Events
Concerts, festivals, ceremonies, and Rochester-area gatherings.
May 2026
Lollypop Farm Offers Free Adoptions for Seniors 60+ Through May 24
Monday, May 11, 2026 at Walk-ins weekdays; appointment weekends
Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Road, Fairport NY 14450
Lollypop Farm is offering free adoptions for adults 60 and older through May 24. The program covers every animal in their care — dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, reptiles, farm animals, and even horses. Th
Jazz at the Beach: Bill Tiberio Band at Ontario Beach Park
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Tropix at Ontario Beach Park, Rochester, NY
Jazz at the Beach brings free live music to Ontario Beach Park this Tuesday evening, with local favorite Bill Tiberio Band taking the stage at Tropix. This is the kind of night that makes a Rochester
Rochester Red Wings vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs Home Series
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Innovative Field, Morrie Silver Way, Rochester, NY
The Red Wings are home all week for a six-game series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Innovative Field. May baseball in Rochester has a specific quality — warm enough to enjoy, not yet full summ
Rochester Music Hall of Fame Takes Over the Lilac Festival Stage — May 12
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
KeyBank Center Stage, Highland Park, Rochester NY
The Rochester Music Hall of Fame takes over the KeyBank Center Stage at Highland Park for one evening during the Lilac Festival. Three acts that define Rochester's music scene — Stoney Lonesome, The D
Reel Mind Film Festival: Life in the Time of Dementia
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at Various
The Little Theatre, Rochester NY
The Reel Mind Mental Health Film Festival returns to The Little Theatre with the theme Life in the Time of Dementia — three Tuesday screenings with panel discussions.
Water for Elephants: Stages Musical Production at Roc City Circus
Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 7:30 PM (Thu/Fri); 2:00 PM (Sat/Sun)
Roc City Circus, University Avenue, Rochester, NY
Stages brings Water for Elephants to life at Roc City Circus this weekend — four performances in a venue that, honestly, suits the circus story better than any conventional stage would. Rochester's co
The Great NYS Flea Returns to the Public Market: May 14 Evening Edition
Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St., Rochester NY
The Great New York State Flea returns to the Rochester Public Market for a spring evening edition. The after-hours format brings out a different energy than the daytime market — furniture, vintage clo
Women of Excellence Awards 2026
Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 17:00
Rochester, NY
The Rochester Business Journal recognizes women whose work shapes this city across every sector.
Rochester Independent Comics Expo (RICE) 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026 at Full day
Writers & Books, Rochester NY
75+ comics artists gather for workshops and a full expo.
Free: Off-Monroe Players Bring Back The Mikado Downtown Through May 17
Friday, May 15, 2026 at 7:30 PM (Thu-Sat); 2:00 PM (Sun)
Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 North Fitzhugh St., Rochester NY
Off-Monroe Players are staging The Mikado in their downtown home — and it's free. This is the company's eighth production of this Gilbert and Sullivan classic since 1977, performed with a western ward
Dino ROAR at Stokoe Farms — Weekends May 16-31
Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Stokoe Farms, South Road, Scottsville, NY
Dino ROAR takes over Stokoe Farms in Scottsville for three weekends — May 16-31 — turning the farm into a life-size dinosaur experience for families. If you have kids in the four-to-ten range who have
The Lilac Table: An Exclusive Tasting Experience at the Lilac Festival — May 16
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Highland Park, Rochester NY
A new premium experience inside the Lilac Festival — bites from Rochester's top chefs, artisanal cocktails, DJ Pepi Bandulj, and VIP Skydeck access.
Community Street Mural Transforms Genesee Park Blvd Intersection — May 16
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Genesee Park Blvd & Pioneer St, Rochester NY
On May 16, community volunteers will gather at Genesee Park Blvd and Pioneer Street to paint a street mural as part of Reconnect Rochester's 6th Complete Streets Makeover. The temporary installation i
Free Dog Adoptions at Rochester Animal Services This Saturday — BISSELL Pet Foundation
Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Rochester Animal Services, 184 Verona St., Rochester NY
Rochester Animal Services is partnering with BISSELL Pet Foundation for a free dog adoption event. If you've been thinking about bringing a dog home, this is the day the universe and the shelter both
Ruben Moreno and the Creole Swamp Krewe Bring Zydeco to Webster — May 17
Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Harmony House, 58 E Main St, Webster NY
On Sunday afternoon, Harmony House in Webster becomes a Louisiana living room. Ruben Moreno and the Creole Swamp Krewe bring zydeco — the accordion-driven, accordion-drenched soul music of the Gulf Co
RPO and Rochester City Ballet: Ravels Mother Goose Suite at Hochstein — May 17
Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Hochstein Performance Hall, Rochester NY
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Rochester City Ballet collaborate on a family-friendly performance of Ravel's Mother Goose Suite at Hochstein Performance Hall on May 17 — classic fairy tales
Lilac Run 5K & 10K — Highland Park
Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Highland Park, Rochester NY
500 varieties of lilac in full bloom while Rochester runners do what Rochester runners do. The Lilac Run closes the festival with a 5K, 10K, and Timbits Trot.
Brews, Birdies and Bites: An Evening Golf and Craft Beer Social in Rush — May 18
Monday, May 18, 2026 at TBD
Southern Meadows Golf Course, Rush NY
Southern Meadows Golf Course in Rush is throwing a proper welcome-to-summer party — nine holes, Three Heads Brewery on the Shandy Bar, food bites, and the kind of evening that makes you forget you've
Ride of Silence 2026: Memorial Bike Ride from Liberty Pole on May 20
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Liberty Pole, Downtown Rochester NY
The Ride of Silence returns on May 20 — a solemn memorial bike ride honoring cyclists killed or injured on public roads. Rochester's ride starts at the Liberty Pole downtown. Riders travel at a slow,
Nature Trivia Night at Burroughs Audubon Sanctuary — May 20
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 7:15 PM - 8:30 PM
Burroughs Audubon Nature Club Sanctuary, Victor NY
Nature-themed trivia competition at the Burroughs Audubon wildlife sanctuary in Victor — a distinctive community gathering for nature lovers, birders, and trivia enthusiasts.
JPMorgan Chase Rochester Corporate Challenge Returns May 21
Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Innovative Field, Rochester NY
Rochester's biggest annual corporate running event returns to Innovative Field on May 21 — a 3.5-mile course through downtown where thousands of employees run together, part race and part company bond
E-Bike Community Conversation: Reconnect Rochester Tackles the eBikelash on May 21
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Reconnect Rochester Office, Rochester NY
Reconnect Rochester hosts a community discussion addressing the growing tension around e-bikes — how they expand access for riders who cannot otherwise bike, while high-speed e-motos blur public perce
Season Opener Train Ride at Arcade & Attica Railroad
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Arcade and Attica Railroad, 278 Main Street, Arcade, NY 14009
The Arcade and Attica Railroad opens for the season this Memorial Day weekend with the return of steam engine 18 — a genuine steam-powered train through Wyoming County countryside, about 45 minutes so
NCAA Womens Lacrosse Championships Come to RIT Memorial Day Weekend
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Judson Stadium, RIT, Henrietta NY
National championship lacrosse is coming to Rochester's newest sports venue. RIT's brand-new Judson Stadium — dedicated just last Saturday, April 18 — hosts its first major sporting event over Memoria
Opening Weekend at Olcott Beach Carousel Park — 25-Cent Rides
Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Olcott Beach Carousel Park, East Main Street, Olcott, NY
Olcott Beach Carousel Park opens for the season this Memorial Day weekend — and yes, rides are still 25 cents. The historic carousel is right on Lake Ontario, about 45 minutes from Rochester, and open
Pittsford's Paddle and Pour — Craft Beer, Music, and a Regatta on the Canal
Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM
North Main Street, Pittsford, NY
Pittsford's annual Paddle and Pour takes over North Main Street with upstate craft beer, live music, regional artists, and the Annual Pittsford Regatta on the Erie Canal. A 15-minute drive from the ci
Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show Comes to Henrietta — May 23
Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM
RIT Inn & Conference Center, 5257 W Henrietta Rd, Henrietta NY
America's largest interactive murder mystery dinner show arrives at the RIT Inn in Henrietta. You will enjoy a four-course dinner while searching for a killer hiding in plain sight among the other gue
Heterotaxy Walk 2026 at Genesee Valley Park — May 24
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Genesee Valley Park, Rochester NY
The Heterotaxy Walk brings families and supporters together at Genesee Valley Park to raise awareness for heterotaxy syndrome, a rare congenital heart condition affecting organ placement and function.
Food Truck Rodeo at Rochester Public Market — May 27
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Rochester Public Market, Rochester, NY
The monthly Food Truck Rodeo falls on Memorial Day weekend this time around — 30+ vendors, live music, and one of the best people-watching nights of the early summer. A great way to kick off the long
Anastasia the Musical at Geva Theatre — May 27 through June 28
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Check venue for schedule
Wilson Stage, Geva Theatre, Rochester NY
Geva Theatre opens its summer on the Wilson Stage with Anastasia — the Tony-nominated musical about identity, belonging, and the long way home. The story travels from the last days of the Romanovs to
Rochester Greek Festival 2026: Four Days of Food, Music, and Culture on East Ave
Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 962 East Ave, Rochester NY
The Rochester Greek Festival returns to East Avenue May 28–31 for four days of everything that makes this one of the city's most beloved annual traditions — gyro, souvlaki, saganaki, lamb shank, live
Greater Rochester Soap Box Derby Returns May 29-30 at Durand Eastman Park
Friday, May 29, 2026
Lakeshore Blvd, Durand Eastman Park, Rochester NY
The Greater Rochester Soap Box Derby returns to Lakeshore Blvd at Durand Eastman Park on May 29 and 30 — two days of kids racing gravity-powered cars down a lakeside hill in one of Rochester's most sc
The Soap Box Derby Returns to Lakeshore Boulevard
Friday, May 29, 2026
Lakeshore Blvd, Rochester NY
The Greater Rochester Soap Box Derby is back on Lakeshore Boulevard. Kids race gravity-powered cars they helped build.
Golisano Stroll for Strong Kids: Community Walk at Genesee Valley Park — May 30
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Genesee Valley Park, Rochester NY
Community fundraising walk at Genesee Valley Park on May 30 benefiting Golisano Children's Hospital. A family-friendly event that brings the community together in support of children's health along on
Little Feat: The Last Farewell Tour — Perinton Amphitheater, May 30
Saturday, May 30, 2026
The Perinton Amphitheater, Fairport NY
Little Feat is on their final farewell tour and Rochester gets a stop — at the Perinton Amphitheater, one of the best outdoor venues in the region. If you've never seen them, this is the last chance.
Lucky Flea Market Launches Its Summer Season
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Neighborhood of Play, Rochester NY
Lucky Flea opens its summer season at the Neighborhood of Play, then shifts to weekly Sundays at The Grove throughout June.
ROCn Roll Community Bike Ride Returns May 31
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Railroad St, Rochester NY
The ROCn Roll Community Bike Ride rolls through Rochester streets on May 31 — an accessible, family-friendly cycling event celebrating active transportation and neighborhood connectivity.
Rochester Cocktail Revival 2026 — 70+ Events, 30+ Bars
Monday, June 1, 2026 at Varies
Downtown Rochester, 30+ venues
30+ venues, 70+ events, and the Bar Room Battle Royale. June 1-7.
Concerts by the Shore Returns: Free Weekly Music at Ontario Beach Park All Summer
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Ontario Beach Park, Charlotte, Rochester NY
Free weekly concerts every Wednesday evening at Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte, June 3 through August 26 — live music on the beach with Lake Ontario as the backdrop. One of Rochester's most beloved s
Adoración del Agave: Five-Course Tequila Dinner at Good Luck
Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Good Luck, Rochester, NY
Good Luck's private dining room hosts Adoración del Agave this Thursday during Cocktail Revival week — five courses, each paired with a tequila cocktail. This is the kind of dinner that fills up early
Food Truck Fridays Return to Washington Square Park: Every Friday in June
Friday, June 5, 2026
Washington Square Park, Rochester NY
Food trucks gather at Washington Square Park every Friday in June — a lunchtime and early evening community gathering downtown. Four Fridays: June 5, 12, 19, 26.
Rochester Cocktail Revival Kicks Off at the Public Market
Friday, June 5, 2026
Rochester Public Market, Rochester NY
The Rochester Cocktail Revival returns with a happy hour at the Public Market. Local bartenders and distillers gather.
Genesis Tribute — Seconds Out Live at Fort Hill Performing Arts Center: June 6
Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Fort Hill Performing Arts Center, 20 Fort Hill Ave, Canandaigua NY
The 1970s never left Canandaigua. Seconds Out, a Long Island tribute band with a deep catalog command over four decades of Genesis — from 'Nursery Cryme' to 'Invisible Touch' — plays Fort Hill Perform
Bar Room Battle Royale: Cocktail Revival Bartender Competition
Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Rochester, NY (venue TBD — see rochestercocktailrevival.com)
The Bar Room Battle Royale is the competitive heart of the Rochester Cocktail Revival — bartenders face off, guests taste what they are working with, a live DJ keeps the energy up, and someone walks a
19th Ward Square Fair and Parade: Neighborhood Celebration Returns June 6
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Aberdeen Square, 19th Ward, Rochester NY
The 19th Ward Community Association brings its annual square fair and parade back to Aberdeen Square on June 6 — one of Rochester's most civically active neighborhoods doing what it does best.
The 19th Ward Square Fair and Parade Returns to Aberdeen Square
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Aberdeen Square, Rochester NY
The 19th Ward Community Association hosts its annual Square Fair and Parade at Aberdeen Square.
Baron Vaughn: Cycle Breaker at Geva Theatre — Through June 7
Sunday, June 7, 2026 at Check venue for schedule
Fielding Stage, Geva Theatre, Rochester NY
Baron Vaughn is doing something you don't often see: a solo show that starts with stand-up and keeps going until it's become something else entirely. Cycle Breaker is about parenthood and the patterns
Juneteenth Jazz in the Bowl at Highland Park
Sunday, June 7, 2026
Highland Park Bowl, Rochester NY
Juneteenth Jazz in the Bowl brings live jazz to the Highland Park amphitheater.
Tash Sultana at the Perinton Amphitheater — June 10, 2026
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
The Perinton Amphitheater, Fairport NY
Tash Sultana — the Australian multi-instrumentalist who builds entire sonic landscapes live on stage — brings their North American Tour to the Perinton Amphitheater. Genre-bending, completely singular
Flower City Poetry Fest 2026 — Highland Park Bowl
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at See website
Highland Park Bowl, Rochester NY
NY State Poet Laureate Kimiko Hahn and Pulitzer winner Marie Howe at Highland Park Bowl.
Sunset Sips Comes to Austin Steward Plaza
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Austin Steward Plaza, Rochester NY
Sunset Sips brings an evening social gathering to Austin Steward Plaza along the Genesee River.
Pedro Sperb Plays the First Published Guitar Music at Perkins Mansion — Free, June 12
Friday, June 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Perkins Mansion, 494 East Avenue, Rochester NY
Pedro Sperb, a Brazilian-born Eastman doctoral student, performs on lute and Renaissance guitar at one of East Avenue's most beautiful historic homes. The program draws from a recently discovered Germ
World Cup Comes to Rochester: Watch Party at East & Alexander, June 12
Friday, June 12, 2026
East Ave & Alexander St, Rochester NY
Rochester is getting its own World Cup moment this summer. Visit Rochester is hosting an official FIFA World Cup watch party at East Avenue and Alexander Street on June 12 — the same spot that's hoste
Candlelight: 90s Hip-Hop on Strings at Temple Theater — June 13
Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Temple Theater, 50 Liberty Pole Way, Rochester NY
A classical string quartet performs iconic 90s hip-hop hits in an intimate candlelit setting at Temple Theater on June 13 — 60 minutes, recommended for ages 8 and up, and genuinely one of the more fun
Harborfest Turns 40: Rochester's Lakefront Celebration Returns
Thursday, June 18, 2026 at Various
Ontario Beach Park, Rochester NY
Harborfest turns 40 — Rochester's lakefront festival returns to Ontario Beach Park with sand sculptures, a car show, boat parade, carousel rides, and lighthouse tours. Four decades of celebrating the
Harborfest 2026: Four Days of Music, Food, and Lake Ontario at Charlotte Beach
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Ontario Beach Park, Charlotte, Rochester NY
Harborfest returns to Ontario Beach Park for four days of live music, food vendors, and community celebration along the Lake Ontario shore — one of Rochester's signature summer events.
Harborfest 2026 — 40th Anniversary at Ontario Beach Park
Thursday, June 18, 2026 at All day
Ontario Beach Park, Rochester NY
Forty years of Harborfest. Sand sculptors, car show, boat parade of lights.
Rochester International Jazz Festival 2026: Nine Days, 300+ Shows, Gladys Knight
Friday, June 19, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Downtown Rochester NY (19 venues)
One of the world's great jazz festivals happens in our backyard every June — and most of it is free. The 23rd Rochester International Jazz Festival runs nine days across 19 downtown venues with 1,750+
Rochester Juneteenth Celebration and Parade Returns June 19-20
Friday, June 19, 2026
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, Rochester NY
Rochester's annual Juneteenth celebration returns to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park for two days of community programming, a parade, music, food, and family activities. Falls during Jazz Fes
moe. + Umphrey's McGee: moe.mentUM Tour at Perinton Amphitheater, June 19
Friday, June 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Perinton Amphitheater, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport NY
Two of the jam band world's most enduring acts are hitting the road together, and Rochester is on the map. moe. and Umphrey's McGee co-headline the moe.mentUM Tour at Perinton Amphitheater on June 19
Rochester International Jazz Festival 2026: Nine Days, Free Stages, and the East End Comes Alive
Friday, June 19, 2026 at All day / evening
East End / Parcel 5, Rochester NY
The Rochester International Jazz Festival returns June 19-27 for nine days of music across the East End. Free outdoor stages at Parcel 5, ticketed shows in intimate clubs, and the kind of energy that
World Cup Weekend at High Falls: Three Days at the Genesee Brewhouse
Friday, June 19, 2026
Genesee Brewhouse, High Falls, Rochester NY
The World Cup celebration continues at the Genesee Brewhouse in High Falls for a full three-day weekend, June 19–21. It's a natural pairing — craft beer, Rochester's most scenic neighborhood, and the
Lock Tender Pickle Party at Tap & Craft
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Rochester, NY (see Eventbrite for venue)
Tap & Craft presents the Lock Tender Pickle Party on June 20 — a craft beverage event with a pickle-forward theme. Rochester does this kind of niche, enthusiastic, very-specific-about-their-thing gath
Harborfest Returns to Ontario Beach: Sand Sculpting, Boat Parade, and the Lake
Saturday, June 20, 2026 at All day
Ontario Beach Park, 50 Beach Ave, Rochester NY
Harborfest brings three days of waterfront celebration to Ontario Beach Park. Sand sculpting, a boat parade of lights on Saturday evening, a car show, volleyball, Carousel rides, Lighthouse tours, and
SewGreen Rochester Fiber Arts Festival — Free Community Event at Susan B. Anthony Square
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Susan B. Anthony Square Park, Rochester NY
Rochester's maker community comes together at Susan B. Anthony Square on June 20 for a free day of fiber arts, sewing, textile crafts, and sustainable fabric practices. SewGreen brings together local
Father's Day Brunch Cruise on the Colonial Belle — June 21
Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Packetts Landing, 1 Packetts Landing, Fairport NY
Celebrate Father's Day on the Erie Canal aboard the Colonial Belle — a narrated brunch cruise departing Packetts Landing in Fairport and traveling to Pittsford and back. A scenic two-hour outing on th
Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament Returns to Downtown Rochester — June 27
Saturday, June 27, 2026
ESL Ballpark Lot, 1 Morrie Silver Way, Rochester NY
The Gus Macker 3-on-3 brings one of the country's longest-running outdoor basketball tournaments back to Rochester. Teams of all ages and skill levels compete on outdoor courts near ESL Ballpark — you
Party in the Park 2026: Free Thursday Night Concerts at Dr. MLK Jr. Park in July
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, Rochester NY
Party in the Park returns to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park for four Thursday evenings in July — one of Rochester's signature summer concert series. July 9, 16, 23, and 30.
Bands on the Bricks Returns: Free Friday Night Concerts at the Public Market, July–August
Friday, July 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St., Rochester NY
Free outdoor concerts return to the Rochester Public Market every Friday evening this summer — July 10 through August 14. Live music, food vendors, and open-air summer evenings in one of Rochester's m
Corn Hill Arts Festival 2026: Rochester's Premier Art Walk Returns in July
Saturday, July 11, 2026 at All day
Corn Hill Neighborhood, Rochester NY
The Corn Hill Arts Festival returns July 11-12 to one of Rochester's most beautiful historic neighborhoods. Two days of juried artists, live music stages, food vendors, and the kind of walkable street
Rochester Real Beer Expo 2026 — ESL Ballpark
Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
ESL Ballpark, Rochester NY
75+ breweries at ESL Ballpark on Corn Hill weekend.
Corn Hill Arts Festival Returns July 11–12 for Its 58th Year
Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Corn Hill neighborhood, Rochester NY
The Corn Hill Arts Festival turns 58 this year, and it's still one of the best summer weekends Rochester has to offer. The historic Corn Hill neighborhood opens up for two days of fine art, craft vend
GrassRoots Festival 2026: A Rochester Day Trip (or Weekend) Worth Planning Now
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Trumansburg Fairgrounds, Trumansburg, NY
Trumansburg's GrassRoots Festival — one of the Finger Lakes region's best-kept musical secrets — returns for its 34th year in July. Four stages, 70-plus bands, camping under the stars, and the kind of
Rochester Pride Festival 2026 — Enchanted Pride
Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM parade
South Avenue to Highland Park, Rochester NY
Enchanted Pride. Parade at 11 AM down South Avenue to Highland Park.
Rochester Pride Fest and Parade Returns to Highland Park: July 18
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Highland Park, Rochester NY
Rochester's annual Pride Fest and Parade returns to Highland Park on July 18 — a citywide celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, inclusion, and belonging. Highland Park is a fitting home for this: one of Roc
Dinner on the Bridge Returns to Pont de Rennes — July 23
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Pont de Rennes Bridge, High Falls District, Rochester NY
Once a year, the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge closes to foot traffic and opens to dinner. Tables stretch across the span above the Genesee River gorge in the High Falls District — one of the most
Black Culture Festival Returns to Parcel 5: July 24-25
Friday, July 24, 2026
Parcel 5, 285 E Main St, Rochester NY
The Black Culture Festival returns to Parcel 5 for two days of music, art, food, and community — a celebration of Black culture that is foundational to Rochester's identity. One of the city's most imp
ROC the Peace Festival Returns to Jones Square Park — July 25
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Jones Square Park, Rochester NY
ROC the Peace brings Rochester together at Jones Square Park for a day of music, community, and solidarity. A west side gathering with deep neighborhood roots — the kind of event that doesn't need a b
Gospel Jubilee at the Rochester Public Market — Free, July 26
Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St., Rochester NY
Regional and national gospel and inspirational music groups perform at the Rochester Public Market on July 26 — a free Sunday evening that turns the outdoor market into something genuinely moving.
JJ Grey & Mofro + The Wood Brothers at Perinton Amphitheater – August 1
Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Perinton Amphitheater, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport NY
Two of Americana's most soulful acts share the Perinton Amphitheater stage on August 1. JJ Grey & Mofro bring their raw, swamp-drenched soul-rock from Florida, and The Wood Brothers match them with th
Puerto Rican Festival and Parade Returns to Downtown Rochester: August 1
Saturday, August 1, 2026
Parcel 5 and Downtown, Rochester NY
Rochester's annual Puerto Rican Festival and Parade returns on August 1 — celebrating one of the largest Puerto Rican communities in upstate New York with a parade through downtown and a festival at P
National Night Out 2026: Rochester Neighborhoods Come Together on August 4
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Multiple locations citywide, Rochester NY
National Night Out returns to Rochester neighborhoods on August 4 — block parties and community gatherings across the city. With Rochester's Q1 2026 gun violence decline, this year's event carries par
CARIFEST 2026: Rochester Caribbean Festival at Dr. MLK Jr. Park — August 8
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, Rochester NY
CARIFEST returns to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park on August 8 — Rochester's annual Caribbean festival celebrating the city's Caribbean community with live music, traditional food, dance, an
Sugaray Rayford Live at Fanatics Pub — August 13
Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Fanatics Pub, 7281 W Main St, Lima NY
Sugaray Rayford, the powerful blues vocalist and bandleader, brings his band to Fanatics Pub in Lima for an intimate show. Rayford is a multiple Blues Music Award nominee known for big voice, big ener
Clarissa Street Reunion 2026: Rochester Celebrates a Historic Community Street
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Clarissa Street, Rochester NY
The Clarissa Street Reunion reclaims and honors the history of one of Rochester's most significant cultural streets — once the heart of the city's African American business and cultural life before ur
M&T Clothesline Festival Returns to Memorial Art Gallery — August 29-30
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave, Rochester NY
The Clothesline Festival fills the Memorial Art Gallery grounds every August with original works from regional artists displayed on clotheslines and display panels. One of Rochester's longest-running
Rochester Fringe Festival 2026
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Multiple venues, Rochester NY
For twelve days every September, Rochester becomes a city of stages. The Rochester Fringe Festival — September 15-26, 2026 — takes over dozens of venues across town, from the Eastman School of Music t
National Womens Hall of Fame 2026 Induction Ceremony
Thursday, September 24, 2026
George Eastman Museum, Rochester NY
The National Women's Hall of Fame brings its 2026 induction ceremony to the George Eastman Museum in Rochester on September 24. Rochester has deep roots in the women's rights movement, and hosting thi
The National Women's Hall of Fame Comes to Rochester for the First Time
Thursday, September 24, 2026
George Eastman Museum, Rochester, NY
For the first time in its history, the National Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony is coming to Rochester — to the George Eastman Museum, in the city of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. T
RBJ Women Leadership Summit 2026
Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 East Main Street, Rochester NY
Rochester has no shortage of women doing remarkable work in business, civic life, and community organizations. The RBJ Women Leadership Summit is where those women spend an afternoon together — compar
YWCA Empowering Women Luncheon: Venus Williams in Rochester
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester NY
For twenty years, the YWCA of Rochester has gathered this city to celebrate women who lead, serve, and refuse to let circumstances define outcomes. This year's luncheon brings Venus Williams to Roches
Past Events (43)
Flower City Days Horticultural Sales at the Public Market — Sundays in May
Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St., Rochester NY
Every Sunday in May, the Rochester Public Market hosts outdoor plant sales — annuals, perennials, shrubs, and garden ornamentation from 8 AM to 2 PM. It's the official start of Rochester gardening sea
Listen to Your Mother: Live Storytelling at Hochstein Performance Hall — May 9
Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Hochstein Performance Hall, Rochester NY
Local writers and speakers share personal essays about motherhood on stage at Hochstein the night before Mother's Day weekend.
Run for Restore 5K at Durand Eastman Park — May 9
Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Durand Eastman Park, Irondequoit NY
A family-friendly 5K through Durand Eastman Park on May 9 benefits Restore Health and Wellness and its community medical care programs. Open to runners and walkers of all levels — the course along Lak
1,000 Dachshunds Descend on Washington Square Park: Rochester Dachshund Parade Returns May 9
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Washington Square Park, Rochester NY
About a thousand dachshunds descend on Washington Square Park every spring — and May 9 is the day. The Rochester Dachshund Parade is exactly what it sounds like, and it is exactly as good as it sounds
Pink & Teal Challenge: Women's 5K and Family Walk at MCC, May 9-10
Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Monroe Community College, East Henrietta Rd, Rochester NY
The Pink & Teal Challenge brings Rochester women together for a 5K run or family-friendly walk at Monroe Community College on May 9 and 10 — right in the middle of Lilac Festival weekend. In-person or
Flower Fest: Rochesters New Festival Celebrates 50 Years of the Flower City Mark
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Pont de Rennes Bridge, High Falls District, Rochester NY
Rochester's first-ever Flower Fest lands on May 9 at the Pont de Rennes Bridge in the High Falls District, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the city's Flower City Mark.
Pegasus Rising: Maryland Early Music Ensemble Magdalena Launches 2026 Series at ARTISANworks
Friday, May 8, 2026
ARTISANworks, Rochester, NY
Magdalena, a Maryland-based early music ensemble, is coming to ARTISANworks to launch the 2026 early music series with their program Pegasus Rising. Early music performed in an art gallery setting — t
Fantasia & Anthony Hamilton: R&B Powerhouse Night at Blue Cross Arena, May 8
Friday, May 8, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Blue Cross Arena, 1 War Memorial Square, Rochester NY
Two of the most powerful voices in R&B and soul are sharing a stage at Blue Cross Arena on May 8 — Grammy winners Fantasia Barrino and Anthony Hamilton, together for one night. If you've ever heard ei
Rochester Lilac Festival 2026: Everything You Need to Know
Friday, May 8, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Highland Park, Rochester NY
Every May, Rochester does something it has been doing for 128 years: the whole city goes to Highland Park. The Lilac Festival is the anchor event of the Rochester year — the moment the city exhales af
Bike Week 2026: Ten Days of Rides, Classes, and Community Cycling Across Rochester
Friday, May 8, 2026
Multiple locations citywide, Rochester NY
Reconnect Rochester hosts ten days of cycling programming across the city — daily rides, on-bike Smart Cycling classes, mountain biking and e-biking sessions, and events for riders of all ages. Runs c
Blood, Sweat and Tears Live at the Theater at Innovation Square: May 8
Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The Theater at Innovation Square, 131 Chestnut St, Rochester NY
Grammy-winning jazz-rock pioneers Blood, Sweat and Tears bring their legendary horn-driven sound to the Theater at Innovation Square on May 8. Falls the same night as Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton at
Blood, Sweat and Tears Live at Innovation Square
Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The Theater At Innovation Square, 131 Chestnut St, Rochester NY
Blood, Sweat & Tears brings their horn-driven sound to The Theater at Innovation Square on Lilac Festival opening night.
Garth Fagan Dance Celebrates 55 Years in Rochester
Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Various
Nazareth University Arts Center, Rochester NY
Garth Fagan Dance — the Rochester company led by the Tony Award-winning choreographer of The Lion King — celebrates 55 years with performances at Nazareth University. This is world-class dance, in Roc
Eco-Book Club and Hike at Cumming Nature Center — Read, Walk, and Reconnect May 7
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Cumming Nature Center, Naples, NY
A book club that does not sit still. The Eco-Book Club meets at the [Cumming Nature Center](https://www.rmsc.org/CummingNatureCenter) in Naples to discuss an ecology-focused book while hiking through
RPO: Rhythm & Romance — One Night, One Legendary Artist at Kodak Hall
Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 26 Gibbs St, Rochester NY
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra brings Rhythm & Romance to Kodak Hall — one night, one legendary artist, and a 2,000-year-old instrument in a world-class concert hall. The RPO has been the soundt
Rochester Beacon Annual Community Meeting Returns May 4
Monday, May 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Butler/Till Headquarters, 260 E. Broad St., Rochester, NY
The Rochester Beacon's fourth annual community gathering — meet the team, hear updates, and share your thoughts on how this nonprofit news outlet can better serve Rochester. Limited capacity, registra
Walk MS Returns to Genesee Valley Park: May 3, 2026
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Genesee Valley Park, Rochester NY
Walk MS returns to Genesee Valley Park on May 3 — a community walk bringing together MS patients, their families, and supporters along one of Rochester's most beautiful riverside stretches. Whether yo
Tap & Craft Beer Festival — May 2 at Iron Smoke Distillery
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Iron Smoke Distillery, Fairport, NY
Tap & Craft keeps it small — fewer than 400 tickets, 20+ producers, 60+ pours. Other Half, Finback, Mortalis, Hop Butcher, Strangebird, and more. Special collab beer: Blacksmiths of Olympus. Live musi
Clean Sweep 2026: Join Rochester's Biggest Volunteer Day
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM
ESL Ballpark, Rochester NY
Twenty years ago, Rochester started something simple: a day when neighbors show up together to take care of the place they share. Clean Sweep 2026 is the 20th anniversary of that idea, and it's grown
Free Admission at the Memorial Art Gallery This Weekend: Bank of America Museums on Us — May 2-3
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave, Rochester NY
Bank of America and Merrill cardholders get free general admission to the Memorial Art Gallery the first full weekend of May — part of the national Museums on Us program.
Makers Edge: Free Community STEAM Day at Harley School — May 2
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Harley School, Rochester NY
The Harley School opens its doors for a free community STEAM day on May 2 — robotics demos, NASA projects, and interactive science, technology, engineering, arts, and math exhibits open to all ages.
Cordancia Chamber Orchestra Premieres Genesis: A 90-Minute Orchestral Journey
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, 597 East Ave, Rochester, NY
Cordancia Chamber Orchestra is premiering Genesis: A Symphonic Arche — a 90-minute, 10-movement work by H. John Hartmann that traces the arc from planetary formation to human consciousness. Conductor
Eastman Philharmonia and Chorus: Mendelssohn Elijah at Kodak Hall, May 1
Friday, May 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Gibbs St, Rochester NY
On May 1, the Eastman Philharmonia and Eastman-Rochester Chorus take the stage at Kodak Hall to perform Mendelssohn's Elijah — one of the great choral masterworks, in one of the great concert halls. T
First Food Truck Rodeo of the Season: April 29 at the Public Market
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St., Rochester NY
The Food Truck Rodeo is back — and the first one of the season always feels like a proper Rochester rite of passage. Over 30 food trucks take over the Public Market on the last Wednesday evening of Ap
Have Your Say on Speed Cameras: Rochester Vision Zero Meeting April 28
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Willie Lightfoot R-Center, Rochester NY
Rochester residents have a direct say this Tuesday on automated traffic enforcement — speed cameras, red-light cameras, and AI-powered enforcement that has already generated 44,000+ tickets in the Roc
Impact and Inclusion Awards and Summit
Monday, April 27, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 East Main Street, Rochester NY
Every year, Rochester gathers to recognize the people doing the sustained, unglamorous work of making our workplaces more equitable. The Impact and Inclusion Awards and Summit is that gathering — a mo
Free: Eastman Gamelan Ensemble Performs at Kilbourn Hall, April 27
Monday, April 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music, Rochester NY
On April 27, Kilbourn Hall opens its doors for a free public gamelan concert — traditional Indonesian percussion ensemble music performed by Eastman students, faculty, staff, and Rochester community m
Cordancia Closes Its Season with Genesis — a 10-Movement Work About the Story of Earth
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Rochester, NY (venue TBD — check rochesterbeacon.com)
Cordancia Chamber Orchestra closes its season with Genesis — H. John Hartmann's magnum opus, a sweeping 10-movement orchestral work that traces the story of Earth from formation to the present. It is
Run the Flower City: Half Marathon and 5K Returns to Downtown Rochester, April 26
Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Parcel 5, 285 E Main St, Rochester NY
The Flower City Challenge is back April 26 — half marathon, 5K, and a Kids ½ Mile all starting and finishing at Parcel 5 in downtown Rochester. The course winds through some of the city's most beautif
Spring Wildflowers Walk with the Canandaigua Botanical Society — April 25
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2488 Arcadia Zurich Norris Road, Newark NY
The Canandaigua Botanical Society leads a guided walk to observe trillium and spring wildflowers in the Finger Lakes region this Saturday.
Imagine RIT 2026: A Free Day of Innovation on Campus
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Rochester Institute of Technology, Henrietta NY
Once a year, RIT opens its doors and invites the whole community in — and what's inside is genuinely worth the trip. Imagine RIT fills the campus with 400+ interactive exhibits spanning technology, ar
90-Second Newbery Film Festival at George Eastman Museum — Free, April 25
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM
George Eastman Museum, Dryden Theatre, 900 East Ave, Rochester NY
Young Rochester filmmakers present short movie adaptations of Newbery Award-winning books at the Dryden Theatre inside George Eastman Museum on April 25 — a free event celebrating youth creativity, li
Rochester Coffee & Chocolate Festival: 80+ Vendors at the Convention Center, April 25
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 E Main St, Rochester NY
Over 80 vendors fill the Convention Center on April 25 for a full day of coffee, chocolate, and sweet discoveries — local roasters, chocolatiers, and dessert shops all under one roof. It lands the sam
The Princess Concert Comes to Kodak Center: Songs from Frozen, Moana, and More — April 24
Friday, April 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Kodak Center, West Ridge Road, Rochester NY
A family concert celebrating songs from Frozen, Moana, and Aladdin comes to Kodak Center this Thursday evening.
RPO: Space! — Orchestral Sounds of the Cosmos at Kodak Hall, April 24-25
Friday, April 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Rochester NY
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra pairs orchestral music with space-themed visuals at Kodak Hall this week — a cosmic concert experience that's a great entry point for anyone who's been curious abo
RPO Brings Led Zeppelin to Life at Kodak Center This Wednesday
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Kodak Center, 200 West Ridge Rd, Rochester NY
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performs a symphonic rock tribute to Led Zeppelin this Wednesday — conductor and arranger Brent Havens brings Stairway to Heaven, Kashmir, and the rest of the cata
Rochester River Run Returns: April 19 at Genesee Valley Park
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Genesee Valley Park, Rochester NY
The Rochester River Run returns to Genesee Valley Park on April 19 — one of the city's signature spring running traditions along the Genesee River. Whether you're racing or just out for a scenic run t
The Great NYS Flea Comes to the Public Market: April 19
Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St., Rochester NY
The Rochester Public Market gets a shot of extra energy on April 19 with the first Great New York State Flea of 2026 — a high-energy multi-vendor market layered on top of the regular Saturday market.
Free Substance Use Family Summit: April 18 at East High School
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM
East High School, Rochester, NY
Monroe County and the City of Rochester are partnering to host a free Substance Use Family Summit on April 18 at East High School. The event runs from 11 AM to 4 PM and is open to any family or commun
Michael Carbonaro: Wonderboy Brings Magic and Comedy to Kodak Center, April 17
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Kodak Center, Rochester NY
Michael Carbonaro — the magician and hidden camera comedian behind truTV's The Carbonaro Effect — brings his Wonderboy live show to Kodak Center on April 17. If you've ever watched someone get genuine
A Conversation with RCSD Chief Eric Rosser — Rochester Beacon Live Event
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Zoom (online)
The Rochester Beacon sits down with RCSD Superintendent Eric Rosser as he approaches the end of his first year leading the district. It's a rare chance to hear directly from the person responsible for
Run Our River 5K Returns April 14 Along the Genesee
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Ford Street Bridge, Rochester NY
The Genesee River is one of Rochester's most underappreciated assets — and the Run Our River series is one of the better reasons to get down to the water. The April 14 5K runs along the river corridor
Eastman Opera: Die Fledermaus Meets Studio 54 (April 9–12)
Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Rochester NY
Eastman Opera Theatre is closing their season with something genuinely unexpected: a disco-era reimagining of Johann Strauss II's *Die Fledermaus* at Kodak Hall. If you've been curious about Eastman p
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