ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Another sign that things are starting to get back to normal is that large conventions are returning to the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

More than 1,200 people are expected to come to the SPIE Optifab conference, which now is underway. 

It's the largest optical manufacturing conference and exhibition in North America. 

"Today's event in particular is really great to welcome here, because Rochester was founded on innovation and entrepreneurship," Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said. "And to be able to host a conference like this that's based on innovation and industries of the future is really critical to our economic success. And again, I think it demonstrates that Monroe County is alive and well."

It's only the second major convention to come to the convention center since the pandemic shut down in March of 2020.