FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

City of Rochester Announces 2020 Free Comic Book Festival Date

ROCHESTER — City Manager Blaine Cox is pleased to announce the date of next spring’s Free Comic Book Day events and citywide festival.

WHEN: 

Saturday, May 2 beginning at 10 a.m.

WHERE: 

Downtown Rochester

WHAT: 

Free Comic Book Day is recognized internationally each year on the first Saturday of May, and traditionally is a time when comic book stores provide free comic books to anyone who visits their shop. In Rochester, an annual citywide festival recognizes Free Comic Book Day, and is being organized this year by Jetpack Comics & Games, the City of Rochester, the Rochester Main Street Program and The Governor’s Inn.

More than 1,000 people attended last year’s Free Comic Book Day events.

“This event is a really great opportunity for families and children to celebrate the wonder and joy of reading comic books, and is also an exciting opportunity for people to discover and visit local businesses,” City Manager Cox said.

The Free Comic Book Day celebration in Rochester was started by Jetpack Comics & Games owner Ralph DiBernardo in 2007 as a way to engage local comic book enthusiasts and also to introduce comic books to more people as well, and as a result, various city groups and businesses have stepped forward to support and grow the initiative.

“Free Comic Book Day is an awesome concept, and it’s so much fun for local families and kids,” DiBernardo said. “For everyone that loves comic books, it’s a really special day where they get to celebrate the characters and storylines they love. For everyone else, it’s an opportunity to discover comic books, and also to get out, interact with the community and explore Rochester’s downtown. It’s been incredible to see the support the city has provided to grow this event, and we’re excited for this year’s festival.”

Families and visitors to the festival will be able to download a free downtown walking map at JetpackComics.com approximately two weeks before the festival. The map will include all participating businesses in the festival, where people will be encouraged to visit to collect free comic books. The online map is free, and hard copy maps will be available for purchase on the day of the festival. Groups will be encouraged to take one comic book from each business to allow more people to participate in the festivities.

Business employees will also sign scavenger hunt cards for groups that enter their shops, allowing those people to enter a free contest to win Jetpack Comics gift packages, including Free Comic Book Day memorabilia, gift cards and more.

For a fee, beginning at $150 for 750 comic books, Rochester businesses are invited to take part in the upcoming festival. The fee includes the cost of the comic books businesses will give away during the event, the businesses’ inclusion on the map for the event as well as all web and promotional costs.

For more information, businesses may contact Rochester Main Street at 603-330-3208 or visit Jetpack Comics & Games to pick up a registration form. Businesses are encouraged to sign up before January, and after the start of the new year the cost to participate as a business may rise.

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