Making the trek to Rochester, Michigan, for the city's dazzling Big Bright Light Show is already a tradition for many metro Detroiters as the dazzling holiday light display flips the 'on' switch for its sixth season beginning November 28.
We love heading out to see the display and enjoying the celebratory atmosphere as visitors 'ooooh' and 'aaaah' at the more than 1.5 million colored lights blanketing Rochester's Main Street and central downtown area.
Rochester got the bright idea to stage a spectacular holiday light display as a way to help the city's many independent businesses draw visitors during the holidays and effectively compete with the national chains' big bucks advertising budgets.
The first Big Bright Light Show in 2006 had 500,000 LED lights and drew several million people to see the display over the next month.
This year, the lights will again cover downtown Rochester storefronts from the South Bridge north to Romeo Road, as well as on Fourth Street from Walnut to Water.
I'll be looking for my favorite display, the Snowflake Spectacular with over 75 animated, white-light snowflakes flashing in sync with holiday music on the old knitting mill's wall on Water Street.
This season's Big Bright Light Show happens 6 p.m. until midnight from November 28 through January 1, 2012.
© Dominique King 2011 All rights reserved
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