Move-in Day for Furnishings and Decor Starts This Friday, November 15—Opens in Three Weeks, December 6
Rochester, N.Y.—November 14, 2024—The holiday season is fast approaching, and organizers of the City of Rochester Roc Holiday Village presented by Five Star Bank are preparing to bring holiday cheer to the heart of Rochester.
Starting Friday, November 15, organizers and staff will be on-site at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park, transforming the space with festive furnishings and decorations. The park will be bustling with activity as the team works to create a magical winter experience for the Rochester community.
For members of the media, there will be opportunities to capture behind-the-scenes photos and interviews during the setup process from November 15 through December 5. For access or to schedule an interview, please contact Amanda Antinore at (585) 729-7533.
Roc Holiday Village Named a Best Ice Skating Rink Nominee and Best Holiday Market for USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award
Voting for Best Ice Skating Rink is open now and ends on Monday, December 9 at 11:59 a.m. EST. The top 10 winners, as ranked by USA TODAY 10Best readers, will be announced on Wednesday, December 11 at noon EST. The link to vote is: 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-ice-skating-rink-2024/roc-holiday-village-ice-rink-rochester-new-york. Voting for Best Holiday Market runs through Monday, December 2 at 11:59 a.m. EST. The top 10 markets, as chosen by USA TODAY 10Best readers, will be revealed on Wednesday, December 4 at noon EST.
The link to vote is: 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-holiday-market-2024/roc-holiday-village-rochester-new-york
USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards celebrate the best in attractions and businesses across the country, spotlighting destinations that readers trust and love. This annual program is designed to help travelers discover noteworthy experiences and places, with all nominations carefully selected by experts and editors to ensure credibility and quality. There is no cost to participate in the USA TODAY 10Best program, and nominations cannot be bought—making it a truly people-powered competition. Voting is open to the public for the next four weeks, allowing everyone to participate in crowning the top holiday markets. For more details on USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and award rules, please visit their official website: 10best.usatoday.com.
The sixth annual City of Rochester Roc Holiday Village presented by Five Star Bank opens at 4 p.m. Friday, December 6 through December 29 for 17 days of free family-friendly fun at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park in downtown Rochester. For the first time since 2019, Roc Holiday Village will be open after the Christmas holiday.
On Saturday, December 7, beginning at 5 p.m., the annual Lighting of the Liberty Pole will feature Santa, elves, and music by Prime Time Brass. The festivities include a family parade from the Liberty Pole to the Roc Holiday Village, arriving at 5:40 p.m. Free parking is available at the Mortimer Street Garage and on nearby streets. Pets are discouraged due to event conditions.
Roc Holiday Village continues on Sunday, December 8; Wednesday, December 11; Thursday, December 12; Friday, December 13; Saturday, December 14; Sunday, December 15; Wednesday, December 18, Thursday, December 19; Friday, December 20; Saturday, December 21; Sunday, December 22; Thursday, December 26; Friday, December 27; Saturday, December 28; Sunday, December 29. Roc Holiday Village is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Since its start in 2018, Roc Holiday Village annually welcomes more than 185,000 people of all ages to experience holiday magic.
For more information, visit rocholidayvillage.com.
Village Hours
- Santa’s Workshop will be open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- The Lodge bar and Frosty’s Food Court will be open Wednesday and Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- The ice rink will be open weather permitting Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Shopping Village will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m, Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m, Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Simcona Gingerbread House will be open Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additionally, the Simcona Gingerbread House will extend its hours during special events, remaining open until 10:30 p.m. on Friday, December 13 and December 27 for Trivia Night, Saturday, December 14 and Saturday, December 28 for Paint and Sips, and Movie Night on Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21.
Tickets for Story Time With Santa and Paint and Sip Events Sold Out; Limited Tickets Available for Story Time With Anna & Elsa
A limited number of tickets are still available for Story Time With Anna and Elsa, which takes place on Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. inside the Lodge. The event features an interactive story, sing-along, photo ops, and refreshments. Story Time With Anna and Elsa tickets can be purchased online at rocholidayvillage.com/tickets. Optional cookie decorating is also available. A ticket is required for each attendee over 2 years old. Story Time With Santa takes place on Sunday, December 15, and Saturday, December 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. inside the Triple-O Rochester Area Community Foundation Lodge. The event includes storytelling, a sing-along, photo ops led by Mr. Loops, crafts, and refreshments. Space is limited. Children 2 and under are free if seated on a lap. All sales are final, and tickets are non-refundable. All Story Time ticketed events sold out in 2023, so be sure to secure your tickets soon. Story Time events are presented by the Democrat and Chronicle.
Cozy Winter Igloos and Igloo Inns Sold Out for 2024 Season
Tickets to reserve a Cozy Winter Igloo and bookings for an Igloo Inn at this year’s City of Rochester Roc Holiday Village, presented by Five Star Bank, are sold out. Customers who would like updates on the Cozy Igloos may enter their contact information by visiting rocholidayvillage.com/winter-igloos. The Igloo Village includes three Igloo Inns—large, inflated igloo tents offering a private setting for 30 to 40 people—plus 10 Cozy Winter Igloos, each designed for groups of six and featuring geodesic dome covers, cozy seating, blankets, and pillows, with views of the village. Bar service is available, and customers can also pre-order food and drinks.
Highlights & What’s New
- The Simcona Gingerbread House will host evening holiday festivities, including free trivia, paint-and-sip nights, and screenings of A Christmas Story and Elf. A full bar will be available during events. Paint-and-sip tickets are sold out.
- Rohrbach Brewing Company’s “Village Lager” is getting a new look and is being re-released after a successful debut in 2023. Village Lager sold out in its first two weeks last year. The crisp classic German lager, with a bready malt backbone and subtle hops, will be also available to purchase in select retail outlets.
- The Rec Room will feature a selection of free-to-play arcade games that will take over Santa’s Workshop after Christmas from December 26 to 29.
- This is the first time Roc Holiday Village will be open after Christmas since 2019.
- Free movie screenings, free trivia nights, and ticketed paint and sips – A selection of programmed evening events and activities in the Simcona Gingerbread House
- Canned cocktails will be added to the bar menus and will be available for purchase from the Lodge, outdoor bar, and the bar in the Simcona Gingerbread House during Holiday Hangouts.
- Cheese & Charcuterie inside the Lodge features a “build-your-board” bar to purchase a selection of premium cheeses, fresh fruits and artisan meats.
- Winter Wonderland 5K Run, organized in partnership with Wolfpack Multisport, will take place on Saturday, December 21, at 7:30 p.m. The race’s starting and finishing lines will be on Chestnut St. between Woodbury Blvd. and Court St. Registration is open now at rocholidayvillage.com/winter-wonderland-run.
More Free Events & Activities This Year!
- Free ice skating and free skate rentals will be presented by Wegmans all 17 days of Roc Holiday Village’s operating hours, plus 6 days from December 30 to January 5 (skating is open on Christmas eve; closed New Year’s Day)
- Santa’s Workshop – The indoor heated tent features free visits and photos with Santa, free cookies courtesy of Wegmans, and Santa Text Express for guests when they arrive to provide their name and number and they will receive a text when it’s their turn with Santa. There will be an African American Santa on Thursday, December 12 from 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday, December 15 from 2 to 6 p.m. and Sunday December 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Crafts for kids in the Simcona Gingerbread House – an indoor heated tent – presented by Home Depot, Girl Scouts of Western NY, Scouting America, Brooklyn Robot Foundry, Compeer, Memorial and Art Gallery Creative Workshop, Rochester Museum and Science Center and Rochester Pipeline.
- Holiday celebrations in the Simcona Gingerbread House include Hanukkah presented by PJ Library and the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester on Sunday, December 8; Kwanzaa presented by the Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition on Sunday, December 15; Christmas presented by the First Bible Baptist Church on Sunday, December 22; and Three Kings’ Day presented by the Puerto Rican Festival on Sunday, December 29.
- Curling Demonstration and Instruction presented by Rochester Curling Club on Saturday, December 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sled Hockey Demonstration presented by Rochester Sled Hawks on Sunday, December 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Two free Silent Disco events will take place on the ice rink on Thursday, December 12, and Thursday, December 19 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the Silent Disco rain date is Thursday, December 26.
- Thomas Creek Figure Skating Club will be performing on Saturday, December 14 from noon to 12:30 p.m., followed by a free open clinic to learn to skate from 12:30 to 12:50 p.m.
- Genesee Figure Skating Club will be performing on Sunday, December 15 from 1 to 1:30 p.m., followed by a free open clinic to learn to skate from 1:30 to 2 p.m.
- Live music is featured on the stage inside the Lodge on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and select Sundays.Band Karaoke will be held on the stage inside the Lodge on Wednesday, December 11 and Wednesday,
- December 18 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
- Arcade games inside the Lodge are free.
- Explore the Village – I Spy Scavenger Hunt, Adventure Map, and Photo Quest is free and sponsored by Visit Rochester.
- IACKids Farewell Santa Parade on Sunday, December 22 at approximately 5:45 p.m. a brass band will perform around The Village and parade with Santa before he returns to The North Pole.
More Shopping, Eating and Drinking
The Rochester Area Community Foundation & Triple-O Lodge – The indoor heated tent includes cozy lounge seating and communal tables plus a bar with wine, beer, hard cider, hard seltzer, mulled wine, sparkling wine and soft drinks. Each day to raise proceeds, a rotation of local charities will take over The Giving Cup hot cocoa bar.
Shop, eat and drink from 26 retail vendors each week for a total of 46 different regional businesses over the course of the 17-day event. The complete list of retailers is posted online at rocholidayvillage.com.
Shop Roc Holiday Village official merchandise, one-of-a-kind keepsakes and collector items.
Outdoor seating sponsored by the YMCA and an outdoor bar are back. Guests can meet up with friends and warm up around the fire pits with their beverage of choice.
Two Mini Maker Markets – Wednesday, December 11 and Wednesday, December 18 from 4 to 9 p.m. in the Simcona Gingerbread House.
The Giving Cup – A rotation of 21 different local nonprofit charitable organizations will be serving up delicious hot cocoa inside the Lodge to raise money for their charities. The full list of organizations and schedule is online at rocholidayvillage.com.
Frosty’s Food Court – A rotation of food trucks will be located outside on Court St. Outdoor picnic table seating will be available. The lineup of food offerings is posted online at rocholidayvillage.com/food.
Special tasting events in the Rochester Area Community Foundation & Triple-O Lodge bar – The full schedule of bar tastings is posted online at rocholidayvillage.com/the-lodge-bar
Private Events – Private events can be booked for large parties in the Rochester Area Community Foundation & Triple-O Lodge for 50 to 250 people. Additional catering options are available. To book a private event, contact Roc Holiday Village by email at events@rocholidayvillage.com.
Parking – Roc Holiday Village does not operate any parking but there are many surface lots and ramp parking garages conveniently located nearby. Metered parking will be available on area streets, plus at the Washington Square Garage, Court Street Garage, Midtown Garage, and Fairway Parking. Court St. between Chestnut St. and Manhattan Square Dr. will be closed to thru traffic during the hours when the Village is open.
About Roc Holiday Village
Roc Holiday Village is Rochester, New York’s favorite, magical winter festival delighting people of all ages. Roc Holiday Village 2024 will celebrate its sixth season from December 6 to 29 and present 17 days of enchanting festivities. The annual downtown festival features outdoor seating and fire pits, free ice skating and skate rentals, a unique shopping village, indoor and outdoor bars with tasty food and drinks, free visits with Santa, hand-crafted goods, cozy winter igloos, free crafts for kids, holiday celebrations, live music, private events, nightlife and more. Roc Holiday Village is owned and produced by Rochester natives Jenna Manetta Knauf, owner of Bella Events Group; Kelli Marsh, owner of Kelli Marsh Photography; and Sean McCarthy, owner of McCarthy Tents & Events. Roc Holiday Village 2023 drew more than 185,000 people of all ages to the heart of downtown Rochester at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial Park.
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