Shows go on in Rochester amid big event cancellations, winter COVID surge

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Friday NFL games, Broadway shows, and other major entertainment events were canceled or postponed all because of the rise in positive COVID-19 cases.

For others, the show carries on at several live music venues, movie theaters, and at the Blue Cross Arena which are all expecting big crowds this weekend.

People are flocking to movie theaters once again, especially this weekend to see one of the hottest movies to be released in a long time.

Cinemark Tinseltown USA and IMAX in Gates had its biggest U.S. box office opening Thursday night for the opening of "Spider-Man: No Way Home." On Friday thousands more Spiderman fans came to watch the movie helping to make it the third-highest movie debut in cinematic history.

Many said they waited a long time for this day to come.

"I’m really excited," said Gino Romano. "I’ve been waiting on this movie probably like four months. I can’t sleep at night. I barely wanted to go to work today. I just wanted to see this movie."

Natasha Braima added, "It’s fun you know to go to the movies, and spend time with your family."

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" is expected to generate more than $200 million in ticket sales, packing movie theaters from coast to coast. We asked if anyone had any concerns regarding the spike in positive COVID-19 cases as they start visiting movie theaters again.

"We’re not worried about it. We’re a healthy family, and we take care of ourselves with vitamins, and eating right, and rest, and we believe that our bodies and immune systems are good enough," said Livio Ciciotti as he arrived with his two children.

"Honestly as people we’ll persevere with COVID. We already did it in 2020. I think we’ll be fine going forward as long as we stay safe, and stay masked up," Romano said.

Back in Rochester, another major event this weekend: "Disney On Ice: Let’s Celebrate!" Friday night’s show was completely sold out. We talked to the Perkins family and they were was also excited to see the Disney characters on ice but disagreed with the way the arena is letting people come in.

"If you have a vaccination, you still have to mask up, but also you don’t have to provide a photo with the vaccination card," Danielle Perkins said. "So I feel like ‘What is the purpose?’"

"Spider-Man: No Way Home is being shown in seven of Tinseltown’s 16 movie auditoriums. That’s how many people want to see this film.