The McLaughlin Garden and Homestead invites the community and visitors from across New England and beyond to celebrate the beauty and fragrance of spring at the annual Lilac Festival, taking place Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at 97 Main St., Paris.

Home to one of the largest collections of lilacs in New England, the McLaughlin Garden comes alive each spring with breathtaking color and fragrance as more than 125 varieties of lilacs bloom throughout the historic garden grounds. The Lilac Festival is one of the Garden’s most beloved traditions and offers four days filled with flowers, educational programs, food, and family-friendly activities.

Guests are invited to stroll the winding garden paths at peak bloom and experience the peaceful beauty of the historic homestead and gardens during one of the most spectacular times of the year.

Lilac Festival highlights include:

LILAC TEA TASTINGS

Visitors are invited to enjoy complimentary lilac tea tastings each day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a unique way to experience the fragrance and flavor of the garden’s signature flower.

LILAC CARE AND GARDEN TOURS

Each day at noon, guests may participate in a Lilac Care and Garden Tour to learn more about lilac cultivation, care, pruning, and the history of the McLaughlin Garden’s nationally recognized lilac collection.

FOOD TRUCKS

Festival guests will also enjoy a variety of local food offerings during the weekend festivities.

• Buffalo Hill will be onsite Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23.
• Eighty 8 Donuts will be onsite Sunday, May 24.

LIVE MUSIC IN THE GARDEN

Lilac Festival guests will also enjoy live ambient piano music by Kafari at varying times throughout the weekend in the Garden, adding to the relaxed and welcoming festival atmosphere.

In addition, the festival will feature a special raffle showcasing handmade items created specifically for the Lilac Festival by talented volunteers and supporters of the McLaughlin Garden and Homestead.

Whether guests are longtime supporters or first-time visitors, the Lilac Festival offers a unique opportunity to celebrate spring, nature, and community in one of Maine’s most beautiful garden settings.

The Lilac Festival is open to the public. Admission is $5 per person and may be paid at the door.

The Lilac Festival helps support the ongoing preservation and care of the McLaughlin Garden and Homestead’s historic gardens, buildings, and educational programming offered throughout the year.

The McLaughlin Garden and Homestead thanks its generous sponsors, volunteers, and community supporters who help make the Lilac Festival possible — including 2026 season sponsors MaineHealth Stephens Hospital and Norway Savings Bank, and Lilac Festival event sponsors Betty’s Laundry, Norman, Hanson & DeTroy, Attorneys at Law, Northeast Bank, Perfect Stitch Embroidery, Twin Town Plaza and Renewal by Andersen.

For more information about the 2026 Lilac Festival, visit the McLaughlin Garden and Homestead website at mclaughlingarden.org or call (207) 743-8820.