THIS WEEKEND: Polar Plunge, Lakeside Winter Celebration, and Beyonce laser show

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Here’s your guide to events happening this weekend in the Rochester area. You can learn more about what’s happening around town on our Community Calendar.

Lakeside Winter Celebration (Saturday)

The Lakeside Winter Celebration returns for the 38th year to Ontario Beach Park, next to the Roger Robach Community Center, on Saturday.

There will be activities from noon to 4 p.m. including snow sculpting by nationally renowned snow sculptor Eric Jones. Other activities include horse-drawn wagon rides, the Chilly Chilli Challenge, ice sculpting demos, and live music.

There will also be fireworks, a mobile rec center, and food and drinks. The celebration is organized by the volunteer-based Ontario Beach Park Program Committee and it’s ahead of the Polar Plunge.

Beyonce Laser Show (Saturday and Sunday)

The Rochester Museum and Science Center is holding a series of laser light shows at the Strasenburgh Planetarium set to Beyonce’s music. That includes a show on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. and Sunday at 2:15 p.m.

The show will feature 14 of Beyonce hits including “Single Ladies”, “Run The World”, “Halo”, and “Irreplaceable”. You can get tickets here.

Rochester Polar Plunge (Sunday)

Rochester’s polar plunge takes place on Sunday at Ontario Beach Park. It will benefit Special Olympics New York, which provides year-round training and competition to over 66,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. The Rochester area hosts over 40 Special Olympics events annually.

You can register, donate, and volunteer here. Walk-in registration begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday and the plunge into Lake Ontario starts at noon. Free off-site parking and a shuttle service is available from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for plungers and spectators at Greece Arcadia, 120 Island Cottage Road.

In 2023, Rochester’s polar plunge raised over $300,000 for the athletes.