The sight and smell of fresh Lilacs announces the coming of summer in Taos. One of the best ways to enjoy this time of year is by attending the Taos Lilac Festival. In the spring, lilacs can be seen all throughout the Taos Valley, a warm welcome sign of the season. To help celebrate the arrivals of lilacs, Taos hosts the Lilac Festival every May for both visitors and locals to experience. If you plan to attend, use our guide to help get the most out of the Taos Lilac Festival.
History of the Taos Lilac Festival
While the history of how lilacs made their way to Taos isn’t exactly definitive, there are theories of how this colorful bush came to fill the Taos Valley. Lilacs are believed to have arrived in Santa Fe from France back in the mid-1800s by explorer Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy, but not making their way to Taos until the early 1900s. And with the founding of the Taos Society of Artists in 1912, flower gardens began to fill up with lilac bushes around the valley.
About the Taos Lilac Festival
With its initial festival launching in 2013, the Taos Lilac Festival has grown over the years with additional entertainment and events added each year. Held during the two weeks between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, the festival celebrates the arrival of blooming lilacs with weekend-long entertainment.
One of the goals of the Taos Lilac Festival is to improve the local landscape and increase curb-appeal within the Taos community, thus locals are strongly encouraged to take home lilac bushes for their own yard. Festivalgoers will have a chance to learn more about caring for lilacs, gardening advice from a member of the Los Jardineros Garden Club, and ample opportunity for you to purchase your own live lilac bush.
Things to do at the Taos Lilac Festival
Amongst gardening advice and purchasing your own lilac bush, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the Taos Lilac Festival. From live entertainment to a beer, wine, and food garden this festival offers plenty to do!
Where to see the lilacs
Of course, one of the best ways to enjoy the festival is to take a walking tour throughout the town. There are 16 notable places to see the lilacs on display. A few places that are worth a visit is the Kit Carson Park, Taos Plaza, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. For a full list, download the festival’s online map.
Basic festival info
When: Festival weekend is May 17th – 19th, 2019
Where: Kit Carson Park
Taos lodging
The Taos Lilac Festival is a wonderful event for visitors to enjoy the beauty of Taos in the spring and one of the best ways to experience this festival is with a stay at the Hotel La Fonda de Taos. Located less than half a mile from Kit Carson Park, Hotel La Fonda de Taos offers convenient access to the festival and so much more with our location in the Taos Plaza.
Stop and smell the lilacs throughout the plaza and easily walk to restaurants, shops, and the Festival with a stay in one of our comfortable accommodations. Choose from our standard rooms, spacious suites, or our luxurious penthouse for an enjoyable Taos vacation!
