The Beginning 
Celebrating Mackinac's lilac collection began in 1949 after a conversation with Evangilene “Ling” Horn, Nurse Stella King and Mackinac Island Carriage Tours veterinarian Dr. Bill Chambers. The idea was to bring people to the Island to enjoy a great horse drawn parade amidst the lovely lilacs that fragrance the Island in June. What began as a one day event called the Mackinac Island Lilac Day has blossomed into a ten day festival.
The Lilac Festival Queen
The Lilac Festival Queen and her court are selected from the student body at the Mackinac Island Public School. The opening ceremonies for the festival commemorate our Queens of the past passing the crown to the new Queen each season. Former Lilac Festival Queen, Mayor Margaret Doud introduces the new Queen each season and welcomes her to her new duties as a student representative of Mackinac Island.
The Grand Parade 
The Lilac Festival Grand Parade is the finale of the festival and occurs this season on Sunday, June 18, 2006 at 5pm. This parade is made possible by our local independent Coca Cola distributor in Kincheloe, Michigan and is one of the largest all hitch horse parades in America. The Lilac Festival Grand Parade has been recognized as a local legacy event by the Library of Congress.
For more about the Grand Parade click here |
