Party in the Dark An Eclipse Viewing Event
to be Presented at Parcel 5 in Downtown Rochester April 8
Free Admission—Noon to 4 PM
Post-eclipse Party to Follow at La Bola in The Mercantile
ROCHESTER, NY—MAR. 1, 2024—Eclipse fans are invited to celebrate the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse at Party in the Dark, a free event to be held at Parcel 5 in Rochester, a prime viewing area, on Monday, April 8, from noon to 4 p.m.
Party in the Dark will feature a NASA live stream and concert streams on a large outdoor screen. Attendees can enjoy seating areas with fire pits. Free glow sticks, necklaces, and safe solar viewing glasses will be available. Visitors may bring blankets and portable seating. No pets or outside food or drinks are allowed during the event.
Party in the Dark is produced by Bella Events Group and Rohrbach Brewing Company and sponsored by City of Rochester, Wegmans, RG&E, MVP Health Care and ROC Optica.
Food and beverages will be available to purchase from local food trucks and vendors including Duke's Donuts, Living Roots Wine and Co., Nancy's Fried Dough and Concessions, The Meatball Truck, RoCoCo (Rochester Coffee Company) and Rohrbach Brewing Co., which will be featuring its newly released Totality Black Lager. Complimentary snacks and water will be available courtesy of Wegmans.
Rochester, NY will be in the direct path of totality during the solar eclipse on April 8 at 3:20 p.m., offering 3 minutes and 38 seconds of complete totality. Parcel 5 has been named one of the suggested viewing locations per the Democrat & Chronicle.
Following Party in the Dark, La Bola will host an after-party at The Mercantile on Main, 240 East Main St., from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will feature specialty Eclipse-themed wine, cocktails and Rohrbach's Totality Black Lager to purchase. Additionally, tarot card readers and psychics will be available for guests to enjoy. Entry is free and first-come first-serve. Space is limited.
“We are thrilled to support one of our community's free eclipse viewing events," said Mayor Malik D. Evans. "Watching this historic, celestial moment at Parcel 5, in the heart of Downtown, surrounded by friends, neighbors and visitors to our region, is sure to be a remarkable experience. You won't find many better places to view the total eclipse.”
"The excitement in Rochester surrounding the eclipse is palpable, and Bella Events Group is thrilled to partner with Rohrbach Brewing Company in hosting a free event to mark this unique occasion in downtown Rochester. We invite all to join us for a memorable afternoon filled with delicious food, drinks, entertainment, and the extraordinary experience of witnessing the Sun going into totality," said Jenna Manetta-Knauf, owner, Bella Events Group.
"We're delighted to collaborate on Party in the Dark with Bella Events Group during this ultimate visual spectacle and look forward to showcasing our delicious Black Lager, representing the Totality phase when the moon will completely block out the sun," said John Urlaub, owner, Rohrbach Brewing Company.
For more information on Party in the Dark and to stay informed about news and updates, please visit: partyinthedarkroc.com.
Getting to Parcel 5
Parking – Party in the Dark does not operate any parking but there are many surface lots and ramp parking garages conveniently located near the event. Metered on-street parking is in service from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Please read the signs and only park in legal spots. Midtown Garage is off of Clinton and Broad St. It has a 6 ft. clearance. The entrance is located directly across from Tower280. Rates are $2 for the first 2 hours and an additional $2 for each hour or a fraction of an hour after that. For Parcel 5 events, there is a stairwell that leads straight into the space on Andrew Langston Way.
Bike Racks – Attendees are welcome to park their bicycles in the racks located around Parcel 5. It is recommended that you secure your bike by locking it up in the nearby bike racks.
E-bike and Scooter Share – Veo’s Shared Micromobility Program e-bikes and scooters are a fun and affordable way to get around and explore Rochester on two wheels. Download the Veo app to learn more.
Bus Routes – RTS – Parcel 5 can be directly accessed from several transit routes. To view the maps visit: myrts.com/Maps-Schedules/RTS-Monroe/Schedule-pdfs. The RTS Transit Center on St Paul St is a 2 min walk to Parcel 5. Visit myRTS.com for more information and to download the Where’s My Bus? app for real-time bus arrival info on your smartphone from Google Play and the App Store.
Bella Events Group was founded in 2009 as a full-service event planning and design firm. Prior to the formation of Bella, the owner, and founder, Jenna Manetta-Knauf, contracted directly with clients for event services. Manetta-Knauf is the owner of The Wilder Room venue space on East Avenue, and Evento East venue space in Penfield, co-owner and producer of Roc Holiday Village, the annual winter festival in the heart of downtown Rochester that attracts more than 185,000 people each year. She also serves as Logistics Director for the Rochester International Jazz Festival and is responsible for planning Trillium’s White Party – annual fundraising events that have sold out each year, and the Pride Festival. She also plans the Downtown Definitely Event Series.
Founded in 1991 by John and Patty Urlaub, Rohrbach Brewing Co. is the first craft brewery in Rochester, NY. The brewing company takes its name from Rohrbach, Germany, a small town that inspired its founder to bring craft beer to Rochester. The company first originated in the German House on Gregory Street, then grew into the two restaurant locations existing today–the brewery and beer hall in downtown Rochester on Railroad St. and the Buffalo Road Brewpub Restaurant in Gates. Though the company has grown over the past 25 years, Rohrbachs has stayed true to its roots. From its old days of growler fills to today’s consistent can releases, it’s been a wild ride from the beginning to the recent craft beer boom. Rohrbach beer is available in stores, restaurants, bars and sports arenas all over Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and their surrounding Upstate NY areas.
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