Embrace the cold-weather winter wonderland of Rochester, NY to celebrate the holiday season during the third annual City of Rochester Roc Holiday Village. This annual holiday festival brings the magic of the season to the heart of downtown Rochester with festivities for all ages that include visits with Santa, ice skating, a shopping village, pop-up restaurants, local craft beverages, tree lighting, Santa’s workshop, VIP winter igloos, celebrations for Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, and more.
With 22 days of fun with lots of pop-up events and activities, we're sharing our guide on what you need to know about this year's Roc Holiday Village.
The Shops
Wander the vendor village to shop a unique selection of sweets, treats, and treasures from artisan vendors to find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list or to treat yourself. View a full list of local vendors by weekend here.
Village Shopping Hours:
- Wednesdays 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Thursdays 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Fridays 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Saturdays 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Sundays 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Mark your calendars for additional shopping with the Roc Holiday Village Mini Maker Market happening on Wednesday, December 14.
The Lodge
Eat, drink, and be merry during the Roc Holiday Village with The Lodge Bar, Village Food & Drink Vendors, as well as the exclusive VIP winter igloos. The Lodge is where you’ll enjoy drinks from the bar stocked with wine and beer. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, relax and enjoy free live music. Stay tuned for more info on Frosty's Food Court, coming soon!
2022 Food & Drink Vendors:
- The Chai Guy | TBD
- Duke's Donuts | TBD
- Tony Pepperoni | TBD
Special Events By Date
Friday, December 2
Free Ice Skating | 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Visit Santa | 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Free Crafts For Kids | 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Saturday, December 3
Free Ice Skating | 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Visit Santa | 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Free Crafts For Kids | 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Liberty Pole Lighting & Parade | 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The annual Liberty Pole Lighting will include a new Lantern Parade to Roc Holiday Village held in conjunction with the City of Rochester and Downtown Definitely. Stay tuned for more details TBA!
Amerks Prize Wheel | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Spin the Amerks Prize Wheel to win fun Amerks swag! Keychains, roster cards, Sabres/Amerks yearbook and more! You can also enter to win an Amerks Jersey!
Sunday, December 4
Free Ice Skating | 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Visit Santa | 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Kwanzaa Celebration | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join other Jewish families and the Rochester community for a fun Hanukkah Celebration presented in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Rochester! The day features free ice-skating, storytelling, and Hanukkah crafts.
Free Crafts For Kids | 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Wednesday, December 7
Free Ice Skating | 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Visit Santa | 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Free Crafts For Kids | 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Thursday, December 8
Free Ice Skating | 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Visit Santa | 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Free Crafts For Kids | 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Friday, December 9
Free Ice Skating | 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Visit Santa | 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Free Crafts For Kids | 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Saturday, December 10
You know what to do! Break out your ugly sweater, come on down for a day of ice skating, and enjoy all the festive fun! Participants are eligible to win a Cozy Igloo Experience!
Free Ice Skating | 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Visit Anna and Elsa | 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Frozen’s popular Anna and Elsa characters will meet and greet people on Saturday, December 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in The Triple-O Lodge.
Visit Santa | 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Free Crafts For Kids | 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Visit Anna and Elsa | 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Frozen’s popular Anna and Elsa characters will meet and greet people on Saturday, December 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in The Triple-O Lodge.
Sunday, December 11
Free Ice Skating | 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Amerks Scoro Contest & Moose Appearance | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The Amerks and their mascot, the Moose, are paying a visit to the Roc Holiday Village! Shoot the puck to see if you can win a pair of Amerks tickets. If you get the puck into the net you will win 2 free tickets to any remaining home Amerks games in the current season!
Visit Santa | 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Hanukkah Celebration | 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Celebrate Hanukkah with storytelling and crafts throughout the day.
Free Crafts For Kids | 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Wednesday, December 14
Free Ice Skating | 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Visit Santa | 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Free Crafts For Kids | 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Mini Makers Market | 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Roc Holiday Village is proud to host a variety of local makers of handmade goods inside of the T-Mobile Gingerbread House tent. Here you’ll find artists, crafters, designers, DIYers, and confectioneries! Join us and support our local businesses and entrepreneurs while checking off your holiday shopping list!
Thursday, December 15
Free Ice Skating | 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Visit Santa | 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Visit with Santa for a photo, to mail letters with all of your Christmas wishes, enjoy a free, delicious cookie from Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, and more!
Free Crafts For Kids | 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Friday, December 16
Free Ice Skating | 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Three Kings’ Day Holiday Celebration | 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
For many Christians, the holiday season isn’t over until the twelfth day of Christmas, also known as the “Feast of the Epiphany” or “Three Kings’ Day”. This special Roc Holiday Village celebration will include Puerto Rican music, telling the story of Three Kings’ Day, a special craft project (decorating a shoe box and adding grass inside—symbolic of leaving hay for King’s camels to eat—for children to put out at night so when they wake up there are gifts in return!), and The Three Kings’ in costume to take photos with!
Saturday, December 18
Free Ice Skating | 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Sled Hockey Demo with Rochester Sled Hockey | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sled Hockey combines speed, power, play, grit, sweat, skill, camaraderie, team spirit, coordination, and lots of fun along the way! The game puts players with and without disabilities in a sled on the ice. Enjoy this free demonstration and instruction thanks to Rochester Sled Hockey.
Free Crafts For Kids | 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Petting Zoo | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Roc Holiday Village's nativity will be complete with a variety of live animals to visit and pet including goats, sheep, alpacas, and a donkey.
Lyric Voices | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Details TBD
Sunday, December 19
Free Ice Skating | 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Lace up your skates and glide onto the outdoor ice rink at MLK Park. Enjoy free skating, free skate rentals, and skate helpers, with gratitude to Wegmans!
Free Crafts For Kids | 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Embrace your children's creative side and join us in the T-Mobile Gingerbread House for FREE crafts for kids! A variety of easy handmade craft projects will keep your little ones busy (and happy) inside of the heated tent structure. Themes vary by day and are appropriate for kids of all ages!
Christmas Celebration | 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Details TBD
Visit Santa | 11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Visit with Santa in the Gingerbread House, tell him what you want for Christmas, and have a photo taken with the jolly guy. You will receive an instant printed 4×6 copy for free. No worries about the wait, when you arrive, they’ll take your name and number and send you a text when it’s your turn with Santa!
Petting Zoo | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Roc Holiday Village's nativity will be complete with a variety of live animals to visit and pet including goats, sheep, alpacas, and a donkey.
Boom Chicks Carolers | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
This women’s a cappella group is named after the “booms” and “chicks” characteristic of vocal percussion. Stop by to enjoy feel-good tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.
Farewell Santa | 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Say farewell to Santa in 2021 as he’s serenaded by Rochester’s premier brass band, Prime Time Brass, who will perform outdoors around 5:00 p.m. and march with Santa around the Village before he departs at 6:00 p.m.
For more information on Roc Holiday Village and additional event details, visit rocholidayvillage.com. Don't forget to share your photos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #VisitROC and #ROCHOLIDAYVILLAGE.
