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SHOW THE WORLD YOUR PASSION FOR PURPLE
AND BE PART OF HISTORY
Plans include breaking a Guinness World Record as the biggest opening day in Rochester Lilac Festival's 116-year history kicks off ten days and nights of non-stop entertainment!
On Friday, May 9, the Rochester Lilac Festival has planned an opening day celebration expected to bring thousands of your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow area residents to Highland Park to shatter a Guinness World Record.
Residents from across the county will come together to form the World's Largest Human Flower, breaking the 2012 record set in England by 2,190 people. Festival organizers are counting on everyone in the community to help create the Human Flower which will be formed in the shape of a lilac.
"This will be the biggest kickoff event in the history of the Rochester Lilac Festival," said Jeff Springut, festival producer. "All the record breaking moments will be recorded and photographed from the air by a helicopter, so everyone will be able to see Rochester's Passion for Purple and the spirit that makes this community such a great place."
Every participant will receive a special certificate, a souvenir of the day they helped Rochester break a Guinness World Record. All participants are invited to register as individuals, a team or a company at www.LilacFestival.com . Registration is not required. Walk-ups are welcome to show up and be part of breaking the Guinness World Record. Those who register in advance will receive special recognition.
The World's Largest Human Flower event will follow the festival's opening - with the official record-breaking flower being formed at 12:30pm at the Lilac Center Stage in Highland Park. The famed Rochester-based band Duke Jupiter will reunite to entertain the crowd as this historic event takes place. Parking is free and the festival will be in full swing, so participants should plan to stay for lunch-with more than 100 menu items from more than 20 food vendors. The
festival offers a veritable feast of local and international choices, from Nick Tahou's famed garbage plate and Abbott's Frozen Custard to gyros, falafel, sushi, Indian cuisine, artichokes French and more.
"The Rochester Lilac Festival continues to grow in attendance and popularity every year by welcoming the festival season back to Monroe County with a big purple splash of spring," said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks. "Lilac Fest attracts thousands of out-of-town guests to our community and contributes more than $3 million to our local economy. That is an incredible testament to all that Monroe County has to offer and something our entire community should be very proud of."
The Guinness World Record event will take place rain or shine.
About the Rochester Lilac Festival
The largest 10-day free festival of its kind in North America, the Rochester Lilac Festival welcomes more than 500,000 visitors annually. Visitors to Monroe County's famous Highland Park experience the incredible beauty and intense fragrance of more than 500 varieties of lilacs on 1,200 plants. Alongside the largest lilac collection in the United States, visitors enjoy non-stop entertainment, a Craft Beer Garden, a wide variety of foods, and one-of-a-kind shopping. Special events inside the festival include the popular Wine & Chocolate Tasting, Weekend Art & Craft Shows, the televised Lilac Parade, Seniors Day, and the Highland Hospital Lilac 10K and 5K Fun Run. Open 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily May 9-18; admission to the Rochester Lilac Festival is free.
For more information about the Rochester Lilac Festival and a full schedule of events, visit LilacFestival.com
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