SPECIAL EVENT: Love Parade

By Rebecca Rafferty @rsrafferty

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What's colorful, joyful, musical, has dozens and dozens of beautiful, beating hearts, and lives by the lakeside? The free annual Lake Ontario Love Parade, to be held this year on Sunday, October 7, at 1 p.m. at the Charlotte Pier.

Each love parade is uniquely co-created by participants, say the organizers, who honor loved ones, secret crushes, dear ones who have passed on, or people whose forgiveness they would ask, with banners, messages on released balloons, chalk messages and drawings on the pier, musical tributes, and costumes. The goal of the parade is to remind Rochesterians at large of the importance of love, "while inspiring them to use public space to create beauty and community in new ways," per the provided statement. Organizers hope that the parade will become a new holiday for the city, in tribute to our beautiful Great Lake, and as a means of physical and emotional exercise.

Get creative with your costume, bring your instrument of choice, or make a loving tribute and join others in celebrating the heart. More information is available at facebook.com/lakeontarioloveparade, or by emailing [email protected].