Over 30,000 spectators flooded the streets of downtown Rochester Monday to take part in the annual Lagniappe and Big Bright Light Show.

Celebrating its 37th birthday in Rochester, the Lagniappe, which is Creole for “a little something extra,” is a chance for local business owners to give back to the community and the people who shop there year round.

Many stores have special offers or free gifts during the Lagniappe, as well as extended shopping hours.

“It really stretches across the board,” said Stacey Keast, event coordinator for the Rochester Downtown Development Authority. “I saw light up necklaces, cookies, sandwiches, some people even did in-store entertainment.”

Cupcake Apparel and Gifts, a boutique that sells women’s fashions, as well as a variety of accessories and gifts, thanked customers by handing out free cupcake bonbons to the first 150 customers.

In addition to local deals, the evening included the lighting of the 4th annual Big, Bright Light Show.

This year’s show is the biggest in the town’s history. The lights stretch from the bridge on Main Street all the way north to Romeo Road.

At 7 p.m. on Monday, over one million lights in almost every color imaginable were turned on, lighting up every shop front along Main Street.

“It’s always my favorite part to hear the excitement and cheers of the crowds when we turn all the lights on for the first time,” said Keast.

Event-goers also traveled down Fourth, Walnut and Water streets to see more light displays, including the Snowflake Spectacular at the Rochester Mills on Water Street.

Most businesses on Main Street had lines out the door.

“It’s been busy all night,” said Dessert Oasis owner, Charlene Hamood, of business at the restaurant during Laginappe.  “But people are being really patient, so that’s nice.”

Oakland University student, Nick Bolinger, stopped at Gus O’Connor’s for some food and drinks with friends.

“Lagniappe was a lot of fun,” Bolinger said. “The streets were packed as well as the bars.”

While he enjoyed being able to look at the lights, walk the streets and see some familiar faces downtown, Bolinger was slightly disappointed with certain aspects of the night.

“The lights downtown are cool because no other city does something like that, but the ceremony is lame,” Bolinger said. “There isn’t even a countdown. The only down side was the disappointing beer specials.”

For those who missed Monday night’s celebration, it is not too late to take part in the downtown festivities.

The Hometown Christmas Parade is on Main Street Dec.  6 at 2 p.m. The town also has an Old-Fashioned Christmas celebgration Dec. 12 at the Rochester Hills Museum from 1 – 4 p.m.

Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland County, and the Oakland County Parks organize the winter festival and, according to Keast, it is a “really great time for everyone who comes out.”

The Big, Bright Light Show will continue every night from 6 p.m. to midnight until Jan. 3 and Keast, along with the rest of the DDA, encourages the community to come check it out.

“You have to see it to believe it,” said Keast. “Come see what it’s all about.”

For information on upcoming events in Rochester, visit the DDA homepage at downtownrochestermi.com.