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Mackinac Island Lilac Festival
 About
The 10-day celebration is the first and largest summer event on the Island, attracting thousands of visitors each year. A celebration that blends the Island’s historic varieties of lilacs – many of which were brought here during the mid 1800’s; distinctive equestrian culture; fine food, drink and accommodations plus a range of other activities, the festival is one of the Island’s biggest attractions. The festival celebrates its most recognized botanical symbol, the lilac, while emphasizing its international, cultural and historic appeal
 Festivities
Festivities include the coronation of the Lilac Festival Queen and Court, free concerts, walk-and-talk tours with members of the International Lilac Society, wine tasting at Mackinac Island’s finest restaurants, A Taste of Mackinac Culinary Event, Kid’s Day at Historic Fort Mackinac, Epona & Barkus Parade, the canine revelry of the Dog & Pony Show and the festival’s signature event, the all horse hitch Grand Parade.
 A Taste of Mackinac
Held on the lawn of the Harbour View Inn this culinary event gives all an opportunity to sample favorites served by chefs from the Island’s restaurants. Cuisine ranges from colonial to contemporary and includes fares such as Austrian, French, Irish, Italian, New England, Jamaican and Southwestern. Mackinac Island hosts an international workforce each season, which in turn gives visitors the opportunity to try recipes brought by chefs from around the globe.
 Feast of Epona
Celebrating equine and canine companions, the Mackinac Island Dog & Pony club returns with the third annual Feast of Epona and Epona & Barkus Parade. The literal Dog and Pony show will include a blessing of the animals, pony appreciation, equine etiquette, an owner/dog look-alike contest, informal best-in-show awards, agility competitions and more. Named one of the top 10 pet-friendly places in the U.S. by National Geographic Kids, Mackinac Island is home to more than 600 horses, hundreds of dogs and offers numerous dog-friendly properties: including Sunset Condos, Harbor Place Studio Suites and Mission Point Resort. For pet friendly restaurants, shops and attractions, click here.
 Lilac Festival Theme
Classic Saturday Morning Cartoons have been chosen as the theme for the 2008 Lilac Festival. Shopkeepers create gorgeous window displays in order to compete for the coveted first, second, third and most creative plaques while businesses dress up floats to coincide with the festival theme. Successful designs embrace the theme which in turn creates audience recognition and response. Because every good story has a definitive moral of the story... a good float or window display embraces that theme and rewards the viewer with a sense of connection, discovery and delight. The Lilac Festival Grand Parade is the finale of the festival and occurs on the afternoon of Sunday, June 15, 2008 and this parade is one of the largest all hitch horse parades in America.
Click here to enter the official Mackinac Island Lilac Festival website.
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