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NEWS RELEASE

October 1, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT

Amanda Antinore

(585) 729-7533

Igloo Inn Bookings Open on October 15 at 10 AM

Construction Begins October 16

Cozy Igloo Tickets on Sale November 2 at 10 AM

Story Time Tickets on Sale November 8 at 10 AM

Photo by Tomas Flint for Roc Holiday Village; L–R: Martin K. Birmingham, President and CEO, Five Star Bank; Jenna Knauf, co-owner, Roc Holiday Village; Sean McCarthy, co-owner, Roc Holiday Village; Kelli Marsh, Co-owner, Roc Holiday Village; Mayor Malik D. Evans, City of Rochester; Adam J. Bello, Monroe County Executive

Rochester, NY — Oct. 1, 2024 —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.

Co-owners, Jenna Manetta-Knauf, Kelli Marsh, and Sean McCarthy announced details of the popular holiday festival at a news conference today.

Since its start in 2018, Roc Holiday Village has welcomed more than 185,000 people of all ages annually for holiday magic.

On Saturday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m., the annual Liberty Pole Lighting will include a parade to Roc Holiday Village held in partnership with the City of Rochester. More details about the lighting and parade will be announced at a later date.

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; Wednesday, December 26; Thursday, December 27; Friday, December 28; Saturday, December 29.

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, Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m, Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"We are pleased to share our plans for the sixth annual event. This year's holiday festival is sure to be a wonderful celebration filled with joy and festivities," said co-founders, Manetta-Knauf, Marsh, and McCarthy. "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has been involved since the beginning. Your support and enthusiasm inspire us to continually improve each year. We look forward to seeing you all in December!"

“Roc Holiday Village has become one of Rochester’s signature events and is an inclusive holiday destination for all,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “The City of Rochester is thrilled to sponsor another year of Roc Holiday Village. I urge everyone to come downtown this December and celebrate the season at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park!"

“Five Star Bank is proud to support downtown Rochester and our community’s businesses, restaurants and artisans through Roc Holiday Village,” said Five Star Bank President and CEO Martin K. Birmingham. “It’s a joy to see so many people exploring and enjoying our great city through this event, which seems to get bigger and better each year.”

“Through our sponsorship, we love to see people enjoying free ice skating and cookies at Holiday Village, but our commitment to the community goes much deeper than that,” said Linda Lovejoy, Wegmans community relations manager. “It’s about bringing people together and creating moments that will be cherished for years to come. We are excited to continue our partnership for the sixth year and look forward to seeing everyone at the Holiday Village."

"Monroe County is proud to sponsor Roc Holiday Village this year through our expanded Community Festival Funding. We support festivals and arts organizations because we understand the significant impact they have on our cultural economy and the profound role they play in creating vibrant and connected communities," said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. "This seasonal event transforms MLK Park into a magical winter wonderland with fun activities for all ages, and I encourage everyone to come downtown and enjoy this unique holiday experience."

Cozy Winter Igloo tickets go on sale Saturday, November 2 at 10 AM

The Igloo Village will feature 10 Cozy Igloos available to book for groups of six people each. Each geodesic dome-covered lounge has a view of the Village, is furnished with stylish and cozy chairs, blankets, and pillows, and offers bar service. 

Cozy Winter Igloo tickets go on sale Saturday, November 2 at 10 a.m. online at rocholidayvillage.com. They can be booked for 90-minute increments for $200 plus taxes and fees. Additional food and drink options are available for purchase in advance during the checkout process. Roc Holiday Village's ticketing system allows customers to hold the booking for 10 minutes during the checkout process. If a timeslot appears sold out, customers are advised to refresh the page. The system takes time to cycle back after an incomplete sale. Cozy Igloos sold out in two hours in 2023.

Story Time With Santa and Story Time With Anna and Elsa tickets go on sale Friday, November 8 at 10 AM

Roc Holiday Village is bringing back popular ticketed special events including Story Time With Santa and Story Time With Anna and Elsa. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 8 at 10 a.m. online at rocholidayvillage.com. Story Time With Anna and Elsa is for $40 per person plus taxes and fees, and Story Time With Santa is $25 per person plus taxes and fees. Optional cookie decorating is also available for an additional $15 and includes 4 cookies.

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 and includes storytelling, a sing-along, photo ops led by Mr. Loops, crafts and refreshments.

Story Time With Anna and Elsa takes place on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 22 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. inside the Lodge and includes an interactive story, sing-along, photo ops 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. Story Time events are sponsored by the Democrat and Chronicle.

Introducing movie screenings, trivia, paint and sips

The Simcona Gingerbread House, an indoor heated tent, is being transformed into a festive hub of fun with a lineup of activities during evening hours, featuring free trivia nights, paint-and-sip events, and free classic holiday movie screenings, including Elf and A Christmas Story.

Trivia nights are scheduled on December 13 and December 27 at 8:30 p.m. , while Paint and Sip nights will take place on December 14 and December 28, also at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for paint and sip events are $35 per person and will be available online starting Friday, November 8 at 10 a.m.

The screenings of A Christmas Story will occur on December 20, followed by Elf on December 21, both at 8:30 p.m. A bar offering a selection of beverages including beer, wine, hard cider, canned cocktails, and non-alcoholic options will be set up during these evening events. The movie screenings are sponsored by Vida.

Highlights & What's New

• 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 will be conveniently located inside the Lodge with their new "build-your-board" bar to purchase a selection of premium cheeses, fresh fruits and artisan meats.
• A new online booking system for Igloo Inns is being implemented to streamline the customer experience for reserving the large inflated igloo tents. Three Igloo Inns including the popular Rinkside Igloo Inn, offer private settings for 30 or 40 guests with additional catering options available. Igloo Inns may be booked online starting Tuesday, October 15 at 10 a.m. at rocholidayvillage.com.
• Winter Wonderland Run, in partnership with Wolfpack Multisport, will be held as an inaugural 5K run on Friday, December 20. The starting line and finish line will be located on Court St. near the entrance of Roc Holiday Village. More information and registration details can be found 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 (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 Buckingham Properties Stage inside the Lodge on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and select Sundays.
• Band Karaoke will be held on the Buckingham Properties 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.
• 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.
• Rohrbach Brewing Company “Village Lager” – A crisp classic German lager that sparkles like the magic of Roc Holiday Village with a bready malt backbone and subtle hops. In 2023, Village Lager sold out in the first two weeks.
• 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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2024 Roc Holiday Village Sponsors and Partners

Roc Holiday Village

December 6 – December 29, 2024

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square

353 Court St Rochester, NY 14607

rocholidayvillage.com