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Lilac Time is two weeks of blooming fun in Lombard

It's no accident it takes Lombard two weeks each spring to celebrate Lilac Time.

First, there's the obvious: the town is known as the Lilac Village.

Second, the sheer volume of events, many sponsored by different groups, is just too much to jam into a single weekend.

Things get started at 6:30 p.m. Friday with the Little Lady Lilac Ball for dads and daughters at the Lombard Park District's Lombard Community Building.

Then the party moves to Lilacia Park for the 2018 Lilac Queen Coronation at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at 150 S. Park Ave.

That's when the 88th Lilac Queen will be named from a field of five finalists, all women ages 16 to 21 who live in Lombard. Judges will evaluate each contestant on community and school involvement, poise and grace, speaking ability and personal presentation.

Each finalist receives a $1,000 scholarship in the competition presented by the Lombard Junior Women's Club, Yvonne Invergo, director of the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said.

The coronation will be followed by a 2:30 p.m. concert featuring Swing Forward, a band performing hits from modern luminaries such as Bruno Mars and Sam Smith to American standards made famous by Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.

On Sunday, May 6, the chamber presents the Lilac Time Art and Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along St. Charles Road, between Main and Elizabeth streets, in downtown.

“We have crafters coming from as far away as Wisconsin and Indiana. There are also a lot of local artisans. We have about 130 crafters,” Invergo said.

The fair will offer food vendors; music from two bands, Just Friends and Project 7X; and a kids' zone sponsored by local businesses that features a giant inflatable slide and arcade games.

And that's just the beginning:

• The Lombard Historical Society will offer Lilac Heritage Tours at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5, and 1 p.m. May 6, 8, 9, 12 and May 13. Tickets are $4 and $5. For details, call (630) 629-1885.

• The 59th annual Lilac Ball will feature dinner, dancing, raffles and a silent auction from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 11, at the Carlisle, 435 E. Butterfield Road. Reservations are required and available through the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce.

• A Mother's Day concert in Lilacia Park, presented by the park district, is set for 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 13, and will feature Chicago area musicians performing “Brass from the Past.”

• A botanical tour of Lilacia Park, presented by the Lombard Historical Society, is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 9. The fee is $8 and preregistration is required.

• Lilacia Park also will host a beer tasting from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 18, and a wine tasting from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 19.

• The park district will hold its 13th annual Lilac Mutt Strut 5K and 1-Mile Puppy Path at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 19, in the park.

• The Lombard Garden Club is sponsoring its annual plant and bush sale from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 10, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 11, in the park. The sale will continue at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 12, until the stock is sold out.

• A Lilac Parade Wine Walk is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at participating businesses along St. Charles Road and Park Avenue to raise money to support the May 20 Lilac Parade.

Participants may sample wine, beer and snacks at the 16 stops along the walk, said Ellyn Murphy, co-chairwoman of the Lombard Lilac Parade Committee. Each participant also will receive a wineglass and a goody bag. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door and are available at www.lombardlilacparade.com.

• This year's parade, which steps off at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at Main and Wilson, will feature 120 units, including the South Shore Drill Team, the Jesse White Tumblers, the Barefoot Hawaiians, police and fire units, several Shriner units, Scouts and service groups such as the Lombard Lions and Lombard Kiwanis, and representatives from the Helen Plum Public Library, Murphy said.

New this year is a circus wagon from Wisconsin carrying a calliope.

Lombard's Lilac Time parade steps off at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 20, and will feature 120 marching units. Daily Herald file photo
The Barefoot Hawaiians will be among the 120 units marching in Lombard's Lilac Time Parade. Daily Herald file photo

Lilac Time

Where: Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave., Lombard, and downtown Lombard

When: May 4-20

Info: lombardlilactime.com, lombardparks.com, lombardchamber.com

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