Dedmon inducted as president for next year
SPOKANE — The Spokane Lilac Festival Association has announced its theme and new leadership for 2025. The announcement was made at the annual installation event on Sept. 4, held at Fête - A Nectar Co. in downtown Spokane.
The Junior Lilac parade will occur on May 10, 2025, and the Military Torchlight parade is scheduled for May 17 of that year.
Jamie Dedmon, the newly inducted president for the 2025 festival year, revealed the theme as “To Spokane with Love.” Dedmon, addressing festival volunteers, past presidents, royalty, and staff, said the theme was inspired by the dedication and love the festival’s volunteers show for their community.
“To all of you, you are my daily inspiration, and I have decided to dedicate this year’s theme to you,” Dedmon said.
The event also served as a moment of reflection for outgoing co-presidents Elisabeth Hooker and Carly Cortright, who looked back on their year leading the 2024 “Dare to Dream” festival. Cortright, moved to tears, described the opportunity to represent Spokane across the state, Idaho, and Canada as “the true honor of my life.”
Hooker, who began her journey with the Lilac Festival as a Royalty candidate in 1999, reflected on the importance of continuing the festival’s legacy. “Now is the time to stop looking back and instead, strive forward, becoming a premier example of what celebration in Spokane looks like,” she said.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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