Rochester Harbor and Carousel Festival To Be Discontinued in 2012
The Ontario Beach Park Program Committee, Inc. (OBPPC) announced today it will no longer host the Rochester Harbor and Carousel Festival. The popular festival, which has attracted thousands of visitors to Rochester’s waterfront since its inception in 1985, has traditionally featured visits by Tall Ships and a variety of low cost and free entertainment for all members of the family.
Joe Carrozzi, Chairman of the Committee, stated that “The primary purpose of the Harbor and Carousel Festival, as well as the OBPPC itself, was to help promote the recreational and economic resurgence of Ontario Beach Park and the port area which in the early 1980’s was in a continual state of decline. In making the decision to discontinue operating the festival, the Committee felt that much of that purpose, while not complete, has been achieved through the major developments made to the area and the waterfront and the area once again having become a destination in itself for residents and tourists alike. Additionally, the planned further development set to begin next year and the increasing costs and declining resources necessary to stage such a large event successfully, made it the right time for the Committee to end the large scale event and move in a different direction.”
Carrozzi emphasized that the extremely popular Wednesday evening WEGMANS CONCERTS BY THE SHORE series, Lakeside Winter Celebration, October River Romance event Spring and Fall Big Band Dance Series and other popular activities operated by the Committee will continue uninterrupted. The Committee will also explore other activities that can continue to support and complement the planned development of the area.
The Ontario Beach Park Program Committee is an all volunteer group comprised of residents and representatives from the major community organizations in Charlotte. The Committee organizes and provides free family entertainment at Ontario Beach Park and the Port of Rochester. The Committee has been in existence since 1984, having been organized to assist with the City of Rochester Sesquicentennial Celebration and Tall Ship Rendezvous. In addition to having operated the Harbor and Carousel Festival, the committee sponsors The Spring and Fall Big Band Dance Series at the Robach Center, the Wegmans Concerts by the Shore series every Wednesday night during the summer, the annual Lakeside Winter Celebration/Polar Plunge, Kite Flight, River Romance and other special activities. The Committee also provides support to many other community activities and events in the Charlotte area.
Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 08:36PM 
