Celebrating its 67th year, the Sapporo Lilac Festival will be held for 12 days from Wednesday, May 14th to Sunday, May 25th, primarily at Odori Park. Here's a guide to the highlights of this event, where you can enjoy music, wine, and various activities while enveloped in the sweet fragrance of lilacs.

Known as an event that heralds the arrival of early summer in Sapporo, the Sapporo Lilac Festival started in 1959. The lilac, also designated as the official tree of Sapporo, is characterized by its fragrance. During the event, the venues will be adorned with purple, pink, and white lilacs.

At the Odori Park venue, where about 400 lilac trees are in full bloom, events such as the Lilac Music Festival, a wine garden, and a stamp rally will be held. Additionally, at the Kawashimo Park venue, which was added for the 50th festival, various events like lilac tours and concerts will take place.

An antique market is also held at the 5-chome venue.

The Odori Park 5-chome venue will be open from Wednesday, May 14th to Sunday, May 18th. It will feature the "Lilac Chaya" (Tea House), where a Japanese tea sommelier will demonstrate how to brew tea and introduce the taste of hand-rolled tea. There will also be a market for handmade goods, an antique appraisal and sales area, a lilac exhibition and sales/consultation corner, and on weekends, a hands-on corner for nostalgic old-fashioned games that families can enjoy.

Sales booths by Sapporo creators.

Lilac exhibition, sales, and consultation corner.

Enjoy music and food together at the Odori Park 6-chome venue.

Held from Wednesday, May 14th to Sunday, May 25th, the Odori Park 6-chome venue's "Rira Terrace 2025" will feature the "Rira Terrace Cafe" with a rotating lineup of popular cafes, the "Rira Terrace Bakery" where you can enjoy bread made with Hokkaido wheat, and the "Rira Terrace BAR" gathering popular craft beers from Sapporo. There will also be "Cafe Meal Booths" and "Sweets Booths".

A "green cafe terrace" in the heart of the city.

Furthermore, the "Lilac Spring Stage 2025" will feature performances by brass bands and live music from local musicians. A lilac-colored street piano will also appear, adding a musical touch to the lilac season.

Fully enjoy Hokkaido wines at the Odori Park 7-chome venue.

The "LILAC WINE GARDEN 2025" at the Odori Park 7-chome venue, held from Wednesday, May 14th to Sunday, May 25th, is a celebration of Hokkaido wines featuring one of the largest lineups in the region! Over 200 types of Hokkaido wines from more than 50 wineries and vineyards across Hokkaido will be served.

Lilacs from around the world bloom in Kawashimo Park's "Lilac Forest".

Kawashimo Park in Shiroishi Ward is another venue. In the park's renowned "Lilac Forest," the early-blooming varieties start to flower in mid-May, and for about a month and a half until the late-blooming ones finish in early July, over 200 varieties of lilacs will be in bloom. It's a perfect venue for a relaxing family outing, with guided tours of the Lilac Forest, a quiz rally, and concerts on stage.

Kawashimo Park Lilac Quiz Rally.

Kawashimo Park Concert.

The annual "Free Lilac Seedling Giveaway" will take place on Saturday, May 24th, from 9:00 AM for the first 150 people on the path next to the Relax Plaza front entrance. The giveaway will end once all seedlings are distributed, so please check in advance.

Free Lilac Seedling Giveaway.

*Images are from past events.