Throughout the years, many celebrities have participated in the Lilac Festival activities.

They include John Vivyan (known as Mr. Lucky); Dana Andrews; the Ink Spots; Spike Jones; Gordon MacRae; Bob Barker ("The Price is Right"); Hugh O'Brian (television's Wyatt Earp); Sue Ann Langdon, ("Arnie"); Allen Ludden ("Password"); Ron Pinkerton and Kevin Tigh ("Emergency"); singer Theresa Brewer; Dan Haggerty, (Grizzly Adams); Ronald McDonald; U.S. Rep. Thomas Foley (49th speaker of the House); Mark Rypien, (Washington Redskins 1991 NFL Superbowl's most valuable player); Willard Scott ("Today Show" weatherman); and Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke.