More Notes on Lilac Time

In 1933 the first Lilac parade with floats, an inter-high school band and community singing.
For the first time ever, in 1940, the peak of the Lilac Time festival was Memorial Day.
In 1955 the Women's Air Force band played.
In 1956 a barbecue was held at the nearby Farm and Home Center.
1956 was the first time in history that Lilac Time had a college band play. It was the band from Cornell.
In 1956 a lilac bush from Rochester was planted in an American cemetery in Luxembourg.
1956 was the first year that entertainment was staged in
Highland Bowl.
In 1957 Lilac Sunday was on Mother's Day.
In October, Goulburn, "the Lilac City of Australia," holds its annual Lilac Time festivities.
The 1958 parade was sponsored by the South Clinton-Goodman Business and Professional Association.
In 1967 a "Lilac Bowl" football game was held.
In 1969 Highland Lilac of Rochester perfume was sold at McCurdy's: 1 oz. for $3.50; 4 oz. for $10; bath oil for $5.
Before 1948 the aster was the city of Rochester's official flower. It was unseated in 1948 by action of the city council and the lilac became the official flower. In 1934 someone called the rose the city flower but no action was officially taken.
Two children of John Dunbar, a Park's employee and famous hybridizer of lilacs, live in Rochester: Alexander Dunbar of Dunbar and DeZeng Company and Mrs. Fay (Elizabeth) Wright.
In 1948 girls from RIT decked with lilacs met the trains at New York Central Station (the station in Rochester) to advertise the festival.
1949 - 21 committees were chosen to plan the Lilac Festival. These committees were: the Executive Committee, Schools, Garden Clubs, Hotels, Store Participation, Museum, Public Information, Nurserymen and Florists, Newspapers, Radio Stations, Veterans, Industrial Participation, Special Events, Traffic, County of Monroe, Kiwanis, United Commercial Travelers, Youth Activities, Music, Reception,
and Transportation.
1949 -Contest for Rochester residents and a contest for Monroe County residents - lilac bushes:
- 2 Divisions:
  - Division 1 for gardens with 1-5 lilac plants
  - Division 2 for gardens with more than 5 plants
- 6 Classifications in each division
  - Class A (G) single white
  - Class B (H) double white
  - Class C (I) single lilac to lavender-pink (all light shades)
  - Class D (J) double lilac to lavender-pink (all light shades)
  - Class E (K) single dark red to purple (all dark shades)
  - Class F (L) double dark red to purple (all dark shades)
1949 - 13 billboards were used to promote the event
1948
- Monday - Garden Club and Nurserymens Day
- Tuesday - Veterans Day
- Wednesday - Camera Day
- Thursday - Monroe County and Public Officials Day
- Friday - Fraternal and Club Day
- Saturday - Youth Day
Lilacettes - 20 of the city's prettiest girls, between the ages of 16 and 22, welcome and entertain visitors to the festival and wore garlands of lilacs and dressed in long fluffy costumes colored to the many hues of the blossoms.
Lilacette Juniors - 60 teenagers who act as guides and also sing
and dance.
1949 - Rochester lilacs are set on the 60 tables in the House restaurant of the Capitol.
1948 - Contest held with $50 first prize for the school which would have the most pupils at Highland Park for Lilac Time's Youth Day; won by St. Boniface School.
1950 - Lincoln Rochester Trust Company sponsored a map of the lilacs in the newspaper.
1950 - gold loving cup to be award to the high school girl or boy composing the best song, words and music, for Lilac
Time celebration.
1950 - Lilac Time photographic contest sponsored by the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Called "Around the Seasons in Rochester Parks"
1954 - lilacs from Rochester given to Queen Elizabeth
New type of lilac sent from London in 1954 - syringa Danton
Spokane has a lilac festival about two weeks earlier than Rochester.
1953 - distribution of posters in Pennsylvania, New England and Ohio. Issuing of invitations to residents of Canada and the backing of automobile clubs of various communities to encourage tourists.
1953
- Wednesday - Bausch and Lomb Centennial Day
- Thursday - Senior Citizens Day
- Friday - United Commercial Travelers Day
- Saturday - International Youth Day
- Monday - Garden Club Day
1952
- Sunday - Camera Club Day
- Monday - Garden Club Day
- Tuesday - United Commercial Travelers Day
- Wednesday - Lilac All Towns and Cities Day
- Thursday - Public Officials and Senior Citizens Day
- Friday - Foreign Nations Day
- Saturday - International Youth Day
1951 - Cover Girl contest sponsored by McFadden Publications

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