New Lilac Festival co-executive chair on upcoming event

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — We’re just under a month away from the start of the 126th Lilac Festival . This will be the first time in over a decade that the festival will not be produced by the Springut Group.

Jeff Springut “stepped away” from producing the festival late last year. In his place, Jenny LoMaglio, who had been running point for the event for 10 years, will take over as a co-executive chair.

She says much of the festival will stay the same but with some of her own tweaks, including an extra emphasis on local music.

“You will see this year a very diverse lineup. I’m not against past lineups, I love a good tribute act, this year it was time to think less about those things and more about inclusivity,” she said.

She credits much of the booking to Drave Drago, a local promoter, recording engineer, and one of the minds behind one of Rochester’s newest big-name venues, Essex.

On security, the festival will keep the escort policy changes instituted at last year’s event. LoMaglio says that the festival will have more security personnel at busy times and overnight, and will have metal wand detection at the five entrance points with periodic bag checks.

She says one of their biggest goals this year are to make sure local dollars stay local, keeping the festival is family-friendly, and to have something for everyone.

New this year, a sensory friendly space in partnership with AutismUp.

“The space will be outfitted through them, so they will be supplying sensory bags, with low lighting, blankets, fidgets, things for the attendees to hold, really just cater to folks that need it,” she said.

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