HISTORY
Military band and troops march in the 1949 Lilac Festival Parade, in
recognitiion of the recent conclusiion of World War II. (Courtesy of the
Spokesman Review).
A Brief History The Spokane Lilac Festival has been a “Lilac City” tradition since 1938. It was an effort originated by the Associated Garden Clubs and the Spokane Floral Society to boast our beautiful spring lilacs, and to showcase our area youth. They organized a parade and royalty program to honor young women from the Spokane area. Over the past sixty plus years, the Lilac Festival has taken on many activities and it has undergone several changes. However, if has always remained true to one of its original objectives -promoting our greatest resource, today’s youth. The Spokane Lilac Festival has volunteer Directors and Lilac Royalty Court members who travel weekends from April through October representing the Lilac City of Spokane in other Pacific and Inland Northwest communities. We visit no less than 20 cities/communities with our float and royal court each festival season, traveling in excess of 8,000 miles. The Spokane Lilac Festival Celebration has large economic impact annually upon the greater Spokane area. The Spokane Lilac Festival Celebration could not and would not exist without corporate and community support and contributions. We are a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. The Spokane Lilac Festival has grown into an annual week-long Lilac Festival of celebrating spring, youth, and community spirit. The Festival is the Inland Northwest region’s oldest and largest community event, providing involvement opportunities for every segment of the community. To name a few:
• Annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade showcasing school bands and marching units, youth of all ages (both individually and in groups), clowns, dancers, gymnastic displays, and of course the military units from the Inland Northwest
• Regional and international goodwill promoted through hosting neighboring communities and sister city_ delegations attending Lilac Festival events• Parades and Lilac Royalty Program promote ethnic understanding by providing a forum for expression of heritage, cultural views and values
• Lilac Royalty Program and out-of-town Royalty Program offers professional development and growth of area youth as well as scholarships for the Lilac Royalty
• Hospitals, nursing homes, and schools are visited by Lilac Festival Directors and the Royalty Court
• Businesses are solicited to provide complimentary in-kind goods and services and financial support for enjoyment by the entire community and its visitors .