The Taos Lilac Festival is a community event held each year during the two weeks between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day to celebrate the arrival of blooming lilacs throughout the Taos area. The grand festival weekend is the weekend before Memorial Day. Our inaugural festival was held May 2013. This year, as last, activities planned for the Grand Festival Weekend, May 18 – 20, 2018, include an Arts and Crafts Fair, a Pet Parade, Vintage Flying Jenny Carousel and Live Music all in Kit Carson Park. A self-guided walking tour map of the Taos historic district is available for touring the area, viewing and enjoying the aroma of blooming lilacs.
The New Mexico Beer & Wine Garden featuring beers, wines and foods from New Mexico. There will also be the Taos Taco Cook Off. In addition to lilac gardening sessions from Los Jardineros Garden Club there will be a large gardening center tent featuring gardening supplies, lilac advice and many varieties of lilacs for sale.
A goal of the Taos Lilac Festival is to improve landscaping throughout the area and increase the curb-appeal of the Taos community. The Lilac Festival also draws visitors to Taos from the surrounding states to participate in the annual Taos Lilac Festival. With the assistance of the New Mexico Tourism Department, the Town of Taos and Taos County, the event is marketed to communities throughout New Mexico and surrounding states.
Festival Organizers John Hamilton and Thom Wheeler
The Taos Lilac Festival, Inc. is the sponsoring organization and is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. The festival is a true community effort with non-profit organizations assisting with the festival and benefiting from the festival activities including the Taos Lions Club, Los Jardineros Garden Club, The Great Chefs of Taos (benefiting the Taos High Culinary Program) and the Taos County Chamber of Commerce.
The Taos Lilac Festival is quickly turning into a major northern New Mexico annual event! Come join the fun!