Santa''s helpers bring some mischievous merriment downtown

From left, Lydia Grant, 12, Landon Day, 8, Logan Day, 8, and Jackson Grant, 6, get their tickets from elves Matthew Smith and Cathy Allen on North Main Street during Elf on a Shelf Day Logan Day, (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - The downtown was abuzz with Santa's elves on Saturday as Rise up Rochester sponsored its inaugural Elf on a Shelf day.

The event began at Parson Main Square where the head elf (Cathy Allen) gave out a raffle ticket good for a grand prize worth over $50 and ended with a drawing in Santa's workshop downstairs at Collec-tiques where Santa, himself, (Jeff Bisson) was busy at work.

After the first ticket was given out, the head elf told the youngsters where to find the other dozen or so elves, who were mischievously spread out across the downtown, each with another ticket to give them to increase their chances of winning ... if they could be tracked down.

One of the organizers, Todd Radict of Skele-Tone Records, said the group wanted to give Rochester families a fun reason to come downtown and enjoy some holiday cheer and maybe win some prizes.

Twelve-year-old Lydia Grant of Rochester said she was having a great time with her friends who had also come out.

"This is fun for us, too," said Radict who played one of the elves.