Arnold Arboretum Celebrates 107th Annual Lilac Sunday, Public Tours and Activities on May 10 from 10am - 3pm

So much more than a walk in the park, the annual celebration of Lilac Sunday at

the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University stands among the most time-honored traditions in

New England. Since the early 1900s, the peak blooming time of one of the world’s most significant

collections of lilacs has attracted flower and garden lovers of all ages to the Arboretum landscape.

On May 10 from 10am to 3pm, Lilac Sunday beckons all to see and smell what’s in flower as spring

comes to Boston.

A premier horticulture and nature event, Lilac Sunday showcases Boston’s unique learning landscape

in flower and offers fun, outdoor explorations for the entire family. Scheduled activities range from

theme tours of lilacs and other special plant collections to an array of activities for families and

children. A consortium of nearly twenty food trucks organized by Food Truck Festivals of New

England—including Clover Food Truck, Bon Me, and Roxy’s Grilled Cheese—will offer a wide

variety of menu options from 11am to 3pm, and picnicking is allowed at the Arboretum on this

special day only. Visitors are encouraged to take public transportation. The MBTA Forest Hills

station on the Orange Line is nearby, and several bus lines serve the Arboretum area. Parking is

limited to available curb space on streets surrounding the Arboretum perimeter.

The tradition of Lilac Sunday began more than a century ago, when Founding Director Charles Sprague Sargent made annual predictions of when the Arboretum’s lilacs ascending Bussey Hill would be at peak bloom. Today, this one of a kind collection numbers some 380 plants representing over 170 different kinds of lilacs. As in recent years, Lilac Sunday falls on Mother’s Day, making the occasion even more special and memorable as a holiday destination. The event is free, though donations to the Arboretum are appreciated. For more information about lilacs (Syringa spp.) and the lilac collection at the Arnold Arboretum, visit http://arboretum.harvard.edu/plants/featured-plants/lilacs/.

What: 107th Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University

For full event schedule: http://arboretum.harvard.edu/plants/lilac_sunday.html

When: 10:00am until 3:00pm on Sunday, May 10; Food trucks serve from 11am to 3pm

Where: Tours and scheduled event activities take place throughout the northern half of the Arboretum. Closest entrances are the Arborway Gate (125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130), Forest Hills Gate, Centre Street Gate, and South Street Gate. Food Trucks located near the Centre Street Gate. Parking is limited to perimeter streets. Use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.