2024 June 27: Ladybug Day

Parking is available at the Culver Road Armory. You will be able to walk to and from your parking spot via a footpath connected to the event site. <MAP LINK TO PARKING>.

NOTE: this access method is NOT wheelchair accessible and is NOT appropriate for anyone with limited mobility.

Walk-in, limited mobility and wheel chair access

The best way to access Ladybug Day on foot or in a wheelchair is from the main gate at 645 Rosedale Street <MAP LINK>.

If you have limited mobility or if you are in a wheelchair, parking in close proximity to the site is extremely limited. You may be forced to drop off those with limited mobility or a wheelchair and park at some distance on a nearby street or at the Culver Road Armory (see above).

Children are invited to participate in a super-fun PRE-EVENT craft activity supported by the Monroe Branch Library. The results from this activity will be integrated into Ladybug Day. Please see the information below for details or contact the Monroe Branch Library.

Click here to open & view the Ladybug Rock Painting activity information below as a PDF file

You & your children are invited to participate in a fun activity supporting Ladybug Day (July 27, 2024)

Program Description: Children are encouraged to use creativity to transform a common rock into a colorful ladybug. Bring it to the Monroe Branch Library Children’s Room by July 24th where it will be exhibited first at the Library, and then migrate to decorate a nearby community garden! All participants can earn a prize donated by the Pirate Toy Fund and distributed at the Ladybug Day event.

This acidity is centered at the Monroe Branch Library - Children’s Room.

The Monroe Branch Library has lots of lovely FREE round, smooth stones available in the Children’s Room right now. You may also use any rock you find.

The Monroe Branch Library will have a children's painting program on Tuesday, July 16th from 4:30 - 5:30, where we will be providing paint if you'd like to paint your lady bug with us. OR children may paint their rock(s) at home using paint you own. (Paint is not being given away to participants.)

Children are encouraged to be creative and write a story, poem or song about their ladybug with their entry! Decorated rocks must be brought to the Monroe Branch Library by July 24th. When you turn in your ladybug, we'll ask you to fill out a brief entry form to include your child's name, and parent's email + phone number.

The children’s ladybug rocks will be placed throughout the gardens before Mr. Matthew leads a story time at 2:30 pm and ONE THOUSAND ladybugs are released into Wide Water Gardens!

In addition, participants in the Lady Bug Rock Painting activity are invited to take part in a fun children's parade celebrating Ladybug Day!

Ladybug Day is Saturday, July 27th from noon until 6:00 pm at Wide Water Gardens

Children will gather on the sidewalk in front of 984 Monroe Avenue (near Touched by Tonia, Grass Fed, Luci & Dona, and Homegrown Homemade and Monroe Food Mart) starting at 1:30 pm. At 2:00 pm the children will march together to Wide Water Gardens (345 Rosedale Street).

Ladybug Day is an annual community building program of the South East Area Coalition developed and presented in collaboration with Wide Water Gardens. This year Ladybug Day is co-sponsored by the Upper Monroe Neighborhood Association and other community-oriented businesses and organizations.

Click here to open & view the Ladybug Rock Painting activity information below as a PDF file

El Kapitan food truck & Nine Spot Brewing will have food available for purchase.

Complimentary snacks/sweets/water from sources like Rita's of Rochester will also be available.

• There will be arts & crafts, games, storytelling and garden-related activities for all ages.

• Live musical entertainment will be provided throughout the day at various times.

  • Come jam out to the Heart Throbs String Band!

  • Kit Carnahan will play her violin while she strolls.

  • Rose Elliott will also be playing at the event

• A variety of local artists will be present for all or most of the event.

• Representatives from the South East Area Coalition (SEAC) and other organizations, businesses and artists will offer a variety of information, services and products throughout the event.

• Please also look on this page for information about the food and beverages that will be available at Ladybug Day.

• In particular, children will be able to

  • See Information about the children's parade on Ladybug Day

  • Have their face painted by Arlene's Costume from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm.;

  • Play with soap bubbles;

  • Make "fairy houses" with Sage Gentry;

  • Participate in a fun plant scavenger hunt;

  • Hear stories told by Mr. Matthews;

  • Contribute to the Flower Power banner; and

  • Pick their prize at the Pirate Toy Fund table

  • Please also look on this page for information about the children's parade.

• We'll all marvel as ONE THOUSAND ladybugs are released into Wide Water Gardens

Timed activities during Ladybug Day*

All times are approximate and subject to change.

Noon:

• Ladybug Day begins at Wide Water Gardens

• El Kapitan food truck will provide food and beverages for sale during the event. Rita's Italian Ice will be at the event. Other participants may also be offering food and drinks. Free lemonade will be available.

• Rose Elliott plays

• Many of the activities will begin and continue throughout the day.

1:00 PM

• FREE face painting/ladybug photo (Arlene's Costume)

• FREE prop/banner art making activity (Sen. Samra Brouk)

1:30 PM

• Children gather for parade in front of 984 Monroe Avenue (See 2024 June 27: Ladybug Day)

2:00 PM

• Children's parade begins (See 2024 June 27: Ladybug Day)

• Kit Carnahan plays

2:30 PM

• Children's Storytime by Mr. Matthew

• Make your own fairy house with Sage

2:45 PM

• We'll all marvel as ONE THOUSAND ladybugs are released into Wide Water Gardens

3:30 PM

• Heart Throb String Band plays

6:00 PM

• Ladybug Day ends

• A Frog House

• Agog

• Arlene’s Costume Shop - Face Painting/Ladybug Photo Booth

• Challenger Miracle Field

• DogTown Hots

• El Kapitan food truck

• Fairy Houses with Sage

• Get Caked Bakery

• Hannah Summerfield-Gonchar

• Harry Jalil

• Hearth and Heather

• Heart Throb String Band

• Homegrown & Homemade Market

• Impact Earth

• In This Moment

• Jon Jon’s Johns

• Kit Carnahan

• Leia Matteson

• Luci & Dona

• Monroe Branch Library

• Nine Spot Brewing

• The Notable Corporation

• Nur Ozkaynak

• Peachy Pals

• Pirate Toy Fund

• Rita's of Rochester

• Roc IT Business Solutions

• Rochester DSA

• Rochester Police Department

• Rochester Fire Department

• Rose Elliott

• Sarah Fraley Creations

• Sharon's Fantastical Art

• Sheila and Mark Howland

• Sophia’s Creations

• South East Area Coalition

• Upper Monroe Neighborhood Association

• Visit Rochester

• Wide Water Gardens

Click here to open & view the Ladybug Day children's parade information below as a PDF file

• Parade lineup begins at 1:30 pm. Children will gather on the sidewalk in front of 984 Monroe Avenue (MAP LINK) near Touched by Tonia, Grass Fed, Luci & Dona, and Homegrown Homemade and Monroe Food Mart starting at 1:30 pm.

• The parade will begin at 2:00 pm. Everyone will process together down the sidewalk on Monroe Avenue turning left on the sidewalk and down Rosedale Street. We will arrive at Wide Water Gardens by about 2:15 pm.

This is a "come as you are" parade. Costumes, decorations, props, etc. are optional. However, all of the above will be welcomed. Bikes and well-behaved pets (decorated or otherwise) will also be welcomed.

A fanciful winged unicorn & a big carrot-wielding bunny will help lead the parade thanks to our pals at Impact Earth & Arlene's Costumes. We may even get a visit from the wonderful and inspiring "Kampy The Miracle Mouse" thanks to Challenger Miracle Field.

Children in the parade will have bubbles to blow as they process towards Ladybug Day at Wide Water Gardens.

When we get to Ladybug Day at Wide Water Gardens we'll gather all the children by the SEAC tent to celebrate their arrival and describe all the fun activities.

Face painting:

Arlene's Costumes is providing free face painting at Ladybug Day starting at 1:00 pm. Children who want to have their face painted before the parade can go to the event and then meet us at the parade gathering site. OR children can have their face painted after the parade (until 4:00 pm).

Click here to open & view the Ladybug Day children's parade information below as a PDF file

For information about supporting Ladybug Day please CLICK HERE or