • 6-8pm – Lilac Resin Jewelry Workshop at Watercolor Café – 6939 Main St. All supplies provided. Fee is $55 and registration is required ahead of time at watercolormackinac.com.
  • 6:30-8:30pm – Free Line Dancing with West Michigan Bootscooters. Located on Market Street between Fort Street and Astor Street.
  • 9-11:30pm – Movie in the Fort: The Wizard of Oz. Located in Fort Mackinac. Free admission, bring a chair or blanket and your favorite snack.

Sunday

  • 10am-12pm – Book signing at Mission Point Resort lobby. Author Katy Klimczuk will be signing her book, M is for Mackinac: A Nature Alphabet Book. Free event.
  • 10am-5pm – Family Fun Bounce House Playground at Windermere Point. Free event.
  • 10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum
  • 12-3pm – Smart Gardener program for everyone and planting activity for kids at Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds. Come and go, free event.
  • 12:30pm – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet on the west side of Marquette Park- 7200 Huron St.
  • 1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
  • 1-3pm – Book signing at Watercolor Café. Author Katy Klimczuk and Illustrator Kate Dupre will be signing their book, M is for Mackinac: A Nature Alphabet Book. Free event
  • 2:30pm – “Skips Stone for Fudge” movie at Mission Point Theatre- 6639 Main St. Free event.
  • 3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds- Main St.
  • 3:30pm – “Mackinac: Our Famous Island” movie at Mission Point Theatre. Free event.
  • 4:30pm – “This Time for Keeps” movie at Mission Point Theatre. Free event.
  • 6-8pm – Lighthouse & Lilacs Painting at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $48 and registration is required ahead of time at watercolormackinac.com.
  • 6-8pm – Lilac Festival Puzzle Challenge! Fastest teams to complete the 500 piece Lilac Festival puzzle win prizes! Limited space, 6 people per team, sign up on the Tourism Bureau website. Free event at Community Hall- 7358 Market St.

Monday

  • 10am – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office.
  • 10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
  • 11am-1pm – Meet local jewelry artist, Cayenne & Cake at Little Luxuries
  • 1pm – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office. Free event.
  • 1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
  • 3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds- Main St.
  • 5-6:45pm – Intro to Polymer Clay Jewelry (Lilac Themed) at Watercolor Café.  All supplies provided. Fee is $48 and registration is required ahead of time at watercolormackinac.com.
  • 5:30-6:30pm – “Creating the Village of Mackinac Island” Walking Tour with Mackinac State Historic Parks’ Interpretation Coordinator, Jack Swartzinski. Meet at Windermere Point. Free but donations are welcome.
  • 6pm – Bynoe Street Hockey at Windermere Point. Free event.
  • 7-9pm – Intro to Polymer Clay Jewelry (Lilac Themed) at Watercolor Café.  All supplies provided. Fee is $48 and registration is required ahead of time at watercolormackinac.com.
  •  

Tuesday

  • 10am – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office.
  • 10amGrand Hotel History Lecture with Bob Tagatz at Grand Hotel. Free tour included in $10 admission fee.
  • 10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
  • 12-3pm – Smart Gardener program for everyone and planting activity for kids at Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds. Come and go, free event.
  • 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.
  • 1-3pm – Meet the Author! Cynthia Birk will sign her novel, Finding Lilacs. Free event at the Island Bookstore
  • 3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds- Main St.
  • 5:30pm – Free Historic Downtown Walking Tour. Meet in front of The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
  • 6pm – Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office. Free event.
  • 7:30pm – “Somewhere in Time” movie playing at Mission Point Theatre. Free event.

Wednesday

  • 9am – Free Lilac Festival flag giveaway at Flagship- 1611 Astor St. While supplies last.
  • 9:30-11:30am – Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence Tour- Fort St. Free, 15 minute guided tour.
  • 10am – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office- 7316 Market St.
  • 10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
  • 12-2:30pm – Smart Gardener program for everyone and planting activity for kids at Windermere Point. Come and go, free event.
  • 1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
  • 3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds- Main St.
  • 4-6pm – Meet Michigan watercolor artist, 37 Prime at Little Luxuries.
  • 7pm – Free Artist-in-Residence Program. Station 256 Conference Room above the State Park Visitor Center- 7200 Lakeshore Dr.

Thursday

  • 10am – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office.
  • 10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
  • 12-3pm – Smart Gardener program for everyone and planting activity for kids at Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds. Come and go, free event.
  • 1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac.
  • 1-3pm – Meet the Author! Nancy Coco will sign her newest Mackinac based, candy coated mystery, Give Fudge a Chance. Free event at the Island Bookstore.
  • 3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds- Main St.
  • 4-5:30pm – Happy Hour Michigan beer sampling at Little Luxuries.
  • 5pm – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office.
  • 6:30-8pm – Free live music featuring Don Middlebrook – Jimmy Buffett Tribute Concert. 

Friday

  • 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 – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office.
  • 10am-5pm – Family Fun Bounce House Playground at Windermere Point. Free event.
  • 10am-5:30pm –  Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
  • 12-2pm – Meet Michigan handbag designer Jenna Kator at Little Luxuries for a chance to win a Jenna Kator handbag.
  • 12-3pm – Smart Gardener program for everyone and planting activity for kids at Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds Come and go, free event.
  • 1pm –  Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office.
  • 1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort
    Mackinac.
  • 1-3pm – Meet the Author! Nancy Coco will sign her newest Mackinac based, candy coated mystery, Give Fudge a Chance. Free event at the Island Bookstore
  • 3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds.
  • 4-5pm – Music & Meditation with Pianist John Kissane at Ste. Anne Catholic Church. Free, come and go event, donations accepted. No applause please.
  • 6-8pm – Market Street Art Walk. Galleries and shops on Market Street open for viewing. Free
    event.
  • 6-8pm – Mackinac Island Sky Watercolor Painting at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $48 and registration is required ahead of time at watercolormackinac.com.
  • 6:30-8pm – Free live music with Empty Canvas in Marquette Park. 

Saturday

  • 9am – Free Lilacs and Warblers Birding Adventure. A guided tour of Mackinac Island’s birds and flowers. Meet in Marquette Park.
  • 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. Bags fly at 11am.
  • 10-11:30am – Meet local artist and author Jennifer Wohletz for a book signing at Little Luxuries
  • 10am-5pm – Family Fun Bounce House Playground at Windermere Point. Free event.
  • 10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum.
  • 12-3pm – Smart Gardener program for everyone and planting activity for kids at Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds. Come and go, free event.
  • 12-4pm – Great Lakes Pirate Festival. Star Line – now known as Mackinac Island Ferry
    Company Dock #1- 7271 Main St.
  • 12:30 pm –  Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet on the west side of Marquette
    Park.
  • 1pm – Special Tour at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort
    Mackinac.
  • 1pm – Hardwood Nature Hike with Mackinac State Historic Park naturalist, Kyle Bagnall. Explore Mackinac Island State Park’s newest interpretive pathway, the Hardwood Nature Trail. Meet at the Avenue of Flags, behind Fort Mackinac.  ¾ mile loop. Free event, donations welcome.
  • 2-5pm – Free live music with Myk Rise at the Cannonball Oasis.
  • 3pm – Free Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds.
  • 5:30-7:30pm – Mandala Rock Painting at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $55 and registration is required ahead of time at watercolormackinac.com.

Sunday

  • 8:30am – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet on the west side of Marquette Park.
  • 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.
  • 1:30-4pm – Free concerts in Marquette Park, face painting & temporary tattoos, Rosco the Clown with. balloon animals, and more. Free event
  • 3:30pm – “Mackinac: Our Famous Island” movie at Mission Point Theatre. Free event.
  • 4pm – Special cannon firing from Fort Mackinac to kick-off the 2023 Lilac Festival Parade.
  • 4pm – Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Parade. Begins at Mission Point Resort and ends at Windermere Point.
  • 4:30pm – “This Time for Keeps” movie at Mission Point Theatre. Free event.
  • 5:30pm – Raffle Ticket Party at Mary’s Bistro- 7463 Main St.. Tickets are $100. First place is $3,000 and 2nd-8th place is $1,000 each. Drawing is at 6:30 pm.

Experience Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island was originally a fort built to protect nearby territories, but now it is filled with beauty and lots of things to do. Read the stories below or go to the Mackinac Island destination page.

Stay tuned for information on the 2024 Mackinac Island Lilac Festival!

For more information on the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival, please contact the event organizer:

Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau

7274 Main Street, Mackinac Island, MI 49757

(906) 847-3783

mackinacisland.org

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