60th Annual Lilac Festival. Ten days of special events. Since 1949 Mackinac Island has celebrated the arrival of summer with the Lilac Festival each June. The most beautiful and fragrant time of the year celebrates hundreds of lilac varieties in bloom. Excitement fills the air and days filled with family activities are capped with the Lilac Festival Parade. The Lilac Festival Queen and Lilac Festival Princess,selected from the students from the Mackinac Island Public School are crowned at the coronation ball by Island Mayor Margaret Doud. Among the events during the lilac festival weekend the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival 10K running race. Lilac Festival Concert in the park. Lilacs have been growing in America for centuries.Mackinac Island's lilacs are among the largest lilacs found on American soil.