Held annually in downtown Rochester, the winter festival is sponsored by Oakland County, Oakland County Parks, the City of Rochester and the Rochester DDA.

The festival features professional ice sculptures, a tubing/sledding hill, ice skating, fireworks and a Taste Fest!

When is the Downtown Rochester Michigan Fire & Ice Festival

Fri, January 28, 2011, 6pm – 9pm
Sat, January 29, 2011, 10am – 9pm
Sun, January 30, 2011, 11am – 4pm

Where is the Rochester Fire & Ice Festival Located

The winter carnival is held at the intersection of Third & Water Streets in beautiful downtown Rochester.

The 2011 Downtown Rochester Big Bright Light Show – or the Rochester Light show – is a Rochester Christmas Lights extravaganza that promises to be even bigger, better and brighter than past years! Each and every building on Main Street from the southern city limits (bridge) all the way to Romeo St on the north will be lit with over one million points of light! Fourth Street will also be adorned with these beautiful points of light, too. Let’s hope for some snowy weather because the Big Bright Light Show looks even better when there’s snow falling and lights twinkling. And remember – if the weather is inclement make certain that your vehicle is equipped with the finest windshield wiper blades made. You can’t see the light show without good visibility!

Rochester Christmas Lights and Christmas Parade

Extra lighting will be in place on Walnut St from Third St to University as well. In addition, the Dazzling Tree of Lights will be on display at the Depot Plaza on E. University at Water St. Finally, the Western Knitting Mill building on Water St at Fourth St will have a stunning Snowflake Spectacular adorning their walls!

Lighting of the Christmas Lights – Big Bright Light Show in Downtown Rochester, Michigan

The Big, Bright Light Show will open on November 29 during Lagniappe at 7:00 pm. Every night between November 29, 2010 and January 2, 2011 the lights will be on starting at 7:00pm! Stop by and visit Downtown Rochester Michigan. You’ll be glad you did!

Become a Partner of The Big Bright Light Show

These Christmas lights are spectacular. Lighted Christmas trees, Christmas ornaments, Santa Claus soon to be on parade, holiday wreaths and other decorations! No matter what you call them – Rochester MI Christmas Lights, Rochester Michigan Christmas Lights, Rochester Christmas Lights or Downtown Rochester Christmas Lights – come visit Downtown Rochester Mich and enjoy the Big Bright Light Show!

Arts & Apples in one of Michigan’s premier art shows featuring artists from across the nation. Paintings, sculpture, jewelry – you name it – all different types of art will be present at the Arts & Apples event in downtown Rochester.

This art show is a juried art show, meaning that only the best artists are likely to be at the festival.

Arts & Apples Festival Information

Presented by Paint Creek Center for the Arts, a nonprofit art center, the Art & Apples Festival is Michigan’s second largest juried fine art festival with an average attendance of over 125,000 festival-goers and 285+ artists from across the country. The festival showcases artists from across the country, local and national entertainment acts, a free Kids Art Zone, Activity Zone, 3 food courts and more.

The Art & Apples Festival ranks the #20 art festival in the nation as determined by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

Make sure to plan on visiting the 30-acre Rochester Park this year on September 9-11, 2011 where fine art, performances and homemade apple pies can be enjoyed by all.

Info provided by Arts & Apples

Rochester hosts many events each year in it’s picturesque downtown, but few are more popular than the Farmer’s Market that operates each Saturday from May through October. Prior to the spread of urban sprawl, Rochester had a long history of being a farming community and this persona carries over to the Farmer’s Market, which is held on Third Street one block west of Main Street.

The market consists of dozens of area farmers and vendors selling everything from fresh produce, baked goods, flowers, crafts and more. Each Saturday throughout the spring, summer and fall you can find the Rochester Farmer’s Market packed with happy shoppers looking for the best produce and the best prices.

Some of the more popular vendors are Hickory Hill Farms of Clifford, Michigan sets up shop at the market each year and sells their very popular spider repellent. “R” Bees Honey Farm of Columbus, Michigan has been selling bees wax candles and other bee related products for years and is also a popular choice of market shoppers.

One of the most popular produce vendors is Penzien Farms of Imlay City, Michigan who regularly populates their booth with potatoes, carrots, melons and vine ripened tomatoes!

Fresh baked goods can be purchased from the Blue Ridge Blueberry Farm booth. In addition, they sell great pies, breads and home made jellies!

An old stand by at the farmers market is Miller’s Big Red Orchard. Millers also owns and operates a greenhouse and cider mill, so their booth regularly sells an assortment of apples, sauces and cider in addition to flowering plants and geranium cuttings.

If specialty sauces are your thing make sure to stop in at the Sansoneeti Gourmet Foods booth. One of their most popular sauces is their Michigan Apple Glaze, which perfectly compliments any pork dish you might be serving!

Quality baked goods are offered by The Breadwinner Bakery, which is located only a few blocks from the market in downtown Rochester. Breads, muffins and pies will cause your mouth to water and a purchase will delight your family.

Whatever your needs, the Rochester Farmer’s Market is likely to have a booth that caters to them! Stop in on any Saturday and find out for yourself!

Beginning on December 3 at 5:00pm those celebrating the Christmas Season can do so on West Fourth Street in Downtown Rochester. The Kris Kringle Market is inspired by historical holiday markets in Europe that celebrate the Christmas Season with gifts, food and other delights. Come experience the ambiance of this delightful holiday Christmas Market!

This year’s market will coincide with both the Rochester Christmas Parade and the Big Bright Light Show!

Come join the festivities as the second largest Christmas parade in Michigan takes place in downtown Rochester on Main Street. Tens of thousands of visitors will experience the joy of the holiday season, watch bands, floats and other Christmas decorated vehicles participate in this one of a kind Christmas Parade.

In addition to the parade, the Downtown Rochester Big Bright Light Show will be fully lighted, too. This is a glorious display of downtown Rochester MI Christmas Lights that’s sure to make both children and adults smile! Millions – yes, millions – of holiday Christmas Lights adorn all of the downtown buildings and turn Main Street into a Big Bright Light Show in Downtown Rochester.

Don’t miss the Christmas Parade in Rochester or the Big Bright Light Show!

Come one – come all! to the Sidewalk Circus in Downtown Rochester! Visit the awesome assemblage of stupendous sellers at the 55th annual Downtown Rochester Sidewalk Sales. Don’t miss the big-top bargains and the Krafty Kids’ Zone! An event for all, small and tall – it’s a circus down here!

For more information see the DDA website!

• Thuursday, July 15, 10:00am – 9:00pm
• Friday, July 16, 10:00am – 9:00pm

Come one – come all! to the Sidewalk Circus in Downtown Rochester! Visit the awesome assemblage of stupendous sellers at the 55th annual Downtown Rochester Sidewalk Sales. Don’t miss the big-top bargains and the Krafty Kids’ Zone! An event for all, small and tall – it’s a circus down here!