• Lilacfest is on Sunday June 2, 2019
• This is the 29th year for the Lilac Festival
• Along 4th St SW, Between 13 Ave & Elbow Dr
• 10am to 6pm
• Website: https://www.lilacfestival.net/

Lilac Fest, to many it’s the start of summer, it the biggest festival in Calgary.  Lilac Fest is a one day event located on 4th street from 13th Ave, south of the downtown core to Elbow drive on the south edge of Mission.  The festival begins with a parade at 10am going down 4th street.  

It runs from 10am to 6pm and features over 500 booths.  These booths are everything from food, crafts, clothes, collectables, imported items, to community organizations.  There are several bands playing on stages, several restaurants with fenced of patios for alcohol.   There is everything you can imagine to see.

I really enjoy Lilac Fest, I like walking from one end to the other getting some street food and seeing everyone glad that summer is finally here.  We’ve brought my daughter every year since she’s been born.  That means one year being pushed in her bassinette, another wearing her in a backpack, another her stumbling along and being picked up repeatedly, and now this year, just trying to keep up to her.

There are lots of activities for kids, from facepainting and games to trampoline jumping.  All of which I hope she can enjoy next year, most things are tough for a little one.  However there are kids everywhere, there are pets everywhere, and people, people, people.  

Don’t expect to park close, but it can be surprising how close you can get just a few streets from 4th.  With all the people there is an army of volunteers keeping the streets litter free and helping people find their way around.  There are multiple bin recycling stations everywhere, with those volunteers helping you use the right bin for you napkin, plate and drink container.  There is a lost kid station, that thankfully I’ve never needed to put through it’s paces.