Mayor Lovely A. Warren and the City of Rochester will usher in 2018 at the New Year’s Eve Celebration with ice skating at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and free, family-friendly fun at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 E. Main St. on Sunday, Dec. 31. This year’s fireworks show over the Main Street Bridge is dedicated to famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass as 2018 marks the 200th anniversary of his birth.

“Our New Year’s Eve celebration is a wonderful tradition and I am pleased to invite the community to celebrate the legacy of Frederick Douglass as we head into 2018,” said Mayor Warren. “Douglass would be proud to see his adopted home town today as we have made great strides in creating jobs, bringing vibrancy to our neighborhoods and creating better educational opportunities for our residents. We know that our work is not done, and we look forward to 2018 with optimism.”

The New Year’s Eve festivities kicks off with free open skating at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park Ice Rink, 353 Court St., with DJ music provided by Beal’s Rock & Roll Review. A family skate will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by an adult skate (over 16 years old) from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Limited skate rentals will be available for $3 per person with a valid NYS license.

At 7 p.m., families can warm up indoors at the Convention Center with free activities and entertainment including a DJ dance party with Tones Entertainment, giant bounce houses, an obstacle course, airbrush tattoos, photo booths, caricature artists, magician, clowns and special appearances by your favorite costumed characters. The City’s Rec on the Move staff will offer fun and crafts for the kids. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

The evening will end with spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks, best viewed from the Main Street Bridge, at 10 p.m.

Free parking will be available from 6 to 11 p.m. at the following garages: South Avenue Garage, 39 Stone St.; Washington Square Garage, 111 Woodbury Blvd.; Sister Cities Garage, 28 N. Fitzhugh St.; Court Street Garage, 194 Court St.; and Mortimer Street Garage, 25 N. Clinton Ave.

“I encourage everyone to come Downtown on New Year’s Eve to enjoy an evening of safe, family entertainment,” said Mayor Warren. “Let’s ring in the New Year together with pride for Rochester, home of the great Frederick Douglass.”