Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Share your photos of the Big, Bright Light Show here on Rochester Patch.
Did you photograph the Big, Bright Light Show in downtown Rochester? The show opened Monday night, and we saw hundreds of cameras take a moment to capture the magic. See "Light the New Town! Rochester is Big, Bright and Ready for the Season!") If you have a photo of the lights to share, upload them here; we will feature our favorites on our Facebook page and on the Rochester Patch home page throughout the season.
Monday, November 26, 2012
The Big, Bright Light Show opens Monday night to a crowd of thousands (and Santa, too).
The annual Big, Bright Light Show in downtown Rochester opened on a clear Monday night with a visit from Santa and his reindeer — and chants of "Light the town!" from thousands of guests. It's the seventh year for the light show, which features 1.5 million multicolored LED lights covering the downtown buildings. The start of the light show coincides with a tradition called "Lagniappe," which celebrated its 40th year on Monday night. As downtown merchants gave away their "little something extras" (that's what the word Lagniappe means) Rochester turned out by the masses to shop and admire the new downtown, which underwent a massive transformation this year as part of a construction project called the Main Street Makeover. On stage, …
Just in time for Lagniappe tonight, Main Street has re-opened after seven months.
Here's what you need to know about the 1.5 million lights that are about to be aglow in downtown Rochester.
It's the night of lights and 'Lagniappe' in downtown Rochester. For the sixth year, a crowd of thousands is expected to turn out as Rochester welcomes its much-loved Big Bright Light Show. This year, the start of the show is extra-special: last week, city leaders celebrated as Main Street fully re-opened to traffic after seven months of nonstop construction work in the city. Over the weekend, light posts were still being installed and other finishing touches were being put onto the downtown streetscape. Tonight, the new downtown will be on display during the start of the show. Here's a look at what's planned: Also, the Rochester Downtown Development Authority invites you to bring new shoes and socks to donate to the Rochester Area …
42.68084
-83.13375
Rojo Mexican Bistro
401 S Main St, Rochester, MI
/articles/tonight-s-the-light-night-the-big-bright-show-begins-in-rochester
1744668
/locations/8212248
We thought you might need a little help with the pronunciation as Rochester gets ready to celebrate.
Monday, October 15, 2012
In honor of its 6th year, here are six fun facts about The Big, Bright Light Show
If you've been downtown the past week you couldn't help but notice that installation has begun for The Big, Bright Light Show 2012. In honor of its sixth year of brightening Rochester in its holiday glow, here are six fun facts about the show: The Big, Bright Light Show will debut on November 26 during Lagniappe at 7:00 p.m. The display will be lit every evening from November 26- January 6, 2013 from 6 p.m. to midnight.
42.68084
-83.13375
Rojo Mexican Bistro
401 S Main St, Rochester, MI
/articles/big-bright-light-installation
1744668
/locations/8148438
42.679479
-83.133728
Downtown Rochester
308 1/2 S Main St, Rochester, MI
/articles/big-bright-light-installation
1872140
/locations/8148439
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Here are five reasons to plan your weekend around the event.
It’s big, bright and coming Sunday to a downtown near you. Here are five reasons to check out The Big, Bright Ball. The event is held from 4-7 p.m. in the ballroom at the Royal Park Hotel. The dance floor is a main attraction — not unlike your favorite wedding reception! Guests will enjoy a strolling dinner featuring these downtown restaurants: Sanders sponsors an ice cream sundae bar for dessert. Choose your toppings — and we won't tell if you go up for seconds. There's lots to do besides the dining and dancing. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for kids 5-12 and free for kids under 5. The event is the signature fundraising event for the Big, Bright Light Show, which paints the town in lights for the holiday season. All proceeds …
42.68186
-83.12773
Royal Park Hotel
600 E University Dr, Rochester, MI
/articles/the-ball-before-the-lights-big-bright-fundraising-event-is-sunday-in-rochester
694023
/locations/7476835
Friday, January 27, 2012
They'll be aglow for one last weekend.
The Big, Bright Lights will shine once more. From 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, the lights wrapping downtown Rochester's buildings will be turned on. It's the final weekend for the 2011-12 light show. The Big, Bright Lights sendoff normally coincides with the downtown Fire & Ice Festival; though that festival was originally planned for this weekend, it has been postponed until Feb. 24-26 because of a lack of snow. For complete coverage of the Big, Bright Light Show, visit our special section on Patch. Do you have photos of the lights to share? Upload them here for Patch readers to see.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
New dates for downtown Rochester winter festival: Feb. 24-26.
A day after announcing the postponement of Rochester's Fire & Ice Festival by two weeks because of unseasonably warm weather, the Rochester Downtown Development Authority announced on Thursday afternoon that the festival has been postponed once again. The new dates for the weekend festival will be Feb. 24-26. The festival, which attracts thousands to experience nighttime fireworks, a tubing hill, ice sculptures and a skating rink, was originally planned for next weekend — Jan. 27-29. But the weather has not been cooperating: Not only is there not enough snow for the planned winter activities, but DDA Executive Kristi Trevarrow said the weather needs to be below 28 degrees for four days in a row in order for snow machines to make snow. On …
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Stores and restaurants reported busiest Saturday ever. 'The economy is picking up,' Rochester DDA director says.
Downtown Rochester shop owner Christine Laikind didn't sit down Saturday. Her feet and hips ached at the end of the day. But she's not complaining. Laikind, owner of Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio, said she didn't take a break from the time her shop opened at 10 a.m. Saturday until it closed at 9 that night. In fact, she ran out of sales receipts and had to send her husband out for more. Was it the Big, Bright Lights that brought people downtown? "I think so," she said. Laikind was among the downtown merchants who have reported this has been their busiest season to date. Kristi Trevarrow, executive director of the Rochester Downtown Development Authority, has heard their stories — and seen for herself. "People are shopping again," …
42.680758
-83.133744
Firebrick Gallery & Pottery Studio
404 S Main St, Rochester, MI
/articles/in-downtown-rochester-people-are-shopping-again
694483
/locations/6015302
42.681161
-83.133767
Funky Frog Children's Resale Boutique
433 S Main St, Rochester, MI
/articles/in-downtown-rochester-people-are-shopping-again
694580
/locations/6015303
42.679694
-83.133728
O'Connor's Public House
324 S Main St, Rochester, MI
/articles/in-downtown-rochester-people-are-shopping-again
694005
/locations/6015304
Meredith McCutcheon
10:06 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
Awesome! What a great event--one more reason to be proud of our city! more ›