About Lilac Festival
New Date in September! 10: 00 am - 6: 00 pm, marks the 31st Annual 4th Street Lilac Festival! Every year, an average of 100, 000 Calgarians look forward to attending
Lilac Festival Description
Each spring, thousands of attendees come out to enjoy the unique and pedestrian friendly 4th Street venue, offering an array of musical talent, artisan vendors, quality entertainment and some perfect people watching.
At the Lilac Festival, there is an activity made for all ages. This could mean a jump in the bouncer for the kids, discovering a great new band, choosing a perfect summer patio or searching for a trendy fashion; there is no shortage of things happening.
The 4th Street Festival Society works diligently to provide an ideal environment for new and emerging local musicians to showcase their talents. There are six stages hosting over 30 performances throughout the day, offering artists exposure to an often brand new audience. A recent new addition to the event programming includes the "Underage Stage", which promotes Alberta's youth in support of their bright future in music.
4th Street is host to over 500 vendors that vary from artisan crafts, to imported wares, to community organizations.
The 4th Street Lilac Festival looks forward to another great year, hosting the best and brightest in Calgary's cultural community!
Reviews
L I L A C M O M E N T S // Who hasn't always wanted to pose beside a smiling macaron? #DayMade at #LilacFest18 @yannhautepatisserie
L I L A C M O M E N T S // The Rondel Roberts Band always knows how to get a crowd excited! #TBT #LilacFest18 Direct Energy Canada
L I L A C M O M E N T S // These colourful dancers lit up #LilacFest18 this year! Be sure to catch even more of these exciting performers at Fiestaval happening this weekend from Friday to Sunday at Olympic Plaza. It's going to be a true #fiesta!
// L I L A C M O M E N T S // how can you resist a kiss from a 🐶 like that? Who's taking a break from the Stampede madness and heading to Inglewood Night Market tomorrow? We hear your pups are more than welcome! #tbt #LilacFest18 #NightMarket18
L I L A C M O M E N T S // Look at how much fun these kiddos were having at #LilacFest18?! What sweet moments these were! ❤️ Create more memorable moments with your kiddos this weekend and bring them out to Calgary's first ever Mexifest! Immerse them into the most authentic Mexican experience without having to go through those long flight hours!
There will be bouncy fun, authentic Mexican face painting, crafts and so much more! Bring the whole fam jam to Eau Claire Plaza tomorrow and Saturday!
C A N A D A D A Y // there is nothing like matching the occasion with your socks! Enjoy the festivities everybody. #happybirthdaycanada 📷: @fridaysockco
oh [ H E Y ] Summer // Only a few short weeks ago we kicked off festival season at #LilacFest18! As sad as we are that it's over already, we can't wait to check out the many other festivals that will be happening in and around Calgary this summer. Don't miss some big ones like the Inglewood Night Market Fiestaval Inglewood Sunfest Taste of Calgary or the first ever Mexifest! Summer 2018 is going to be good - we have a feeling! ✨
L I L A C M O M E N T S // What were your favourite moments at #LilacFest18?! We had so much fun this year thanks to all of you! There were so many wonderful, and at times, adorable performances, even our staff joined in for the dance! #tbt
Swipe through to see our favourite dancing moments! 👉🏻
Your puppy is in for a treat! Dogtopia provides a nurturing and fun environment where your pup can get socialization, exercise and education. Learn more at dogtopia.com.
Huge C O N G R A T S // to Tyler Difley for winning this year's edition of #LilacHunt18! Thank you to everyone who participated in our scavenger hunt - we loved following along on everyone's adventures amongst the festival. ✨ #LilacFest18 couldn't have been such a success without you!
What a day! Thanks to everyone who came and shared our day with us - thanks to Milo Eye Captures for taking the great shots! #tagyourself
With Direct Energy you can enjoy competitive energy plans, home services & protection policies for your Alberta home. Learn more: https://buff.ly/2ks7cFW
That's a W R A P // we would like to say a [ H U G E ] thank you to all the amazing volunteers, sponsors, vendors and entertainment talent who gave their time and together made #lilacfest18 such a success! We loved seeing such an amazing turnout and are so grateful to everyone who came down to celebrate this iconic #yyc festival for yet another year. Cheers to the official kickoff to #festivalseason here in #lCalgary. It's going to be a good summer, we can already feel it! ☀️
There's only 2 hours left of #lilacfest18 // Don't miss out on some of the amazing local talent that is still to come on all 7 stages located throughout the festival! 🎶 @ Lilac Festival
L I LA C H U N T // Are you participating in the hunt? Don't forget to use the hashtag #LilacHunt18 and tag us in all of your adventures. Follow the instructions in our story highlights to win a prize pack worth over $500! Happy hunting!✨#lilacfest18
L I L A C K I C K O F F // Rise and shine #YYC! ☀️ The sun is shining at the perfect temperature today so come on down with your friends, family or fur friends and join in all the fun festivities! ✨
1 D A Y // #LilacFest18 stretches between 13 Avenue and Elbow Drive on 4th street. As a result, some transit routes might be affected and driving down to the grounds might be a challenge. We have some alternatives for you to consider! - • Ride the CTrain downtown and get off at either Victoria Park or 4th Street station. • Grab your wheels and bike down to the festival using the new bike lanes! There will be bike racks on 13th, 15th and 25th Avenue. • Park at one of the 3 Str...ategic Group Parkades that are FREE during the festival. (1800 Building, 20/20 Building and the Mission Centre) • Take a Car2Go down to the grounds and park it in the surrounding areas - Don't forget your sunnies, SPF and any other weather appropriate gear for the festival. The show will go one #rainorshine! 🌤🌦 See you all tomorrow at 10 am for the parade that will kick off #LilacFest18
See More
We go every year. It's always a fun filled day with great entertainment and lots of neat vendors. And plenty of awesome patios to sip wine and people watch!
The Lilac Festival holds a special place for me and my fiance Kevin - we met briefly for the first time as I was on my way there with a friend in 2011. We went last year as a couple after re-meeting a year and a half later and really enjoyed the vendors and all the bands. We hope to make it again this year too - it's always a good time!
Thank you 4St Lilac Festival Corganizers for putting on a great show as usual CPS,CFD for keeping us safe,and Mac Con Security.We had an excellent time until next time
Love!�
Love love it������������� �diffrent people, diffrent cultures all mixed together . Fun walk , relaxation... while watching talented people perform....window shopping with lots of small shops very creative products���bohemians etc. Location is perfect! The 4th st. which I loved the most���� salute !
Last year I've been to the lilac festival and the all I heard was the music playing
It was the greatest time I ever had
The sun was also shinning as well
I'm really excited to go there again
It was like moving on the clouds. Very nice experience. Food was awsome and the atmosphere was fantastic.
I have been to lilac festival in Calgary at least Ten times in last 50 years. I will recommend all my relatives and friend to visit. Have lots of fun and food.
I have a wonderul day at the Lilac Festival yesterday. The music performance at the festival is great. There are so many interesting stuff in the vendors. Many people like what we have in our vendor. I really enjoy the busy day. ------ 95 Decoration
Great place to find some amazing handmade items!!
Great event to take in to kick off the summer in Calgary lots to see and do all kinds of things for all ages
Can't wait till next year when the clinic is open on 24th Ave. Stay tuned for Azureus Removal Clinic and Blue Frog Tattoo Studio coming to Calgary's dt core...
Amazing event with great music, dance shows and food. Must see in Calgary.
Always a good show as a visitor and a vendor! Music, treats and goodies and the weather is usually pretty darn good
So many great vendors, great music and great restaurants and pubs that participate. I always love taking my kids to the Lilac Festival every year. It's a childhood tradition of mine. My mom took me when it was held in the spring when I was young, and though there was a bit of a hiatus, I now take my own kids so they get to see how amazing our local businesses and vendors are, and to feel how great the community of 4th street and Calgary is.
Too crowded and not as much entertainment as I expected. Too focused on selling stuff.
They've turned 4St into a giant craft fair with the occasional beer garden and band. It's lost the street party atmosphere from 15 years ago!
There is no breathing space. Should have expanded the areas because the crowd is bottlenecked every 5 meters. It makes Stampede crowds a whole lot better. My first time for me and my family and we didn’t enjoy the pedestrian traffic. You cannot literally move and maneuver around people who suddenly stop in the middle of the street.
Not attending this event again anytime soon. It's no longer fun. Worse than the Stampede. So crowded you couldn't get near any of the vendors to look or buy. Long line ups for all the food vendors. Time to expand over to 2nd Street so the crowd can spread out and a person might have a hope of actually being able to browse the vendors.
If I could give a lower rating, I would.
We go every year. It's always a fun filled day with great entertainment and lots of neat vendors. And plenty of awesome patios to sip wine and people watch!
The Lilac Festival holds a special place for me and my fiance Kevin - we met briefly for the first time as I was on my way there with a friend in 2011. We went last year as a couple after re-meeting a year and a half later and really enjoyed the vendors and all the bands. We hope to make it again this year too - it's always a good time!
Thank you 4St Lilac Festival Corganizers for putting on a great show as usual CPS,CFD for keeping us safe,and Mac Con Security.We had an excellent time until next time
Love!�
Love love it������������� �diffrent people, diffrent cultures all mixed together . Fun walk , relaxation... while watching talented people perform....window shopping with lots of small shops very creative products���bohemians etc. Location is perfect! The 4th st. which I loved the most���� salute !
Last year I've been to the lilac festival and the all I heard was the music playing
It was the greatest time I ever had
The sun was also shinning as well
I'm really excited to go there again
It was like moving on the clouds. Very nice experience. Food was awsome and the atmosphere was fantastic.
I have been to lilac festival in Calgary at least Ten times in last 50 years. I will recommend all my relatives and friend to visit. Have lots of fun and food.
I have a wonderul day at the Lilac Festival yesterday. The music performance at the festival is great. There are so many interesting stuff in the vendors. Many people like what we have in our vendor. I really enjoy the busy day. ------ 95 Decoration
Great place to find some amazing handmade items!!
Great event to take in to kick off the summer in Calgary lots to see and do all kinds of things for all ages
Can't wait till next year when the clinic is open on 24th Ave. Stay tuned for Azureus Removal Clinic and Blue Frog Tattoo Studio coming to Calgary's dt core...
Amazing event with great music, dance shows and food. Must see in Calgary.
Always a good show as a visitor and a vendor! Music, treats and goodies and the weather is usually pretty darn good
So many great vendors, great music and great restaurants and pubs that participate. I always love taking my kids to the Lilac Festival every year. It's a childhood tradition of mine. My mom took me when it was held in the spring when I was young, and though there was a bit of a hiatus, I now take my own kids so they get to see how amazing our local businesses and vendors are, and to feel how great the community of 4th street and Calgary is.
Too crowded and not as much entertainment as I expected. Too focused on selling stuff.
They've turned 4St into a giant craft fair with the occasional beer garden and band. It's lost the street party atmosphere from 15 years ago!
There is no breathing space. Should have expanded the areas because the crowd is bottlenecked every 5 meters. It makes Stampede crowds a whole lot better. My first time for me and my family and we didn’t enjoy the pedestrian traffic. You cannot literally move and maneuver around people who suddenly stop in the middle of the street.
Not attending this event again anytime soon. It's no longer fun. Worse than the Stampede. So crowded you couldn't get near any of the vendors to look or buy. Long line ups for all the food vendors. Time to expand over to 2nd Street so the crowd can spread out and a person might have a hope of actually being able to browse the vendors.
If I could give a lower rating, I would.