The annual Lilac Festival in Calgary, which is hosted along our street, is said to launch the myriad of Calgary street festivals, and is named after the Lilac flowers which symbolize the start of Spring. Since we heard the festivities last year from the comfort of our bedroom window, we decided to grab some friends and check out what it was all about. Over 500 vendors were set up from Central Memorial Park, past 17th Avenue and into the heart of Mission, offering artisan crafts, to imported wares, to original art pieces, clothing and shoes for sale, and also community organizations awareness campaigns. This year, the festival also included “Food Truck Lane” which garnered maddening line-ups for chicken and waffles, poutines, and falafel. To be frank, the whole affair was a touch overrated, which echos my thoughts surrounding the over-hyped Calgary Stampede. But it was a beautiful day, with tons of people watching and a wonderful way to welcome to Spring.
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