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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 the most updated schedule for the event:

Daily

  • 10am-5:30pm – Complimentary admission to the Mackinac Art Museum– 7070 Main St.
  • 1pm – Special Program at Fort Mackinac following the cannon firing. Included with admission to Fort Mackinac- 7127 Huron Rd.
  • 6:30pm – Special firing of the cannon at Fort Mackinac.
  • TBA – Free Family Fun Playground at Windermere Point- M-185, Mackinac Island. Bounce houses on weekends. 15 foot customized coloring mural for the entire event.
  • TBA – Kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling excursions with Great Turtle Kayak Tours. Visit mackinackayak.com for pricing and schedule.
  • TBA – Morning, Historic, and Sunset cruises with Sip N’ Sail cruises. Visit sipnsailcruises.com for pricing and schedule.
  • TBA – 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.
  • TBA – Downtown entertainment with live music and local musicians in the downtown area.

Friday, June 7th, 2024

  • 1-3pm – Nancy Coco will be available to sign her book Three Fudges & a Baby. Free event. Island Bookstore- 7372 Main St.
  • 5pm Coronation of the Lilac Festival Queen and unveiling of the Lilac Festival Poster at Marquette Park- 7200 Huron St. Free event.
  • TBA – Family Fun Bounce House Playground at Windermere Point. Free.
  • TBA– Lilac Festival Poster Contest artist reception at the Center for the Arts at the Mission Point Theatre lobby. Free and open to the public.
  • TBA – Music & Meditation with Pianist John Kissane at Ste. Anne Catholic Church- Main St. Free, come and go event, donations accepted. No applause please.
  • TBA – Lilac Resin Jewelry Workshop at Watercolor Café – 6939 Main St. All supplies provided. Fee is $55 and registration is required.
  • TBA – Market Street Art Walk. Galleries and shops on Market Street open for viewing. Free event.

Saturday, June 8th, 2024

  • 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.
  • 11am-4pm – Vintage Bicycle Rally on the Rock. Meet & Greet, Best of Show, Ride around the Island, and more. Meet at Marquette Park.
  • 1-3pm – Linda Hughes will be available to sign her book The Promise of Christmas Forevermore. Free event. Island Bookstore- 7372 Main St.
  • 9-11:30pm – Movie in the Fort located in Fort Mackinac. Free admission, bring a chair or blanket and your favorite snack.
  • TBA – 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.
  • TBA – Annual Used Book Sale at the Mackinac Island Public Library- 903 Huron St.
  • TBA – Lil Lilac Kids Run. Starts and ends at Mackinac Island Public School. Register at runmackinac.com.
  • TBA – Smart Gardener program for everyone and planting activity for kids at Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds. Come and go, free event.
  • TBA – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet on the west side of Marquette Park.
  • TBA – Free Lilac Planting Seminar with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Ste. Anne Catholic Church grounds- Main St.
  • TBA – Free Line Dancing with West Michigan Bootscooters. Located on Market Street between Fort Street and Astor Street.

Sunday, June 9th, 2024

  • 9:30-10:30am – Lilacs & Warblers Walk beginning at Marquette Park. 
  • TBA – Movie at Mission Point Theatre– 6639 Main St. Free event.
  • TBA – 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, June 10th, 2024

  • 10am – Free Lilac Walking Tour with Lilac Docent, Anne Borowicz. Meet outside of the Post Office.
  • TBA – Meet local jewelry artist, Cayenne & Cake at Little Luxuries
  • TBA – Intro to Polymer Clay Jewelry (Lilac Themed) at Watercolor Café.  All supplies provided. Fee is $48 and registration is required.
  • TBA – Bynoe Street Hockey at Windermere Point. Free event.

Tuesday, June 11th, 2024

  • 5:30-6:30pm – Walking Tour: Creating the Village of Mackinac Island on Historic Downtown Mackinac Market Street.
  • TBAGrand Hotel History Lecture with Bob Tagatz at Grand Hotel. Free tour included in $10 admission fee.
  • TBA – Nature Tour with Trish Martin, starts at Bogan Lane Inn- 14520 Bogan Lane.
  • TBA – Movie playing at Mission Point Theatre. Free event.

Wednesday, June 12th, 2024

  • 5:30-6:30pm – Walking Tour: Mackinac in the 1830’s on Historic Downtown Mackinac Market Street.
  • TBA – Free Lilac Festival flag giveaway at Flagship- 1611 Astor St. While supplies last.
  • TBA – Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence Tour– Fort St. Free, 15 minute guided tour.
  • TBA – Meet Michigan watercolor artist, 37 Prime at Little Luxuries.
  • TBA – Free Artist-in-Residence Program. Station 256 Conference Room above the State Park Visitor Center- 7200 Lakeshore Dr.

Thursday, June 13th, 2024

  • TBA – Happy Hour Michigan beer sampling at Little Luxuries.

Friday, June 14th, 2024

  • 6-7pm – The History of Anishnaabek at the Straits in the Early 1800’s at the Biddle House- 7406 Market St.
  • TBA – Meet Michigan handbag designer Jenna Kator at Little Luxuries for a chance to win a Jenna Kator handbag.
  • TBA – Market Street Art Walk. Galleries and shops on Market Street open for viewing. Free
    event.
  • TBA – Free live music in Marquette Park. 

Saturday, June 15th, 2024

  • 1-3pm – Cynthia Burke will be available to sign her book Finding Lilacs. Free event. Island Bookstore- 7372 Main St.
  • TBA – Michigan Cornhole Tournament at Windermere Point. Bags fly at 11am.
  • TBA – Great Lakes Pirate Festival. Star Line – now known as Mackinac Island Ferry
    Company Dock #1- 7271 Main St.
  • TBA – 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.
  • TBA – Free live music at the Cannonball Oasis.
  • TBA – Mandala Rock Painting at Watercolor Café. All supplies provided. Fee is $55 and registration is required.

Sunday, June 16th, 2024

  • 4pm – Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Parade beginning at Mission Point Resort and ending at Windermere Point.
  • TBA – Free concerts in Marquette Park, face painting & temporary tattoos, Rosco the Clown with. balloon animals, and more. Free event
  • TBA – Movie at Mission Point Theatre. Free event.
  • TBA – 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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