Big Bright Light Show, The

Now for the main reason we went to check out Rochester. It’s called The Big Bright Light Show, and it happens every year between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Back in 2006 the DDA’s Executive Director Kristi Trevarrow had an idea, and that bright idea has helped put Rochester, Michigan on the map across the country. Now get this: they literally wrap almost the entire downtown with over 1.5 million brightly colored holiday lights. Each building has its own color and is covered with strands about every two inches. The entire town is wrapped in an explosion of color.

When you drive into Rochester, it’s almost like you’re driving right into a cartoon, and standing in the middle of town during the Big Bright Light Show is a surreal sensation that’s nearly impossible to describe. The lights come on every night around sunset and stay on until the wee hours. It takes two months to put them up every year, but it’s totally worth it. The show brings people into Rochester from across the country to eat, shop, take photos, get engaged—you name it. If you’re looking for a unique holiday experience, you’ve got to experience the Big Bright Light Show.