Another successful Maplewood Rose Celebration was held June 15-17, 2012. Check this page in the spring for info about the 2013 event. In the meantime, you can see the 2012 schedule below to get a feel for the events.
The roses are in bloom and a full program of activities awaits visitors to the 22nd annual Maplewood Rose Celebration, to be held June 15-17, 2012 in and around Maplewood Park and Rose Garden. The event, coordinated by the Maplewood Neighborhood Association, kicks off with a “city-wide block party,” the Party on the (Driving Park) Bridge. This festive party features family entertainment, food, and much more.
The Maplewood Rose Festival weekend continues with a cornucopia of activities that celebrate Rochester's history, ecology, people, and illustrious horticultural heritage.
In particular this festival is an illumination and celebration of the Maplewood Neighborhood. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Northwest Rochester neighborhood boasts hundreds of elegant century-old homes as well as parks and gardens designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, known as America's greatest landscape architect. This dazzling “built environment,” when combined with the natural majesty of the river and gorge, make for a truly unique urban neighborhood.
The Maplewood Neighborhood Association’s remarkable volunteers have partnered with the City to showcase its fantastic history, architecture, natural features, parks, and people.
2012 Maplewood Rose Celebration Schedule
- Friday, June 15
- 7-10 p.m.: Party on the Bridge. A city-wide "block party" on the Driving Park Bridge! The party includes children’s activities, inflatables, music and more and will be capped off by a spectacular fireworks display over the Lower Falls. Food vendors available (fee).
Saturday, June 16
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Genesee Gorge and Falls Tours. Neighborhood docents will lead you on a fascinating, narrated tour of the historic and beautiful Lower Falls Park. Tours are ongoing; last tour leaves at 4 pm.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Children’s inflatables (fee).
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Garden activities for children: seed planting, insect scavenger hunt, children's garden projects and more
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Horticultural and Craft Vendors
10 am – 5pm: Tour the Rose Garden and enjoy garden workshops. Learn from the City’s horticultural staff and Roserians from the
Greater Rochester Rose Society.
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Gallery Maplewood will feature the works of local artisans in a variety of mediums.
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Storytellers, book giveaway; part of a free family literacy event sponsored by Northwest Rotary Club and the
Rochester Public Library.
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.: Food vendors available (fee)
12 –1 p.m.: Garden Photography: a workshop by city photographer Ira Srole. Bring your camera!
12-4 p.m.: Wine and Jazz in the Garden. Features area wineries and farmers sampling and vending their wares in the garden amidst the fragrant bouquet of roses. Jazz musicians all afternoon, featuring Darryl Parker Trio and Phil Chateauvieux. Fee for tastings, with all proceeds benefit the
Maplewood Neighborhood Association.
4-7 p.m.: Lady Rose and her jazz sounds close out the day in the Big Gazebo.
Sunday, June 17
9 a.m.: Explore Upper Seneca Park. Meet in the Seneca Park Zoo Parking Lot. Explore the Southern environs of Seneca Park and the surrounding riverfront neighborhood including: Seth Green switchback trail and the Rochester School for the Deaf. For more information about the spectacular gorge, go to
www.cityofrochester.gov/lowergorge.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Recreation on the Move. The City Bureau of Recreation’s award winning mobile recreation center will roll out to Maplewood Park for the festival.
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Gallery Maplewood will feature the works of local artisans in a variety of mediums.
1-4 p.m.: Rose garden tours/ workshops
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Genesee Gorge and Falls Tours. Neighborhood docents will lead you on a fascinating, narrated tour of the historic and beautiful Lower Falls Park. Tours are ongoing, last tour leaves at 3 p.m.
11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Horticultural and Craft Vendors
11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Food vendors available
1 - 2 p.m.: Music and comedy by Peter McFiley
2:15–4 p.m.: Music by the Dady Brothers Irish and Folk
1-5 p.m.: Father's Day Family Picnic in the Park. On Father's Day start a new family tradition, bring Dad and enjoy a special time together!
Transportation, Traffic, and Parking Information
Handicapped parking only in Maplewood Park lot (Driving Park Avenue). Other parking available on adjoining streets and in the Hawk Eye parking lot at the corner of St. Paul Boulevard and Avenue E, directly across the Driving Park Bridge from Maplewood Park (shuttle provided). The Rochester Genesee Regional Transit Authority offers bus service to several stops within a short walk of Maplewood Park—for more information on these routes and schedules, go to www.rgrta.org or call 654-0200. Bike enthusiasts can avoid traffic and parking challenges by riding to the event along the wonderful Genesee Riverway Trail (www.cityofrochester.gov, type Genesee Riverway Trail into search box).
You can also take a bus to the festivities: Use the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority's Google Trip Planner to get a bus to Maplewood Park
Sponsors
The Maplewood Rose Celebration is sponsored by the Maplewood Neighborhood Association and the City of Rochester, with corporate support from Wellcare, MVP Health Care and and Verizon.
For more information
Call 428-6866 or 232-8420.
For more information about the Maplewood Neighborhood Association, go to www.maplewood.org.