Santa's helpers will be downtown on Saturday working on getting you a toy

ROCHESTER - Based on the treasured tradition of Carol and Chandra Aebersold's Christmas picture book Elf on the Shelf, a dozen mischievous elves will descend on Rochester's downtown this Saturday to help herald in the Christmas season with fun and a grand prize worth at least $50.

It all gets started at the park at Parson Main Square where eventgoers will find their first elf, who will give them their first ticket and explain how to play and find your next elf.

Each elf will give folks another ticket, which enhances their chances to win.

All the elves will have on special elf hats to make them easy to recognize, said Steve Sprague, a Rochester Rise Up member who is helping to organize the event.

"We're trying to bring more people to the downtown to see all the great businesses we have here, this just makes it more fun," Sprague said on Thursday.

The event runs from noon-4 p.m. with a winner announced at 5 p.m. at the Collec-tiques store on North Main Street where Santa will have a workshop downstairs.