Thousands unofficially kick off summer in Calgary at 32nd annual Lilac Festival
Thousands came out to the 32nd annual Lilac Festival on Sunday to mark the unofficial start of summer in Calgary.
“It’s a place where Calgarians can meet and celebrate together,” said Jennifer Rempel, producer of the Lilac Festival.
The massive street festival takes over Fourth Street from Elbow Drive to 12th Avenue S.W., offering up eats, entertainment and shopping.
“Events like these are so important because they’re free to attend. So, no matter where you live, where you’re from or how much money you have, you can come and have a great day on the street,” Rempel said.
After a successful pilot last year where they expanded the area, organizers decided to do it again this year.
“We’ve really programmed and activated 17th Avenue from Second to Fifth Street. We’ve added two stages and so, we’re starting to grow down, not only Fourth Street, but other places in the community,” Rempel said.
The 4th Street Lilac Festival wrapped up Sunday evening. More than 600 vendors, including multiple Fourth Street businesses, took part in the one-day event.
“From jewelry to hot sauce to you can get a massage on the street today, you can buy your special friend some flowers, to cultural keepsakes. There’s something for everyone really,” Rempel said.
Clara Bernal, the owner of Marlow Floralworks, says the festival is a great opportunity for people to learn about and support local businesses like hers.
“For us, it’s a great event to just talk with people, always the weather is nice. We sell lots of plants, flowers,” Bernal said.
This year, the festival had seven different stages featuring 75 music and dance performances.
Soul funk artist Rome IX and his band took over the 23rd Avenue stage for an afternoon show.
“For this show, really just wanted to kind of set the tone and the vibe for everyone out at Lilac Festival, so you know, a couple of songs that everyone’s gonna know and dance along to, and then some of our originals that we thought the crowd might enjoy,” he told CTV News.
The festival ran from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday and organizers say more than 100,000 people came out.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.