News Release - Mayor Warren Announces “Light up the Holidays” and City’s Schedule of Festive Events

 City of Rochester News Release

(Tuesday, November 25, 2014) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren today announced the City’s slate of activities and events celebrating the holiday season, including “Light up the Holidays,” an evening of family fun that includes the lighting of the Liberty Pole Downtown, a Holiday Parade and ice skating and fireworks at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square.

“Rochester is home to so many wonderful holiday traditions that many of us remember from our youth, and are looking forward to introducing to future generations,” said Mayor Warren. “From the Lighting of the Liberty Pole to the splendor of New Year’s Eve fireworks, our city offers a host of opportunities to create lasting holiday memories with friends and family. Whether you live here all year, are returning home to see family or are visiting our city to find some holiday spirit, I invite you to take in one of all of these events and see why Rochester is the place to be during the holidays.”

This year’s activities include:

  • Friday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m.: City Hall Atrium Tree Lighting Ceremony, 30 Church St.
    • Join Mayor Warren as she lights the tree in the beautiful City Hall Atrium. Santa will pay a special visit and choirs from the Rochester City School District’s George Mather Forbes School No. 4 and the School of the Arts will perform. Donations of books or teddy bears in original packaging for the Books and Bears collaboration with the Rochester Police Dept. and the City are welcome.
  • Saturday, Dec. 6, 4:30 p.m.: Light Up the Holidays: Liberty Pole Plaza, corner of Main Street and Franklin Street.
    • Liberty Pole Lighting at Liberty Pole Plaza, 4:30 p.m. - Join Vocal Point, the YellowJackets and Prime Time Brass for a time-tested tradition unique to Rochester as Mayor Warren flips the switch on the 10,000 lights of the Liberty Pole at East Main Street and East Avenue. Costumed characters, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available to take photos with families. Don’t forget to stop inside The Sibley Building and catch a glimpse of the festive, 16 ft. decorated tree in the atrium. Parking is free at the East End Garage, 475 E. Main St., and the Washington Square Garage, 111 Woodbury Blvd. from 3 to 8:30 p.m.
    • Holiday Parade stepping off at the Liberty Pole, 5:15 p.m. - Children, parents and well-wishers will follow Mayor Warren, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph and other costumed characters along with the Rochester Fire Department’s hook and ladder fire truck to the music of Prime Time Brass in a procession from the Liberty Pole to the ice rink at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park. Participants may choose to catch a ride on an ole’ time trolley to the rink.
    • Fireworks, Ice Skating, and Family Activities at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 5:30 p.m. - Parade-goers will be greeted with ground fireworks at the ice rink, next to a fully-decorated 30-foot holiday tree. Free open skate to holiday music will be provided by Beal’s Rock and Roll Review. (Bring your own skates if possible. Limited skate rental for $3 per person.) Refreshments and food will be available for purchase. Families can take a free horse-drawn wagon rides around the park. To warm up, the MLK Park Lodge will be open and feature free crafts and Rec-on-the-Move activities. Free trolley rides may be taken back to nearby parking garages from the rink until 8:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m.: A City Sings for the Season at the Sibley Building Atrium, 228 E. Main St.
    • The Rochester Oratorio Society presents a free concert to benefit the Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network featuring Spiritus Christi Gospel Choir, Hochstein Youth Singers, Strings for Success, Resonanz Vocal Ensemble, and special guest Bess Phillips, soprano. Donations of food and personal care items gratefully accepted at the door. Details at: www.ROSsings.org. Sponsored by the Rochester Oratorio Society, the Baptist Temple and WINNCompanies with production assistance from the City of Rochester.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.: Lighting of the Menorah at City Hall, 30 Church St.
    • The lighting of the Menorah marks the eight days of Hanukkah (begins at sundown on Dec. 16). Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights. Sponsored by Chabad–Lubavitch of Rochester.
  • Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m.: 32nd Annual Rochester Tuba Christmas at Hochstein, 50 N. Plymouth Ave.
    • Enjoy the sound of more than 100 tubas, sousaphones, baritones and euphoniums playing festive holiday music, a Rochester holiday tradition since 1983. Tickets must be purchased at Wegmans in advance for $3 per person. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
    • Sunday, Dec. 21 from 4 to 5:15 p.m.: Skate with Santa at the Genesee Valley Park Ice Arena, Genesee Valley Park, 131 Elmwood Ave.
    • $2 youth, $3 college student (with ID), $5 adults, $14 family maximum. Skate rental is an additional $3.
  • Wednesday Dec. 31, 5:30 to 7:30 and 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.: New Year’s Eve Skate at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 353 Court St.
    • Free admission. $3 skate rental. Family skate: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Adults only (over 16 years old) skate: 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 7 p.m.: New Year’s Eve Celebration and Fireworks at the Joseph E. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 E. Main St.
    • Family Indoor Fun, 7 p.m. - Free festivities with activities and entertainment for all ages including dance party hosted by DJ “Jimmy C,” an old-time photo booth, a giant bounce house, climbing wall, obstacle course and other inflatable structures. Also featured will be a magician, face painting, and caricaturists. Special appearances by Disney’s Frozen characters Elsa and Ana, and Rochester’s favorite superhero, Spider-Man. Free parking available in Sister Cities, Court Street, South Avenue and Washington Square Garages. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
    • Fireworks, 10 p.m. - Relocate just outside the Convention Center, overlooking the Main Street Bridge. From this vantage point, view the City’s spectacular fireworks finale — the largest New Year’s Eve fireworks show in Greater Rochester.
  • Throughout the Season: Holidays at City R-Centers.
    • R-Centers will host a variety of actives such as visits from Santa and holiday parties. Call 311 to be connected to a center or visit www.cityofrochester.gov/rcenters
  • Throughout the Season: The Edgerton Model Railroad Room, 41 Backus St.
    • This hidden treasure will be open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during select days during the 2014 holiday season. For schedule information, call 428-6769 visit www.cityofrochester.gov/edgertontrain.

Holiday events are sponsored by the City of Rochester. For more information, call 311 (outside the city, call 428-5990), visit www.cityofrochester.gov, or watch City12 Cable TV inside city limits.

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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.