What to know about Lilac Festival Parade
Road closures, parking tips for festivalgoers
The are plenty of road closures, traffic changes and parking restrictions to watch out for if you are headed to the 10day Rochester Lilac Festival at historic Highland Park.
The festival runs from Friday through Sunday, May 19, and features music, food, a parade and the stars of the festival, North America’s largest collection of lilacs.
Lilac Festival 2024: Lilac Parade route and closures
The Lilac Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The parade will follow the same route as last year, according to event organizers, and begins on South Avenue at Science Parkway and travels north to Highland Avenue. where it turns east, past the lilac gardens before ending at the corner of Highland Avenue and Goodman Street.
Here is Monroe County’s list of streets closed for the parade from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Boothe Street – closed between East Henrietta Road and to South Avenue.
South Avenue – closed from East Henrietta Road to Highland Avenue.
Stewart Street – Closed at South Avenue.
*The intersection of Elmwood and South avenues is closed in both directions from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Lilac Festival 2024: Road closures/one-way restrictions
Azalea Road – Closed (local traffic only); no parking on the East side between Elmwood and Highland avenues.
Doctors Drive – Closed to thru traffic.
Furman Crescent – Closed (local traffic only). No parking on the north side between Mt. Hope and Highland avenues; Road closed (local traffic only).
Gregory Hill Road – Road closed on weekends during festival; no parking on the north side.
Gold Street – Closed (local traffic only); no parking on the north side between South and Mt. Hope avenues.
Highland Avenue – Road closed from South Avenue to South Goodman Street*.
Laney Road – Road closed (local traffic only); no parking on the east side between Elmwood and Highland avenues.
Linden Street – Road closed on weekends (local traffic only).
May Street – Road closed (local traffic only); no parking on the north side from South to Mt. Hope avenues.
Meadowbrook Road – Road closed (local traffic only); no parking on the east side between Elmwood and Highland avenues.
Pavilion Street – Road closed (local traffic only).
Pinetum Drive – Road closed on weekends. Road is one way westbound from South Goodman Street to Doctors Drive on weekdays.
Reservoir Avenue – One way westbound, from Pinetum Drive/Doctors Drive to Mt. Hope Avenue. Parking allowed on the north Side between South to Mt. Hope avenues.
Robinson Drive – One way eastbound from Mt. Hope to South avenues.
Wall Street – One way northbound from May Street to South Avenue.
*Homes located on Highland Avenue with addresses from 279 to 435 should access their homes via law enforcement at South Goodman Street and Highland Avenue. As an alternate, you may access Highland Avenue via the nearest side street. You will be required to move barricades back to closed position in this scenario. Please be aware that the road is closed and there will be pedestrians in the road.
Lilac Festival: Where to avoid parking
Alpine Street – No parking on the north side from South to Mt. Vernon avenues.
Arbor Drive – No parking on the north side.
Cook Street – No parking on the North side from South to Mt. Hope avenues.
Greenview Drive – No parking on the east side from Highland Parkway to Greenview Drive.
Highland Avenue – No parking from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the north side between South and Mt. Hope avenues.
Highland Parkway – No parking on the north side from S. Goodman Street to South Clinton Avenue.
Langslow Street – No parking on the north side between South and Mt. Hope avenues.
Meigs Street – No parking on the east side from Gregory Hill Road to Rockingham Street.
Rockingham Street – No parking on the north side, between Meigs and South Goodman streets and between Meigs Street and Mount Vernon Avenue.
Robinson Drive – One way eastbound, from Mt. Hope Avenue to South Avenue.
Lilac Festival: Where you can park for for a fee
Parking costs $7-$10 per vehicle and is available at several nearby sites close to Highland Park.
Rates vary depending on time of day with the more expensive rates on evenings and weekends.
Visitors seeking a place to park can find directions to each of the three lots on the festival’s guest Info page.
The lots include:
● Main lot at the festival site, across the street from 1111 Elmwood Ave.
● Goodman Street lot at 1065 Elmwood Ave.
● Golisano Institute lot at 150 Sawgrass Drive. This lot is open only on weekends and offers a shuttle to the festival site.
Certain lots may be closed due to inclement weather, according to festival officials. People with disabilities who have a wheelchair hang tag should park at 1440 South Ave.