Photographic backdrop at the Roc Holiday Village at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Downtown Rochester, New York.
Holiday Village
Glow of twinkling lights,
Warm company around fire.
Jazz and cider flow!
- Haiku by EG
Did you know that the best pop-up holiday village in all of Upstate New York in Rochester?
For the past two years, the Roc Holiday Village has been recognized nationally as one of the best holiday villages in the United States, and is currently nominated for a third. In 2024, the Roc Holiday Village was ranked #6 in the nation, and in 2025 #7. In 2025, the free ice rink at the village was also ranked #3 in the nation by USA Today. These outstanding ratings have elevated the Roc Holiday Village’s status to one of the best holiday markets in New York State outside of NYC.
A crowd gathers around fire-pits at the 2025 Roc Holiday Village in Downtown Rochester, New York. Photo Credit: Erin Gold
The holiday market special because it is an entirely free event that is open to the public. Since first opening, visitors have traveled from far and wide to enjoy the crisp, and frosty Rochester air during the winter season. Many enjoy lounging under the the twinkling lights, grooving to the dynamic live music performances, for some its a chance to meet Santa, and for all to satisfy a sweet tooth with tasty treats from local craft vendors. At the Roc Holiday Village you can find delicious seasonal confections like a warm cider donuts, rich hot cocoa, flavorful chai drinks, unique dishes made by local food vendors, and a chance to spend quality time with friends and loved ones by a warm fire or inside a cozy pop-up igloo.
The holiday village takes place annually at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Downtown Rochester, and the venue features free ice skating and skate rentals provided to the public in a limited quantities. Attendees who bring their own skates are free to enjoy one of the city’s coolest winter features, a built in seasonal ice skating rink that has dynamic downtown views. The ice rink is open to all, and while skating you can enjoy the spectacle of new ice skaters learning how to balance on the ice, or marvel at semi-professional skaters spin and maneuver on the ice to the festive melodies of holiday jingles.
A local jazz trio takes a quick break after a holiday set inside the Lodge at the holiday village. Photo Credit: Erin Gold
The Roc Holiday Village is a wonderful seasonal experience where families, friends, locals, and tourists gather to listen to live jazz bands and sing along to holiday carols, ice skate, eat foods from local and regional vendors, sit by warm and cozy fire-pits, shop for goods made by local artisans, and cozy up inside warm winter igloos. It is a wintery holiday village that you can spend hours at, and even visit several times throughout the month beginning Friday, November 27 to Sunday, December 20, 2026.
Another fascinating thing to do at the holiday market is relax inside the Triple-O Lounge which features live music, a bar, seasonal drinks, arcade games and entertainment like trivia nights, and on some evenings a live-band karaoke night where you can sing your heart out to your favorite festive tunes.
A.pint of Village Lager made by Rohrbach Brewing Co., a local craft brewery with a location at the Rochester Public Market.
As the Roc Holiday Village approaches, one thing I look forward to is a craft beer brewed by Rochester’s very own, Rohrbach Brewing Company, a local beer company that has two locations in the city one of which is at the historic Public Market. There is so much fun to be had at the holiday village, it’s no wonder it has been ranked one of the best in the nation and in all of Upstate New York for several years in a row.
