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Lilac Festival Underway

Organizers gathered at Highland Park today to officially kick off the 118th annual Rochester Lilac Festival, the largest free event of its kind in North America.

Monroe County Director of Parks Larry Staub says the flowers are in bloom as the festival gets underway.

"We've got some lilacs in bloom, and we anticipate with the warmer weather that we're going to have blooms all through the festival," he said.

Staub adds the magnolias are also in bloom, which is unusual this time of year, because they're usually past peak.

He says the tulips are also out so there are many things to see in Highland Park besides the lilacs.

Around 500 thousand people are expected to visit the festival, which is a big economic boost for the area, according to Don Jeffries, President of Visit Rochester.

Credit Alex Crichton
One thousand free trees are being handed out this year at the festival

"Half a million people, 25 to 30 busloads of tourists that come in, plus all the other people that come in, the day trippers.  But the restaurants see a bump in this, our hotels see a bump, so it's an economic engine as well as kicking off the summer season for us," he said.

Festival producer Jeff Springut says a lot of preparation goes into this.

"It's about a ten month a year process. It's a big project, it's a big affair, and a lot of details that go into making it all happen," he said.

On day one, 1 thousand free trees were handed out to help re-grow what's been devastated by the Emerald Ash Borer.

The giveaway is a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the City of Rochester.

In addition to the 500 varieties of lilacs, the 10-day festival also features plenty of music and food, special events, a new Home and Garden show, wine tasting and brewfest, and the 5K and 10K runs.

The festival goes until May 15th.

Here's Larry Staub making some introductory remarks:

Up to 1000 trees will be given away at this year's festival: