Monroe County’s Parks Director says the new security strategy made a big difference for this year’s Lilac Festival in Rochester, and it will definitely repeat next year.
Larry Staub says the policy requiring children under the age of 17 to attend with a parent or responsible adult meant a much more family-friendly festival. Festival goers and vendors said they were happy with the tone of the 119th annual festival and the lack of fights.
Rochester Police reported no incidents at this year’s festival until Sunday evening, when a man tried to get back in after having been told to leave the grounds.
Police say the 22-year-old man was drunk and tried to shove past an officer after being told to leave or face arrest. Patrick Fisher was charged with resisting arrest, trespassing and harassment. Nobody was hurt.