The timing for the Lilac Festival is just right this year. The opening weekend weather was ideal. The bushes and trees are bursting with colorful blooms, and their fragrances practically force a person to pause to inhale a deep breath. But with this perfection came its own set of problems -- crawling traffic, long hikes from the parking lots, long lines at the vendors, and almost fear-inducingly crushing crowds. Returning later in the week, and earlier in the day, I still noticed a stronger attendance than in years past. The Lilac Festival has become quite the destination.

One newcomer is the children's area. Like a carnival, it has rides -- a mini caged Ferris wheel, saucers, a slide -- midway games, a train, and even pony rides. Tickets are $1 each, 10 for $8, and 20 for $14, with most rides costing three tickets.

The food was to be expected. Hots, burgers, gyros, steak sandwiches, Indian, Asian...all the yummy, greasy, salty combinations you can think of, plus a hearty dose of sugary treats -- cotton candy, funnel cakes, etc. --  with fruity smoothies available for the less adventurous. An amusing addition was the inclusion of a McCafe -- Micky D's version of a gourmet coffee stand. Cashing in on the festival circuit is a brilliant marketing idea. I wonder what they paid if they had to outbid Starbucks...

Surrounding the food vendors are service vendors. Too many, IMHO. Does anyone really purchase a soft-side hot tub or a water purification unit at a festival?

As for amenities, there are plenty of crescent moon studios (porta-potties). Inside, they're not too bad, and even offer sanitizing hand goo. Not the typical blue or green, these babies are purple. Which begs the question: did the fest commission them? And is this fest their only engagement?

The only complaint I have is the golf carts. There are lots of them, bringing artists and vendors to and fro. Which I don't have a problem with. But I do have a problem with how fast they moved, and their constant pushing me off the sidewalk to make way. And so did my friends. They made me feel like I was in a grocery store and someone behind me was going to catch my heels with their shopping cart. It also made it seem like the visitors were not a priority.

But, overall, for Rochester's first outdoor festival of the ever-growing festival season, this one is sweet. Sweet smelling, sweet price, sweet entertainment, and the yummy sweets.

Next up: Altered Books