It looks like the City of Rochester will have a fireworks display on New Year’s Eve after all.
City officials announced recently they would not be holding the display, partly due to financial reasons, as it costs around $30,000 including police overtime to stage the event.
Officials also said that the numbers of people watching the fireworks have been diminishing in recent years.
But on Thursday, City Hall announced that the fireworks are back on, after a gift from a Penfield couple, Om and Swadesh Popli.
Om Popli started his career as an engineer for the City of Rochester and went on to found his own architectural and engineering firm based in Penfield.
"I wanted to continue a tradition that brings delight to our local families, and to show my appreciation for a community that welcomed me and has provided so much to my family," Popli said.
"We are delighted to reinstate the New Year's Eve fireworks display this year thanks to the generosity of the Popli family," said Mayor Lovely Warren. She says the New Year's Eve activities help showcase downtown, and said that, “This opportunity to cap the evening off with fireworks brings a special excitement to the celebration."
The fireworks are scheduled to launch at 9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31st. The best viewing will be from the Main Street Bridge. That 9:00 p.m. time is an hour earlier than the usual 10:00 p.m. fireworks event.
Officials say the time change was made to make it easier for families attending the event at the convention center to catch the fireworks since the earlier activity ends at 9 p.m.
Main Street from South Avenue to State Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the fireworks display starting at 8 p.m. The Broad Street and Court Street bridges will close starting at 8:30 p.m.
The City is also sponsoring several family-friendly events leading up to the fireworks display, including:
Family New Year's Eve Party at the Riverside Convention Center, 6 - 9 p.m. 123 E. Main St. That includes a DJ Dance Party, giant bounce houses, an obstacle course, airbrush tattoos, photo booths, caricature artists, a magician, and costumed characters.
There is also a New Year's Eve Skate, 5 to 7 p.m. and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, on Court St.
The Family skate is 5 to 7 p.m.; Adults only (over 16 years old) skate: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Also on Thursday, City Hall announced that thanks to an additional donation from Wegmans, free ice skating at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park ice rink will now be available until December 31. Originally it was scheduled to end at the conclusion of ROC Holiday Village on December 23.
