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Did you know that Rochester, NY hosts music and arts festivals – including its nation-famous Jazz Festival – just about year-round, or from spring to fall? The excitement, however, does not stop there. Rochester celebrates Christmas spirit and holiday cheer with a variety of festive local events. What are some events you don’t want to miss this holiday season?
Get in the Spirit with Performances and Christmas Lights
Rochester is best-known for its art and music, and there is hardly a shortage of holiday-themed Rochester music events or musicals. In fact, locals and visitors can enjoy performances of classics such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Geneva Theater will carry on its tradition of running A Christmas Carol, the classic tale of London’s Scrooge and Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, from November 27th to December 28th. Ballet enthusiasts can also look forward to The School of the Arts’ (SOTA) performances of the iconic Nutcracker. The Flower City Ballet, Syracuse Ballet, and guest performers will team up to present the full-length ballet on December 21st and 22nd at 3pm.
Are you a fan of Tran Siberian Orchestra? The Garden Factory brings Christmas rock opera to the local region. The Garden Factory Holiday Music and Light Show features more than 500 Christmas trees covered with strands of 100,000 LED lights. The light show is set to classic Christmas music as well as new-age, Christmas rock opera.
Celebrate by Cutting Down Your Own Tree
There’s no better way to truly feel the Christmas spirit than by cutting down your own tree. Many local Rochester farms let customers do just that, and some even offer free hot chocolate to help you stay contented and warm. Locals can cut down trees at Stokoe Farms, Blue Hills Tree Farm, Mountain Ash Tree Farm, Urtz’s Evergreens, and many more.
Celebrate the holidays with Rochester events. Enjoy performances of the classics, including A Christmas Carol, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and The Nutcracker, and head out to local farms to cut down your own Christmas tree.