Mirror Man YYC was one of the highlights of this year’s Lilac Festival.

Calgary’s Lilac Festival started out in 1989 as a small neighborhood celebration, organized by the Cliff Bungalow-Mission Community Association and the 4th Street Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ).

Today it has become one of Calgary’s signature festivals, attracting 100,000+ Calgarians of all ages and backgrounds (including their canine friends) to stroll the street lined with 500+ tents showcasing the city’s (and a few from outside the city) many different not-for-profit associations, as well as artisans wares.

And of course there are dozens of food trucks including street festival mainstays - kettle corn, cotton candy, mini-donuts etc. Add entertainment at every street corner and you have the makings of a great street festival. Ironically, while the street festival is called the Lilac Festival, very few lilacs are to be found anywhere along the street or as part of the 500+ displays.

In the late ‘80s, the 4th Street BRZ (now called a Business Improvement Area) was in its infancy and was looking for a signature annual event to attract Calgarians to visit the street’s various merchants. The street was beginning to evolve into a popular restaurant row with the signature restaurant being 4th Street Rose. Over the years it has been a successful incubator of several new restaurants and today it is one of Calgary’s most vibrant restaurant, café and patio streets.

The Cliff Bungalow-Mission community is one of Calgary’s oldest communities with a rich history. It includes several heritage buildings - Sacred Heart Convent, Holy Cross Hospital, St. Mary’s Cathedral and Cliff Bungalow School, as well as many early 20th century homes. And Yes, many of the old homes have Lilac bushes in their yards, as they were popular with pioneers due to their hardiness and quick growing characteristics.

I was surprised to see so many people with walking sticks, but as I was leaving I discovered walking sticks were being given away free at the Fellowship of Christian Farmers Canada tent.

Last Word

For many Calgarians the Lilac Festival marks the beginning of summer and the city’s plethora of weekend festivals. Yes, from the beginning of June to the end of September, there is a festival almost every weekend somewhere in the city, sometimes two or more. One of the great things about living in Calgary is its diversity of festivals and community events.

Here are some more fun street photography postcards from this year’s festival. Hope you enjoy!