Longtime Lilac Festival promoter Jeff Springut has announced he has withdrawn from producing the event, something he has done since 2013.
The Lilac Festival brings in over 500,000 people a year from across Western and Upstate NY, the tri-state area, and Canada to Highland Park to see great music and look at the beautiful lilacs that grow in the park, as well as eat and drink amazing food.
Organizer of the spring festival for more than a decade, Springut said to the Rochester Beacon that his event-production company, the Springut Group Inc., still plans to produce Party in the Park and other events, but is done with the Lilac Festival. He cited no specific reasons for deciding to withdraw.
“I’ve done the Lilac Festival for 12 years. We’ve had a great run, but now it’s time to move on,” Springut said to the organization. County officials confirmed that this news will not affect the 2024 Lilac Festival. “We are currently working with two seasoned professionals with long histories with the festival. We are in good hands moving forward in coordination with the City of Rochester and Lilac Festival Inc.,” said Gary Walker, a spokesperson with Monroe County, as reported by Rochester First.
In 2019, Springut withdrew as the promoter of the Park Avenue Festival, which has since not been able to be revived due to it being called off during the pandemic and lack of promoters willing to take it on. County Legislator Rachel Barnhart spoke with Rochester Baron, saying “I don’t believe the county will let the Lilac Festival fail.” She says one of the reasons the Park Avenue Festival was unable to continue was because Springut did not share his plans and methods.
Springut says he has not passed on plans, contracts with vendors or performers, or other information about the Lilac Festival to the county. Nevertheless, he maintains, the county has “a good handle on it. I’m sure it will be fine. The lilacs will bloom.”
A spokesperson for the county says moving forward, they’ll be working with two seasoned professionals with long histories in the festival, and are in good hands to coordinate.
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