Festivals and more festivals!

As the weather warms, thoughts turn quickly to festivals! Upstate New York seems to have more than its share of festivals. They run the gamut from small town affairs to large productions that have grown over the years into huge events. Growing up, my grandparents, Dora and Gordon Reed, would take us to many of these festivals. They loved them!

Vintage photo of me & my sister, Joanna, on the cannon at Highland Park during the Lilac Festival, ca 1974

The Lilac Festival reigns supreme to me for many reasons. First and foremost - the FLOWERS! Everything from tulips to azaleas to pansies to rhododendrons to, of course, lilacs. Highland Park was planned by Frederick Law Olmstead. Yes, the same guy who did Central Park in NYC.
Check out this link for more history of the park:
http://www.monroecounty.gov/parks-highland.php

I also love all the other events surrounding the festival. The craft show is fun and the food is diverse enough to be interesting (not as good as Corn Hill though). The Lilac Festival has grown enormously over the years. It has turned into a signature event for Rochester which, to quote someone else, is a very good thing!

My grandparents, Dora & Gordon Reed at the Lilac Festival in 1984

A modern view of the festival and park (Google images)

Another favorite is the Sauerkraut Festival in Phelps. Yes, Sauerkraut! Traveling from Canandaigua to Geneva on Rtes 5 & 20 is one of the few places I've ever seen cabbage stands - it's a big deal here.
http://www.phelpsny.com/sauerkraut-festival/

This festival is much more small town in feel which I like. Plus, where else can I get my fix of sauerkraut cake? Don't laugh, it's delicious. Seriously. A car show, parade, lots of good food. I'm all set!

Phelps Sauerkraut Festival food (mpnnow.com)

Back to Rochester for 2 more great art/craft festivals: Corn Hill and Park Ave. These festivals encompass 2 great Rochester neighborhoods. Corn Hill has many stunning homes that have been preserved alongside newer construction and development. My uncle Gordy lived there in the 60's when attending RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) before they moved the campus to Henrietta. He said back then it was a VERY bad neighborhood. Thankfully many of the homes were saved and not lost to urban renewal and the highway. Now it's a funky, historic area with a ton of charm. This festival draws huge crowds for a good reason - the food and music are phenomenal! Plus the quality of vendors is very good.

http://cornhillartsfestival.com/

 Formal entrance to Corn Hill neighborhood (Google images)

Quiet area of festival - come early and find a spot! (democratandchronicle.com)

The Park Ave Fest also draws large crowds. The Park Ave area is a very popular neighborhood to live in. Add lots of unique, trendy shops and you've got a great hub for a festival. 

http://www.rochesterevents.com/festivals-events/park-ave-fest

This is a popular one!

Now this is just the tiniest tip of the iceberg! Those of us who looove festivals, know New York state has hundreds! In fact, I just found this great link:

http://newyorkstatefestivals.com/

I'll be posting more as I think of them now and then. Let me know about yours! And be sure to let the guys at the above link know too!

Enjoy the fresh air!