12th Annual Lily Fest to Celebrate International Water Lily Collection of San Angelo

SAN ANGELO, TX- Today, the 12^th annual Lily Fest will commence at Civic League Park, 2 S. Park St.

The International Water Lily Collection celebration will begin at 9:00 a.m. with vendor booths and kids' art demonstrations. The even will continue until 2:00 p.m.

Kenneth Landon, one of the foremost water lily experts in the world, will be giving tours during the celebration.

Landon said, “The festival was put together by Carl White originally, as a tribute to me for what had happened in the last 30 years, or 25 at that time. But I don’t really like that; I think it should be for the glory of the flowers and what happens down here. It’s really just a celebration for the lilies.”

Landon added that San Angelo is one of the top lily displays in the world.

“The Lily Fest happens this time of year because it’s the coolest part before it become winter and gets cold.”

Landon said, at the Lily Fest, people can expect to see “lilies that they will never see anywhere else in the world. The best that the world has to offer [will be there]. [There will be] the most pristine plants that the world has to offer, as far as pretty ones, species or wild ones.”

Additionally, right now, the International Lilly Collection has a Blue Lotus of the Nile. This flower was once worshiped by the Egyptians.

“If you want to see it, you don’t have to go Egypt; you can come down here,” Landon said.

At night, beginning at 6:00 p.m., Strolling the Lilies will be held at the Civic League Park as well.

“There will be five chefs cooking some of the best food in the world, and some of the most influential people in the lily world will be down here,” Landon said.

Tickets for the Strolling of the Lilies will be $75 and can be purchased at Lily Fest. Other places that tickets can be purchased include Peasant Village Restaurant, Secret Vineyard Day Spa & Salon, Larry Jolley Real Estate, Q’s Printing & Design, and the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce.