# Christmas parades and tree lightings in Rochester, 2026

> We found four Christmas parades and tree lightings in and around Rochester with 2026 dates: two parades and two tree lightings and lighting nights, two free to watch. Each one has the date, start time, price and a link to the organizer’s page.

- Last checked: 2026-10-21
- 4 parades and tree lightings with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/rochester-ny/christmas-parades/
- Christmas break (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/rochester-ny/christmas-break/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/rochester-ny/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/rochester-ny/llms.txt

## Christmas parades

- **Illuminate Light Parade** at Main Street, Canandaigua. When: Sat, Nov 28, 2026. Time: 6–8 p.m. Price: Not listed. Official page: https://www.downtowncanandaigua.com/events/2026/11/28/illuminate-light-parade (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Liberty Pole Lighting & Family Parade to Roc Holiday Village** at Liberty Pole to Dr. MLK Jr. Park, Downtown Rochester. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: 5 p.m. lighting; family parade 5:15 p.m.; arrives at Roc Holiday Village about 5:40 p.m. Price: Free to watch. For kids: Free parking at the Mortimer Street Garage; free street parking on weekends. Free visits with Santa until 8 p.m., free kid crafts, and free skating with free skate rentals (limited). Official page: https://www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/bureau-communciations-and-special-events/liberty-pole-lighting-parade-roc-holiday (checked 2026-10-21)

## Tree lightings and lighting nights

- **Park Avenue Holiday Open House** at Park Avenue Green, Park Ave. and Barrington St., Park Avenue. When: Thu, Dec 3, 2026. Time: 5–8 p.m. Price: Free. Mayor Evans kicks off the tree and menorah lighting on Park Avenue. Santa and live reindeer wait in the tent on Park Avenue Green. Official page: https://park-avenue.org/avenue-events/holiday-open-house/ (checked 2026-10-31)
- **Webster Arboretum Tree Lighting and Caroling** at Webster Arboretum (Curry Building), Webster. When: Tue, Dec 8, 2026. Time: 7–8:30 p.m. Price: Not listed. RSVP on the arboretum page. Official page: https://www.thewebsterarboretum.org/events/tree-lighting-and-caroling-1 (checked 2026-10-21)

## Parades and tree lightings that come back every year

- [Illuminate Light Parade](https://littlesweekly.com/rochester-ny/events/illuminate-light-parade-main-street/): next dates Nov 28, 2026
- [Liberty Pole Lighting & Family Parade to Roc Holiday Village](https://littlesweekly.com/rochester-ny/events/liberty-pole-lighting-and-family-parade-to-roc-holiday-village-dr-mlk-jr-park/): next dates Dec 5, 2026
- [Webster Arboretum Tree Lighting and Caroling](https://littlesweekly.com/rochester-ny/events/webster-arboretum-tree-lighting-and-caroling/): next dates Dec 8, 2026

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### When is the Christmas parade in Rochester in 2026?
Illuminate Light Parade: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, 6–8 p.m. (Canandaigua). Liberty Pole Lighting & Family Parade to Roc Holiday Village: Sat, Dec 5, 2026, 5 p.m. lighting; family parade 5:15 p.m.; arrives at Roc Holiday Village about 5:40 p.m. (Downtown Rochester).

### When is the Christmas tree lighting in Rochester?
Park Avenue Holiday Open House at Park Avenue Green, Park Ave. and Barrington St.: Thu, Dec 3, 2026, 5–8 p.m. Webster Arboretum Tree Lighting and Caroling at Webster Arboretum (Curry Building): Tue, Dec 8, 2026, 7–8:30 p.m.

### Are Christmas parades and tree lightings in Rochester free?
Two of the four we list are free to watch: Park Avenue Holiday Open House and Liberty Pole Lighting & Family Parade to Roc Holiday Village. Some charge for extras like Santa photos or rides, and each card says so.

### Which are best for little kids?
Evening ones start after dark and are colder, so bring layers and a blanket for the stroller. Get there early for a curb spot near the start so little ones can see.

### How do you check these parades and tree lightings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them every week through early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).