City of Rochester
News Release
Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans Announces 2023 Summer
Parade Line-Up
(Monday, April 17, 2023) – As the weather warms and brightens, the City of
Rochester begins preparations for an upcoming season of celebratory parades.
“Every single parade held in Rochester is a moment for
reflection, recognition and celebration,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “I deeply
appreciate the coordination and collaboration of the many important partners
who come together to make these events possible.”
Because parades are protected by the First Amendment of the
U.S. Constitution, the City provides a number of services including street
closures and barriers, police support, trash receptacles, and special event
coordination free of charge for event organizers.
Rochester’s first 2023 parade was the St. Patrick’s Day event
on Saturday, March 11. Next up is the Lilac Festival parade on Saturday, May
13, when the region celebrates the full blooming of Spring.
Soon thereafter, summer kicks off with the Memorial Day
Parade, slated for Monday, May 29. One of Rochester’s longest-standing parades
and meaningful celebrations, the events currently held for Memorial Day have
occurred nearly every year since the early 1900s.
The City has been so committed to this reverential moment in
time that the City Charter itself, since its adoption in 1907, has expressly
authorized funding in the City budget to observe Memorial Day—making it the
only special event with a dedicated funding stream. The Charter currently
authorizes the City to budget up to $8,500 for the Memorial Day celebration at
Blue Cross Arena. In recent years, the City actually increased its annual
financial commitment to the celebration to $10,000.
“Memorial Day is an important moment for the country, and
recognizes those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said Mayor
Evans. “The ceremony deserves its unique position as the only Rochester event
that receives this kind of support from the City.”
Once our region marks the calendar shift to summer, parade
season truly heats up. The season’s currently planned parades include:
- Juneteenth Parade, Saturday, June 17
- Pride Fest Parade, Saturday, July 15
- Puerto Rican Parade, Saturday, August 5
- Carifest Parade, Saturday, August 12
- Labor Day Parade, Monday, Sept. 4
In addition, several neighborhood events are planning to
hold smaller parade-like proceedings.
The majority of Rochester’s parades occur Downtown. Street
closures are required to ensure the safety of parade participants and
attendees, and the City positions barriers and large vehicles to ensure that
traffic is prevented from entering routes.
Conducting these large-scale events in the city center
minimizes their impact on residential areas, facilitates easy ingress/egress
and parking, and helps moderate the cost of City services required to ensure
participant safety.
For more information about parades held in the City of
Rochester, visit www.CityOfRochester.gov/parades.
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