A Cherished Tradition

The Spokane Lilac Festival has been a Lilac City tradition since 1938. Originated by the Associated Garden Clubs and the Spokane Floral Society, a small parade and flower show was organized as an effort to boast our beautiful spring lilacs, and to showcase our area youth. In 1940, a royalty program to honor young women from the Spokane area was introduced, and has changed and grown many times since then. Due to WWII, 1943 to 1945 saw no festivals, but in 1946 it was resurrected and the Spokane Lilac Festival Association was officially formed. In 1949 Armed Forces Day, a national day of remembrance for all branches of military service, was set to be every third Saturday in May – coincidentally, the same day as the Lilac Festival parade. The combination of events proved to be a catalyst to Festival activities. In the ensuring years, recognition of servicemen and women has become a major part of Festival event planning. In the early 50’s, two parade took place on the 3rd Saturday in May, but in 1960 the community parade was moved to the Thursday prior, making it our first torchlight parade. In 1976, the two were combined, kept on Saturday evening, and became the Spokane Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, which is now the largest armed forces torchlight parade in the nation!

Over the past 86 years, the Lilac Festival has taken on many activities and has undergone several changes. However, it has always remained true to one of its original objectives – promoting our greatest resource, today’s youth.