| mmertime hits the Rochester area, residents and | | | | variety of music occurs another night of the week |
| visitors start exploring the outdoors, looking for ideas | | | | with the Street Dance. |
| to offer excitement and entertainment. In the month | | | | - Home Federal Plane Pull for March of Dimes: At the |
| of June, these people do not have to look very hard, | | | | Rochester International Airport, a game of |
| as a week-long celebration in the second half of the | | | | tug’o’war with a 166,000 pound jet |
| month transforms the city. Rochesterfest is a | | | | takes place. With a donation to the March of Dimes, |
| citywide celebration of Rochester. Over 40 local | | | | 20 person teams compete in pulling a plane 12 feet in |
| businesses and organizations make the community | | | | the fastest time. |
| event possible by sponsoring countless activities that | | | | - Country Breakfast on the Farm: 2008 marks the |
| offer entertainment and fun. | | | | 21st year of the Country Breakfast on the Farm. |
| In 2008, Rochesterfest celebrated its 26th year of | | | | Families head to a nearby farm bright and early to |
| existence. The annual event brings with it a variety | | | | enjoy a pancake breakfast, horse drawn wagon |
| of food vendors, concerts, and family activities. | | | | rides, a petting zoo, and educational displays. |
| Although the schedule varies somewhat each year, | | | | - Treasure Hunt: Sponsored by a local business, clues |
| there are a number of favorite events that occur | | | | are released every day of the week leading treasure |
| almost every time: | | | | seekers to the prize. The person who successfully |
| - Food Vendors: Civic Center Drive in downtown | | | | deciphers the clues and finds the treasure, a |
| Rochester is closed for the week as food vendors | | | | Rochesterfest medallion hidden somewhere in the |
| from throughout the area come and set up shop. | | | | city of Rochester on public property, will receive a |
| The event is both a popular lunchtime and dinner | | | | cash prize. In 2008, the reward was five hundred |
| hangout during the week. Noontime and evening | | | | dollars. |
| entertainment is provided as well. | | | | - Grand Parade: On Friday evening, the Grand Parade |
| - Annual Midwestern Lumberjack Championships: One | | | | steps off with over 100 units. The event is |
| of the most popular events of the week, contenders | | | | traditionally put on by the Ambassadors from |
| from around the world arrive to compete in various | | | | Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. |
| lumberjack events for cash prizes. 2008 marked the | | | | - Mayor’s Cup Hot Air Balloon Race: Pilots |
| 13th year for the event. | | | | come to Rochester with hot air balloons in tow to |
| - Oakwood Cemetery Walk: Although it may sound | | | | compete in this annual race. New in 2008, the pilots |
| eerie, the cemetery walk involves taking a tour of | | | | also now perform a moonglow, which inflating the |
| the cemetery while learning about the people who | | | | balloons and dusk, creating a giant light bulb effect. |
| are buried there. Actors stand by certain gravesites | | | | - A number of other events also occur during the |
| acting as the people in the graves, educating others | | | | week, including a co-ed Volleyball Tournament, |
| about their lives. | | | | Frisbee Dog Championships, A Million Dollar |
| - Teen Night: The youth of Rochester are not | | | | Hole-In-One Golf Shootout, a book sale sponsored by |
| overlooked during Rochesterfest. A night of live | | | | Friends of the Library, a water ski show, and an |
| bands, skateboarding, climbing, ultimate frisbee, and | | | | annual sandcastle making contest. |
| other events will provide teens with entertainment | | | | In order to make the most out of the week, the |
| specifically aimed at them. Teenagers in Rochester | | | | city offers Rochesterfest Buttons. For a small fee, |
| notice this, and their attendance to this event shows | | | | the Button offers many great deals and discounts |
| how grateful they are. | | | | throughout the week of Rochesterfest, including |
| - Theme Nights: In addition to Teen Night, other | | | | cheaper admission to many of the events and |
| nights throughout the week are given other themes. | | | | discounts from a number of local businesses. |
| One night is dedicated to Family Fun, offering | | | | Rochesterfest is truly a great week in which the |
| beanbag toss, sack races, train rides, demonstrations | | | | residents and visitors of Rochester come together to |
| by the Fire Department, and many other family | | | | enjoy life. The daily and nightly events capture the |
| events. Another popular event is Country Night, | | | | attention of nearly the entire city, and offer people |
| where people can enjoy country music and dancing | | | | of any age the chance to enjoy themselves with an |
| throughout the evening. A night of dancing to a wider | | | | evening of excitement and entertainment. |