5 Things to Watch For This Year in Rochester

There's a busy year in store for Rochester and Rochester Hills residents. Here are five things to keep in mind. What are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments.

Fire, ice and — extreme sports

Remember the popular downtown , where Third Street turns into a tubing hill, the lot near turns into a skating rink and fireworks light up the winter sky?

Well, this year, the festival is back (it's planned for Jan. 27-29) with a new attraction.

The McDonald's AGA Downtown Rail Jam will coincide with this year's festival, bringing snowboard and ski clinics and competitions to the festival site. It's all part of the Adrenaline Games Alliance, which targets "adrenaline junkies" to compete for prizes in snowboarding and freestyle skiing. (We're working on writing a full preview report of the Rail Jam event.)

A new Main Street

It won't be fun to navigate around this summer, but when 2012 is all over and done with, Rochester's Main Street will be new and improved.

A $4 million Main Street Makeover will rebuild downtown's main artery, from University Drive to Second Street, and install new lighting, landscaping and other fixtures downtown. Main Street through downtown Rochester will be closed entirely for the summer. The work is expected to begin April 1 or sooner, depending on the weather.

Sheep as art

In an effort to bring people downtown during the construction months, the Downtown Development Authority will install a public art display around town. Called the in reference to a popular sheep art display in 2001, it will feature fiberglass Hollywood-themed sheep. The sheep will be on display from May 4 until September; the DDA is still seeking artists (follow this link for an application).

New Avon Bridge, wider Crooks Road

In addition to the work on Main Street in Rochester, there will be two other big construction projects to look out for this year. In Rochester Hills, from Starr-Batt Drive to north of Hamlin, and the over the Clinton River will be rebuilt. Both projects are expected to last the entire summer.

Election 2012

The country will elect a president on Nov. 6 this year, and voters in Rochester and Rochester Hills will go to the polls to elect an Oakland County commissioner and state representative. Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, ; he will seek another two-year term.