Lagniappe leads Rochester into holiday season

Lagniappe (pronounced lon-yop) and the third annual Big, Bright Light Show return Monday. Live music, horse-drawn carriages, shopping, food and of course Santa Claus will be featured. Many merchants will offer a gift or refreshment in the tradition of Lagniappe, a Creole word which means "a little something extra."

The evening's festivities begin at 6 p.m. At 6:45 p.m., Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson, Channel 7's Dave LewAllen and Santa will take the stage. At 7 p.m. one million tiny LED lights will go on. They'll be on nightly, 6 p.m. to midnight, through Jan. 4.

Buildings will be covered in lights on Main Street from the South Bridge to University Drive and Fourth Street from Walnut to Water. Walnut Boulevard will be home to large, lighted displays featuring the Twelve Days of Christmas. Downtown's traditional Christmas tree on East University will become the Dancing Tree of Lights, with red and white lights covering every inch. Back for the second year in a row is the Snowflake Spectacular, 75 giant snowflakes flashing to the beat of holiday music on the walls of the Western Knitting Mill on Water Street.