Here Comes Santa Claus
Families can kick off the holiday season with letter writing to Santa, games, crafts, and story time at Mrs. Claus' Workshop. The festivities include merry music and nutcracker dancing by the Rochester Dance Company. Attendees gather to watch the rescue of Santa atop Old City Hall, witness the tree lighting ceremony on Peace Plaza, and visit Santa for photos.
What to Expect
Features a daring rooftop rescue of Santa and holiday tree lighting.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Neighborhood
Downtown Rochester
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Rochester Downtown Alliance
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with young children
Vibe
Festive and family-friendly
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Hours: Overall: 2:30–7 p.m.; Mrs. Claus' Workshop: 2:30–4:45 p.m.; Santa’s Rescue: 5 p.m.; Tree Lighting: 5:15 p.m.; Photos with Santa: 5:30–7 p.m.
- Parking: Park on the street or in city ramps linked by the indoor skyway; ramps and meters are free on weekday evenings.
- Accessibility: ASL interpretation is provided during story time with Mrs. Claus.
Tips & Advice
- Get to the Chateau Theatre early for Mrs. Claus' Workshop, since the games, crafts, letter writing and story time all wrap up before Santa's rescue.
- Head over to Old City Hall in time for Santa's rescue, then stay outside because the Peace Plaza tree lighting follows right after.
- Go up to the second level of the Galleria at University Square for photos with Santa, which start after the tree lighting.
- Park in a city ramp, because the ramps connect through the indoor skyway and parking there is free on weekday evenings.
- Leave your drone at home, because the Rochester Downtown Alliance does not permit drones at any of its events.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there for kids at Mrs. Claus' Workshop?
At the Historic Chateau Theatre you'll find merry music, nutcracker dancing by Rochester Dance Company, family games and crafts, letter writing to Santa and story time with Mrs. Claus.
Is story time accessible for Deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors?
Yes, story time with Mrs. Claus has ASL interpretation.
What happens after the workshop?
Santa is rescued from atop the Residences of Old City Hall. The tree lighting ceremony on Peace Plaza follows, and then families can get photos with Santa.
Where do we get photos with Santa?
Photos with Santa are on the second level of the Galleria at University Square.
Where should we park downtown?
You can park on the street or in the city ramps, which all connect through an indoor pedestrian skyway. Ramps and meters are free on weekday evenings.
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