midnight
One of them agreed to go and find out . He sailed down gently and into a cluster of Lilacs . `` This is the grand celebration , '' said they in answer to his question . `` For one night in the year the Little People are coming out for sport before midnight . The Queen will be here , and we are to drop leaves upon her . '' But the Cherry Blossom was unable to carry the news back , for the winds were not favourable . It was as the Lilacs had said .