Spokane Lilac Festival & Armed Forces Torchlight Parade
The May festival that ends with the nation's largest armed forces torchlight parade.
Every May, Spokane marks the start of spring with the Lilac Festival, and the headline is the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade on the third Saturday evening of the month. The festival bills it as the largest armed forces torchlight parade in the nation. Tens of thousands of people line downtown streets at dusk to watch marching bands, military units, floats, drill teams and community groups roll past.
The festival is more than one night. A Junior Lilac Parade fills downtown with kids' bands and dance groups on the second Saturday morning. On parade day there is a classic car show and a brewfest in Riverfront Park before the evening step-off. A coronation, a queen's luncheon and a formal gala happen around the edges for the people who run the festival's youth royalty program.
For a one-time visitor, this is the weekend that shows you how Spokane sees itself: a mid-sized city with a strong military connection (Fairchild Air Force Base is just west of town) and a lot of civic pride. Come early, find a curb, and stay for the sunset and the lights.
What to see and do
Third Saturday in May, in the evening. In 2026 it stepped off at 7:45 p.m. on Washington Street at Spokane Falls Boulevard. Expect marching bands, military units, floats and drill teams, with the light fading as it goes.
A daytime, family-friendly parade on the second Saturday in May, usually starting at 10:30 a.m. School bands, dance groups and youth organizations march downtown. It is a calmer way to see the festival with small kids.
Classic cars and live music on parade day, before the evening parade. A good way to fill the afternoon downtown.
Held on parade Saturday at the Gesa Credit Union Pavilion. Combine it with a stroll through the park, which is already at its greenest in May.
In 2026 the festival sold bleacher seats for $20 at Washington Street and Spokane Falls Boulevard, with parade-day sales from its merchandise trailer starting at 11 a.m. Check current details for the year you visit.
For 2026 the city shortened the route to roughly half its old length, ending at City Hall, so organizers packed the same parade into less space. Expect crowds to be close together and check the official route map before you pick a spot.
Local tips
- Book downtown lodging early. Lilac weekend is one of the busiest of the spring, and the festival itself recommends several downtown and airport-area hotels.
- Claim a curb spot well before the evening start (7:45 p.m. in 2026) if you want a front-row view. Bring a folding chair or blanket if the route rules allow it.
- Bring layers. May days can be warm, but it cools quickly after sunset and you will be standing still.
- Read the official route map and street-closure notices before you drive. Downtown streets close well before the parade, and the route has changed in recent years.
- Park on the edge of downtown and walk in, or stay at a hotel you can walk from. Check current parking details; garages fill quickly.
- Go to the Junior Lilac Parade the week before if you have young kids or want a shorter, daytime version.
- Leave a little time after the parade for dinner. Restaurants downtown and in the Davenport area stay busy late on parade night.
- Check the festival site for exact times, bleacher tickets and any changes. Details shift year to year.
A little history
The festival began in 1938, started by the Associated Garden Clubs and the Spokane Floral Society to show off the area's spring lilacs and local young people. A royalty program for young women began in 1940. The festival paused from 1943 to 1945 during World War II and was revived in 1946, when the Spokane Lilac Festival Association was formed.
Armed Forces Day landed on the third Saturday in May starting in 1949, the same day as the Lilac parade, and for a few years the two parades ran separately. They were combined in 1955. A community torchlight parade was added in 1960, and in 1976 the two merged into the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade that runs on Saturday evening today.
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Questions visitors ask
When is the Lilac Festival Torchlight Parade?
It is held on the third Saturday in May, in the evening. In 2026 it was Saturday, May 16 at 7:45 p.m. Dates for 2027 had not been announced when this was written, so check the festival site.
Is the parade free?
Watching from the sidewalk is free. Bleacher seats were $20 in 2026. Some festival events, such as the brewfest and luncheons, require tickets.
Is it really the largest torchlight parade of its kind?
The festival describes it as the largest armed forces torchlight parade in the nation. That is the organizers' claim.
Is there a daytime parade for families?
Yes. The Junior Lilac Parade runs on the second Saturday in May, typically at 10:30 a.m.
Will lilacs be in bloom?
Usually, in mid to late May, though the exact bloom depends on the spring. The festival timing is built around the lilacs.
Where should I stay?
Downtown is easiest. The festival's own site lists the Davenport hotels, DoubleTree, and a few airport-area options as recommended lodging.
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