Spring is in the air, well, most of the time. Despite our uniquely fickle weather here in Taos, it’s time to celebrate. This weekend the Taos Lilac Festival is in full bloom. Our town is be-speckled with the radiant purples and whites of these elegant flowers. The site of lilac blooms coupled with their oh-so-nostalgic smell often evokes potent memories and has been proven to put a smile on your face.
The Taos Lilac Festival is held every year the weekend between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. This is it’s fourth year and the weekend long event features unique events like a Lilac 5k Fun Run, a taco cook-off in Kit Carson Park, an Arts & Crafts Fair and a pet parade. For the full schedule of events visit http://www.taoslilacfestival.com/.
The Taos Lilac Festival is an entirely volunteer coordinated event. Its mission is a year round effort to improve the appeal of Taos’ public spaces, especially roadsides and community areas featuring… you guessed it, lilacs. The Lilac Festival has spearheaded two major town wide clean-ups, including a prune and replant of lilacs in Sierra Vista Cemetery.
The main command center of the festival is the Lilac Garden Center and Information Booth provided by Rio Grande Ace Hardware. The booth is run by Taos’ own Los Jardineros Gardening Club. They will be on site during the daytime in Kit Carson Park offering lilac gardening and care tips. All things lilac will also be for sale — whether you’re shopping for your very own shrub to bring springtime joy to your garden or just jonesing for some lilac scented soap, the Garden Center has it! And, in addition to all the fun activities happening right in Kit Carson Park, the information booth also provides maps with self-guided walking tours throughout historic downtown.
So, no matter what the weather, although as of now the forecast appears delightful, make it a point to wake up this weekend and smell the roses… and lilacs!