Organizers officially kicked off the 127th Annual Rochester Lilac Festival Friday, welcoming visitors to Highland Park for ten straight days of music, art, food, and celebration. The free festival runs through May 18th. Festival Executive Producer Jenny LoMaglio, joined by Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Mayor Malik D. Evans, and Visit Rochester President & CEO Don Jeffries, helped unveil this year’s official poster during the opening day ceremony.
This year’s poster was designed and illustrated by local artist Jeremy Sniatecki. He is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer who lives in North Winton Village with his wife, Brenna, and their family.
“I imagined Mother Nature visiting Highland Park early on the morning of the Lilac Festival, and her appearance and poster design having a touch of Art Nouveau flavor, to honor the park and event’s long history,” said Sniatecki. “In the background are secondary monochromatic vignettes of some important locations within the Highland Park area, to enrich the depth and meaning of the poster design even further. And if you look closely, you might find the tiny ladybug among Mother Nature’s wildlife friends. I’m so delighted and honored that the Lilac Festival leadership gave me the opportunity to bring this special scene to life as this year’s poster design. I hope everyone enjoys the poster art as much as I enjoyed designing and illustrating it.”
This year marks a historic moment for the festival, with Jenny LoMaglio of Best Recipe Productions becoming the first woman to serve as the festival’s executive producer.
“It’s a tremendous honor to serve as the first female producer of the Rochester Lilac Festival,” said LoMaglio. “This event is a cherished tradition in our community and bringing it to life each year takes incredible dedication, creativity, and collaboration. I’m so proud of our team—their energy and passion are behind every detail you see and experience here. We truly poured our hearts into making this year’s festival unforgettable, and we hope the community enjoys it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to life.”
LoMaglio and her team have introduced several new and enhanced experiences for 2025, including free guided walking tours, a local farmers market, a dedicated performance stage for kids’ entertainment, and the debut of the alcohol-free Zero Proof Social Club. The event continues its practice of ASL-interpreters for headlining acts, and Sensory Space for families in need. This year, the festival is transitioning into a more sustainable event with many aluminum cans and paper products replacing plastic. These additions join a robust lineup of musical performances, family fun, and artistic showcases that reflect the vibrancy and spirit of the Rochester community.
The Rochester Lilac Festival remains free to attend, thanks to the support of the Lilac Festival Board, local businesses, artists, and sponsors. Their partnership and dedication to this community gem are what truly bring the festival to life each year, making it possible to provide an inclusive environment where families, neighbors, and visitors from all over can come together to celebrate one of the city’s most treasured traditions.
“It’s springtime in the Flower City, which means the 127th Rochester Lilac Festival is here,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “Help us kick off festival season in Monroe County by stopping by the festival to enjoy the beautiful lilacs, local artists, musicians, restaurants, and vendors. Thank you to the Monroe County Parks team for the work you do to get Highland Park ready, the City of Rochester, Lilac Festival Inc., and Visit Rochester for continuing to make the Lilac Festival something to look forward to every year.”
“This 127th Lilac Festival is a celebration of everything that makes Rochester special—our culture, our creativity, and above all, our community,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “We’re proud to continue our strong partnership with Monroe County and Visit Rochester to make this year’s event even more vibrant and inclusive. The Lilac Festival reflects our shared commitment to ensuring every resident and visitor feels welcome, has fun, and leaves with lasting memories.”
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