News Release - Mayor Warren Announces “Light up the Holidays” and City’s Schedule of Festive Events(2)

City of Rochester

News Release

(Friday, December 4, 2015) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren today announced a host of fun-filled family activities and events to celebrate the holiday season. “Light up the Holidays” is an evening of fun that includes the lighting of the Liberty Pole Downtown, a Holiday Parade and ice skating and fireworks at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park.

“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,” said Mayor Warren. “Events like this add vitality to our city and bolster our efforts to create safer more vibrant neighborhoods, more jobs and better educational opportunities for our residents. 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:


Saturday, Dec. 5, 4:30 p.m.: Light Up the Holidays at Liberty Pole Plaza, corner of Main Street and Franklin Street.

Liberty Pole Lighting at Liberty Pole Plaza, 4:30 p.m.
Join the Rochester Latino Theatre Company 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--including Santa--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-foot 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, Rudolph and other guests 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 a spectacular ground fireworks display at the ice rink, next to a fully-decorated 30-foot Christmas 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 available for $3 per person.) Refreshments and food will be available for purchase. Families can take 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. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Holidays at the Market, City of Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St.
Each year, Holidays at the Market features dozens of vendors with arts and crafts, decorations, holiday food delicacies, gifts, stocking stuffers and much more. Take advantage of a wide selection of holiday trees, wreaths, fresh garlands and a plethora of other holiday goods and goodies.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m.: A City Sings for the Season at The Sibley Building, 25 Franklin St.
Uplifting and heartwarming selections featuring children’s voices, strings and Gospel choir resound in the atrium of The Sibley Building. Patrons will enjoy the musical richness of our community while benefitting others in this popular, free performance, co-sponsored by the City, Volunteers of America Upstate New York, The Clover Center for Arts and Spirituality and the Rochester Interfaith Hospitality Network. Donations of food, clothing and personal care items will be accepted at the door. For more information, visit http://rossings.org.

Sunday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m.: Lighting of the Menorah at City Hall, 30 Church St.
The lighting of the Menorah marks the eight days of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights. Sponsored by Chabad–Lubavitch of Rochester.

• Sunday, Dec. 20 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 to 3:45 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.

• Thursday, Dec. 31, 5 to 7:30 and 8 to 10 p.m.: New Year’s Eve Skate at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial 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.

• Thursday, 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 a dance party hosted by DJ “Jimmy C,” an old-time photo booth, a giant bounce house, climbing wall, obstacle course and other inflatable structures. Special appearances by your favorite snow princess, snowman and superheroes. 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 display — 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 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on select days during the 2015 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.