About the Festival
The Rochester Festival of Lights is a must-see light festival featuring amazing Christmas lights displays designed to offer families and guests a great holiday outing. This light festival allows everyone to view and enjoy the holiday spirit through the colorful and magical lens, even at the comfort of their own cars.
Festival Dates
The Rochester Festival of Lights starts from November thru December. This year, it happens from November 25 to December 30, 2023. The bright festival light show will illuminate the night sky with colorful blinking Christmas lights.
Where It’s Located and How to Get There
The said light festival is located in Rochester, New York. The place is known for its affordability, friendliness of its people, memorable getaways, and family fun. You and your family can visit the historical sites, charming neighborhoods, canal towns, world-class museums, fine dining restaurants, and family-fun attractions. Rochester, New York, is also known for its festival of lights.
Even if you’re not from Rochester, you will surely love to travel and go here to see the bright and colorful light show and light exhibition, fairy lights, blinking Christmas lights, and more. Aside from the light festival, Rochester definitely has lots of amazing things to offer.
If you are from another country, you can take the plane to reach Rochester, New York. But if you are just nearby, you can ride your car and witness this light festival right before your eyes. There are also car rental services available. You can rent a car for a day or several days during your stay in Rochester. There are companies in Rochester offering convenient and flexible car rental for the lowest price guaranteed.
If you liked Rochester Festival of Lights, you can also check out these mesmerizing lights festivals:
Festival Hours
Buildings in Rochester will be covered with over a million points of twinkling and glimmering holiday lights. The lights display will be seen every evening from 5 pm until midnight through January.
On weekdays, the lights will light from dusk until 9 pm and on weekends, from dusk until 10 pm. The 5 to 6 hours are enough to enjoy what this light festival in Rochester has to offer. With more than 200 light displays, the Rochester Festival of Lights will surely be the highlights of your holiday season.
The place will be transformed into a scenic spot with magical displays and lights specially designed to keep you and your family busy and entertained. The festival of lights will bring fun and entertainment to families. Your journey in this light festival might include elegant light shows and more.
More details on the Rochester Lights hours at Victor Hills:
November 25-26 – Dusk till 9 PM
December 2 -3 – Dusk till 9 PM
December 9 and 10 – Dusk till 9 PM
December 15 and 24 – Dusk till 9 PM
December 26 and 30 – Dusk till 9 PM
How Much It Costs to Visit the Festival
If you want to see the Rochester lights at Victor Hills, there’s an admission fee of $32 per car. There should be a maximum of 7 passengers per car. There’s really no cost associated with the light festival display, but you need to settle the admission fees.
To make the most of your experience, it would be best to plan your budget. You are, of course, free to spend any amount that you can afford or you are willing to spend for this light festival. The more money you spend, the greater opportunities and experiences for you and your family.
The Weather and What to Wear
The weather can be frightful. Whether if you have kids or not, you must admit that November to January is a cold month. The good thing is that the Rochester Festival of Lights is an event that does not really require you to get out of your car. Encourage everyone to join the family ride and enjoy any night on the scheduled light festival dates. You can also tune in to the radio to add some fun and bring snacks that you can eat and share even inside the car.
But those who want to stretch their legs and enjoy the event outside their car, they can also do so. They have enough time to walk around and be amazed by the festive lights and holiday-themed experiences and activities waiting to be enjoyed. The Rochester Festival of lights indeed provides the perfect setting for every family to enjoy and capture the moment through picture taking.
You can wear anything you’re comfortable with but make sure that your dress can withstand the cold. You can just bring some extra clothes or jackets to give you warmth in case the weather gets cold, or it gets rainy during the light festival.
Where to Sleep
If you plan to stay in Rochester for several days, you don’t really have to worry about where to sleep because there are an array of hotels offering accommodation. The following are some of the best hotels in Rochester that can accommodate you for a day or even more days you wish to stay:
Woodcliff Hotel & Spa
Whether you are visiting Rochester for the light festival, other special events, or staycation, the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa is one of the best places to stay. This hotel guarantees your privacy and exclusivity with amazing views in every room. With clean and fully equipped rooms, you will surely have a restful sleep after a tiring yet exciting day.
This hotel will go out of its way to ensure that your stay is comfortable and memorable. The rooms and décors were made to immerse every guest with sumptuous bedding and luxury linens. Special packages are also offered for all their suites and luxurious guest rooms.
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
If you are looking for a place to sleep and stay for a day or few days, the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson is a good hotel choice. There are king and queen bedroom suites if you are looking for a luxurious and spacious room to stay and relax. Guests can take advantage of the hotels’ amenities as well, such as LCD televisions, air conditioning, access to wireless internet, entertainment center, and many more.
Holiday Inn
This is a family-friendly hotel with spacious and cozy rooms with WiFi, television, telephone, and other free services. The hotel does not just provide accommodation but also gives access to restaurants and other modern services and amenities that the guests can enjoy during their stay. Recreational facilities are also provided. The hotel features king and queen beds and executive rooms fully equipped to ensure your comfort and convenience. Suppose you are visiting Rochester for the light festival, except for a change in the rate of accommodation. The rates vary depending on the season.
Where to Eat
Rochester boasts its array of restaurants offering the most delicious meals cooked by renowned chefs. If you are looking for a place to eat in Rochester, the following are the best options for you:
Midtown EATS
This brings different flavors of the best chefs and restaurants in Rochester. This is actually an event where residents, visitors, and even workers can eat and enjoy foods to push their palate. Midtown EATS offers burgers, ice creams, meats, veggies, sandwiches, pastries, and more.
Edibles Restaurant
This stylish and cozy restaurant is a perfect spot for date nights but can also accommodate families and groups of friends. The restaurant uses local organic ingredients to prepare its American cuisines. Their entrées include braised pork, mushroom risotto, breaded chicken, chicken cutlet, and many other delicious meals.
La Luna Restaurant
If you had enough fun and a great time witnessing the Rochester Festival of Lights and now want to satisfy your cravings for Italian cuisine, this restaurant is the best place to go. Their entrées include scallop Fettuccini Alfredo, shrimps, Penne Vodka, and a lot more choices.
Max Chophouse
This restaurant is another great place to eat in Rochester. This is a well-known steak house that also serves fresh seafood. Their menu includes salmon dishes, Canadian lobster, Ribeye, Filet Mignon, and braised lamb.
Other Things to Do in the Area
Aside from enjoying family time, taking pictures of the thousands of twinkling lights, there are still a lot more things you can do in the area. You can pay a visit to some of the places of attractions in Rochester, such as Seabreeze Amusement Park, George Eastman Museum, and Highland Park. You can also visit Ontario Beach Park, also one of the leading tourist spots in Rochester. You can try water sports, or you can go fishing, swimming, and boating.
If you love arts, you can go to Artisan Works. This is a great place that showcases community art in a unique way. This offers a fascinating means to learn the process of making art and how different talented artists create their masterpieces. These are just a few of the many amazing things you can do in Rochester, but of course, the light festival is something you should not miss.
FAQ
1. What are the Parking Options at Rochester Festival of Lights?
Various parking facilities are available in close proximity to the festival grounds. Due to the high attendance, it’s recommended to arrive early.
2. Is Smoking Permitted at the Rochester Festival of Lights?
Smoking is strictly prohibited within the main festival areas. Designated smoking areas can be found at specific locations away from the event.
3. Can I Bring My Pets to the Rochester Festival of Lights?
Pets are not generally allowed for safety and comfort reasons. However, service animals with appropriate documentation are permitted.
4. How Can I Purchase Tickets for the Festival?
For Rochester Lights at Victor Hills, ticket information, including pricing and availability, can be found on the festival’s official website.
5. Is the Festival Wheelchair Accessible?
The majority of festival areas are wheelchair accessible. Special parking arrangements are also available for attendees with disabilities.
6. What Food and Beverage Options Are Available?
Numerous food and beverage vendors will be available, offering a wide range of options to satisfy different culinary tastes.
7. Can I Take Photos and Videos at the Festival?
Yes, personal photography and videography are welcome.
8. Is the festival family-friendly?
Yes, the festival is a family-friendly event.
Sources:
