City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, June 15, 2018) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today that the first Saturday of each summer month will be filled with song and dance. The widely loved ROC THE PARK Music Festival will return for its fifth year at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 353 Court St.
“ROC THE PARK is now a firmly established summer tradition and we’re excited to bring it downtown for its fifth year,” said Mayor Warren. “We continue Rochester’s legacy as a City of the Arts with Latino Music Night, and with two other music-filled days featuring tributes to Gospel, Motown and Soul. I invite the community to come out and enjoy these amazing celebrations of music and culture. Special events such as these lift spirits and foster our efforts to create more jobs, safer, more vibrant neighborhoods and ultimately better educational opportunities for our children.”
The finest local and regional talent will grace the stage Saturdays July 7, Aug. 4 and Sept. 1. This year, the family friendly series features an earlier, family friendlier time, with performances at 3 p.m.
Returning this year, the City, Carlton Wilcox Live and the Rochester’s Hispanic Heritage Committee will kick off the festival with “Latino Music Night.” This event features salsa, merengue and Latin jazz coupled with local Latino cuisine on July 7. Patrons will enjoy music by headliner Chantell Collado, and special guests Banda Light, Sonidos Unidos, Tipico, DJ Freddy Colon, DJ Bontillo, DJ Johnny Mambo and Franco.
The Saturday, Aug. 4 concert brings “ROC the Gospel” featuring a performance by Serena Young, with special guests Brandy J and GHI Music Group.
To celebrate the end of the summer, Saturday, Sept. 1 will be filled with Motown and Soul. Patrons can enjoy an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute by Calvin Palmer and the R.B.S. All Star Band.
Performances begin at 3 p.m. and gates open shortly before. Entrance is free for kids ages 12 and under. General admission tickets are $6. VIP tickets, which include admission and dinner, are available only at the gate for $25. General admission tickets may be purchased in advance at the Blue Cross Arena Box Office, 100 Exchange Blvd. (no surcharge), or online at www.Ticketmaster.com (with surcharge). All tickets may be purchased (cash only) at the gate at the corner of Court and Chestnut Street until 9:30 p.m. for each event.
Guests may bring chairs and one sealed bottle of water per person. Smoking is not permitted in the park. Pets, skateboards, bicycles, in-line skates and drones are not allowed in the festival site.
ROC THE PARK is sponsored by the City in conjunction with Roc Music Entertainment, Carton Wilcox Live, 103.9 WKDX, Vickers Design Studio and Minority Reporter.
For more information, call 503-6270, email carltonwilcoxlive@gmail.com, or visit
www.cityofrochester.gov/rocthepark or www.rocthepark.com.
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News Media: For more information, contact Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.