The Sapporo Lilac Festival, celebrating its 66th anniversary this year, will be held for 12 days from Wednesday, May 15 to Sunday, May 26, mainly in Odori Park. Here are some of the highlights of this event, where you can enjoy music, wine, and various experiences while being enveloped in the sweet scent of lilacs.

The Sapporo Lilac Festival, known as the event that heralds the arrival of early summer in Sapporo, started in 1959. Lilacs, which are recognized as "Sapporo's tree," are characterized by their fragrance, and purple, pink and white lilacs color the festival site.

At the Odori venue, where approximately 400 lilacs are in full bloom, a lilac music festival, wine garden, stamp rally, and other events will be held. The "Kawashita venue," which was added to the venue for the 50th event, will host a variety of events, including a lilac tour and a concert in Kawashita Park.

The entire Odori venue will be open from Wednesday, May 15 to Sunday, May 26. The annual lilac sapling giveaway will be held again this year for the first 1,000 visitors. In addition, there will be a sketch corner, stamp rally, and other programs connecting the various venues.

Details of the entire Odori site

Opening Ceremony: Wednesday, May 15, 11:00 -
Venue: Odori 6-chome venue
Mini-concert and commemorative lilac tree planting

Lilac sapling giveaway May 15 (Wed.) 11:00 -
Venue: Odori 6-chome venue
Lilac saplings will be given away to the first 1,000 visitors

Lilac Sketching Corner Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 11:00-16:00
Sketching Corner where visitors can freely draw pictures

Lilac Stamp Rally May 18 (Sat.) & 19 (Sun.) 11:00-16:00
Stamp rally where visitors can tour the venue while having fun

Lilac Girl May 18 (Sat.) & 19 (Sun.) 13:00-16:00
Lilac Musume" dressed in lilac flower-inspired costumes will appear at the venue.

The 5th Street venue will be open from May 15 (Wed.) to 19 (Sun.). Visitors can enjoy various experiences such as "Rairaku Tea House" where they can learn how to brew and taste tea, a market with handmade goods, appraisal and sale of antique items, and a lilac display and sale and consultation corner. On weekends, there are many family-friendly events such as traditional games, origami classes, and calligraphy workshops.

Details of the 5th Street venue

Wednesday, May 15 - Friday, May 17, 2012
■Rairaku Tea House
The Hokkaido branch of the Japan Association of Tea Instructors will introduce how to brew new tea and the taste of hand-rubbed tea.
Citizens' Handmade Market
Handmade goods by local creators will be on sale.

May 15 (Wed.) - 19 (Sun.), 2012
Free Appraisal of Treasures & Antique Market
Free appraisals and sales of antique items by experts.
Lilac Exhibit, Sale and Consultation Corner
Lilacs on display, for sale, and for consultation on how to grow lilacs.
Ikebana Exhibit Corner
Various styles of ikebana are on display.

Saturday, May 18 - Sunday, May 19, 2012
Portrait Corner
Portraits will be drawn by the Sapporo Manga People's Association.
Origami Workshop
Origami workshop by Japan Origami Association.
Hinemeri Making Corner
Traditional Finnish decoration "Himmeri" making workshop.
Calligraphy workshop
Calligraphy workshop by the International Calligraphy Association of Sapporo.
Old games experience corner
Experience traditional games by playing with bamboo tambo, a traditional game of old times.
Nodate
Enjoy traditional Japanese tea ceremony outdoors.

At the "Sapporo Lilac Festival 6-chome Cafe Bar Village," held from May 15 (Wed.) to 26 (Sun.), visitors can enjoy sweets, light meals and coffee in a refreshing cafe terrace atmosphere. In addition, various genres of music will be performed on the stage, including a brass band performance by elementary, junior high, and high school students, and live performances by musicians active in Sapporo. This is a venue where you can have a wonderful time with the spring weather.

Details of 6-chome venue

■Sapporo Lilac Festival 6-chome Cafe Bar Village
Wednesday, May 15 - Sunday, May 26, 10:00 - 21:00 *12:00 - 21:00 on Wednesday, May 15
Under the concept of "enjoying music and food and drink in the fresh spring weather of Sapporo and the flowers and greenery of Odori Park," a refreshing café terrace atmosphere will be created and food and drink, mainly sweets, light meals and coffee, will be served.

Lilac Spring Stage 2024
Lilac Brass Band Festival Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 10:00-17:00 (tentative)
The annual brass band concert by elementary, junior high and high school students will be held.
Sapporo Spring Jazz & Classic LIVE May 15 (Wed) - 17 (Fri), 20 (Mon) - 24 (Fri) 12:00 - 14:30
Live music by musicians of various genres active in Sapporo.
Spring Live May 25 (Sat) and 26 (Sun), 10:00-18:00
Music, dance and cultural performances by citizens.

At "Lilac Wine Garden 2024" at the 7-chome venue from May 15 (Wed.) to 26 (Sun.), visitors can enjoy Hokkaido wines and food using local ingredients. 200 wines selected from more than 40 wineries will be on display in Odori Park, where spring is in full swing.

7-chome venue details

Lilac Wine Garden 2024 May 15 (Wed) - 26 (Sun), 10:00 - 21:00
This is a venue where visitors can enjoy wine in a stylish atmosphere based on the concept of "dishes that go well with Hokkaido wines and wines made with Hokkaido ingredients.

The Kawashita venue will be held at Kawashita Park in Shiroishi Ward for two days on May 25 (Sat.) and 26 (Sun.). There will be a guided tour through the lilac forest, a park concert, a lilac quiz rally, and many other events that can be enjoyed in the midst of nature. There will also be an event where lilac saplings will be distributed free of charge, making this a venue where visitors can feel the arrival of spring.

Downstream venue details

■Free distribution of lilac saplings May 25 (Sat.) and 26 (Sun.) Start 11:00 / 14:00
Location: Lilac Forest (gather in front of Relax Plaza)
Free lilac saplings will be distributed to the first 150 visitors.

Lilac Guided Tour May 25 (Sat.) & 26 (Sun.) Start 11:00 / 14:00
Location: Lilac Forest (Meet in front of Relax Plaza)
Guided tour through the Lilac Forest. (Capacity: 10 people per tour)

■Let your lilacs bloom on SNS May 25 (Sat.) & 26 (Sun.)
The first 100 people to post their favorite lilac photo on SNS each day will receive a free gift.

■Lilac Quiz Rally in Kawashita Park May 25 (Sat.) & 26 (Sun.) 10:00 - 15:00
Stamp rally style quiz rally, those who collect all stamps will receive a free gift.

■Kawashita Park Concert May 25 (Sat.) 26 (Sun.)
Place: Lawn Square Special Stage
Music concert held on the special stage at the lawn square.

Various concession stands Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, 10:00-15:00
Location: Special stall in front of Relax Plaza
Lilac saplings, original goods, food and beverages, etc. will be sold.

Lilac Art Workshop May 25 (Sat.) & 26 (Sun.) 10:00-15:00
Location: Special tent in front of Relax Plaza
Workshop on lilac motif crafts, etc.