Lilac festival is this Saturday

The 11th annual Lilac Festival in downtown Defiance is Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The festival is an annual event and recognizes the official flower of the city, the lilac.
The Defiance Area YMCA Purple 5K Run begins at 8:30 a.m., the parade at 10.
Clinton Street will be closed this year between Second and Fourth streets beginning at 7 a.m. Also new this year are two projects that will allow the public to participate in art. The community street mural will allow everyone to try their hand at painting.
Food to jewelry and all types of art that will be available for sale. The sound of live music will fill the streets with bluegrass music as the theme. Music will be presented by the Cottonwood Jam String Band playing from 10:30 a.m.-noon. At 12:30 p.m., Sawmill Ridge will take the stage for the afternoon entertainment.
A new attraction for this year’s Lilac Festival is “Camp Bulldog,” an area designated specifically for the young. Pony rides, miniature golf, funny photography and a kids’ town fun house will be available for children attending the festival.
Five hundred free lilac seedlings will be available in front of the State Bank while supplies last. The seedlings will be prepared by the master gardeners and distributed by employees of the State Bank.