Lanterns Debut This Year as Part of Lighting of the Liberty Pole and Parade to Roc Holiday Village on Saturday, December 3rd

Pick Up a Free Lantern at Participating Locations This Friday, November 18

Rochester, NY—November 15, 2022—The City of Rochester, Downtown Definitely Events, and Roc Holiday Village are excited to announce the addition of community-created lanterns in the annual family parade after the Lighting of the Liberty Pole on Saturday, December 3 at 5 p.m. on the corner of E. Main St. and Franklin St. in downtown Rochester.

This free, family-friendly event in the heart of Downtown becomes even more interactive this year as it invites members of the community to create and carry their own decorated lanterns in the parade to the Roc Holiday Village.

Blank paper lanterns are free and may be picked up in advance of the Parade starting Friday, November 18 at select Rochester businesses and libraries. Participants can then decorate and customize their lanterns and bring them to the evening’s festivities.

LED lights to place inside the lanterns and sticks to carry them will be provided free of charge at the Liberty Pole lighting and Lantern Parade on December 3. Pick them up at the Downtown Definitely pop-up tent adjacent to the Liberty Pole.

“The Lighting of the Liberty Pole and parade to the Roc Holiday Village is the official kickoff of the holiday season in Rochester,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “This year, lanterns created by the community and carried in the family parade will add a special, festive glow to our Downtown. We are thrilled to partner with the RDDC and Downtown Definitely Events to bring this fun new, interactive element to our long-standing holiday tradition. I encourage everyone to come Downtown on December 3 to kick off Rochester’s holiday season!”

“We are so excited to light up downtown in a new and collaborative way!” said Galin Brooks, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation President & CEO. “The City of Rochester’s Liberty Pole Lighting is one of our city’s most beloved traditions, and Roc Holiday Village is one of Rochester’s most popular local festivals. We’re delighted to offer a fun and new addition to both events for everyone to enjoy. So pick up a lantern to customize and let your creativity shine!”

The parade route begins at the Liberty Pole, proceeds east down Main St, south down Gibbs St, east on East Avenue, south on Broadway, and ends at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at the Roc Holiday Village.

Participating Locations to Pick Up a Lantern Starting Nov. 18:

  • La Bola – 240 E Main St, Rochester (The Mercantile on Main)
  • Rochester Public Library (11 locations) roccitylibrary.org/location
  • Me Gusta – 240 E Main St, Rochester (The Mercantile on Main)
  • Pop Roc – 45 Euclid St, Rochester
  • RoCoCo Coffee Co – 240 E Main St, Rochester (The Mercantile on Main)
  • Stacy K – 43 Russell St, Rochester
  • Ugly Duck – 89 Charlotte St, Rochester
  • VAULT Cycle-Box-Move – 10 Franklin St, Rochester

For More Information
For the latest on Downtown Definitely events, visit downtowndefinitely.com
Get the scoop! Sign up for the free Downtown Definitely Newsletter at downtowndefinitely.com
Email us at info@downtowndefinitely.com.
By phone (585) 546-6920

About Downtown Definitely Events
Downtown Definitely Events is a new series of free events and activities produced by the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC) taking place in downtown Rochester from June through December 2022 and includes food, festivals, shopping, music, movies, and more shining the light on downtown to create great new experiences and help bring the community together again. Downtown Definitely is a joint initiative of NYS Empire State Development, ROC2025, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, Rochester Downtown Partnership, and the City of Rochester. Their shared mission is to grow economic vitality in Downtown Rochester by bringing the community together and improving its street-level and riverfront experience.

About Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC)
RDDC is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization founded in 1977 whose sole mission is to drive economic vitality in Downtown Rochester. RDDC accelerates downtown development by positioning and marketing the assets that attract businesses and investment, and it catalyzes innovative ideas that make downtown a more vibrant and inclusive community. RDDC also built and operates The Commissary (opened in October 2020), the region’s first and only food business incubator and shared kitchen. The public-private Rochester Downtown Partnership entity was created jointly in 2021 by RDDC, Finger Lakes Empire State Development, City of Rochester, and ROC2025 to jumpstart a new, collaborative way of managing downtown and core ROC the Riverway sites.

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