2017 SocialICE draws 40,000
Tens of thousands turned out over three nights for the ninth annual SocialICE winter festival in downtown Rochester.
For the second straight year, temperatures were remarkably warm throughout the duration of the February event — with highs getting up to 60 degrees by Saturday afternoon.
Fortunately for organizers, temperatures stayed cool enough to preserve much of the dazzling ice both Thursday and Friday.
By Saturday night, attendees cared less about ice and more about what was coming from the stage. Apollo Music Group, led by DJ John Gavin Boss, was electric throughout SocialICE, backed up with quality sound and lighting from Northern Sun Productions.
There was also a giant social media wall that streamed photos from attendees using Twitter and Instagram. Seven bars participated in this year's SocialICE, each with a different theme. Dooley's Pub took home the 2017 Champion's Cup for best bar.
SocialICE began in 2009 with just 250 people in attendance. It has since grown into one of the region's most-hyped winter events. (For those of you curious in how weather may tie into attendance, note that 2015 was sub-zero cold and 2016-17 were both mild.)
2009 - 250
2010 – No attendance notes or recap
2011 – No attendance notes or recap
2012 – 15,000
2013 – 17,000
2014 – 43,000
2015 – 46,000
2016 – 35,000
2017 – 39, 500
Numbers courtesy the Rochester Downtown Alliance
Cover photo by Will Forsman
