2023 CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival: Things to Do Nearby

June 23– July 1, 2023

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the nine-day CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival attracts musicians and attendees from all over the world to Rochester. From Friday, June 23–Saturday, July 1, spend hours enjoying exceptional music with free performances every night.

Most concerts begin in the early evening, leaving your days free to explore the Rochester area. I’ve picked some of our favorite things to do within two miles of Eastman Theater, many of which you can walk to or grab an Uber or Lift.

Explore the City

High Falls

You can appreciate the significance of the urban High Falls from several viewpoints along the Genesee River, including the east-bank viewing platform, the balcony and rooftop dining areas of the Genesee Brew House, and the west-bank viewing platform.

Depending on the timing, the 1891 Pont de Rennes Bridge may be undergoing repairs as part of Roc the Riverway and the future Rochester High Falls State Park.

Highland Park

Host to Rochester’s celebrated Lilac Festival in May, Highland boasts the most extensive collection of lilacs in the country, with over 500 varieties across 1,200 shrubs. You’ll also find a vast Japanese maple collection, 35 types of magnolias, 700 rhododendron specimens, and 300 conifer varieties in the pinetum. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1888 to be enjoyed year-round, every pathway, tree, vista, and relationship between the land and water through Highland Park is intentional. Many of the trees are the tallest of their species in the state, though few are native. Highland has even been described as a museum or zoo of exotic plants and trees. Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University sent the original specimens to Rochester for simultaneous scientific study. Meander along paved and mown-grass pathways to find Lamberton Conservatory, Poet’s Garden, Highland Bowl, and Warner Castle’s Sunken Garden.

Maplewood Park’s Rose Garden and Lower Falls

This two-mile linear Olmsted-designed park follows the river from Middle Falls north to Kings Landing, the oldest cemetery in Rochester. Most visitors start at the Rose Garden in Lower Maplewood and walk down the stairs to access the Genesee River Trail. Walking upstream, you’ll find Lower and Middle Falls. The trail heading downstream leads through Middle Maplewood and along Seneca Parkway, which Olmsted also designed as part of the park system. After passing under the New York State Route 104 Veterans Memorial Bridge, the path continues into Upper Maplewood. It ends at the Pure Waters Pedestrian Bridge, which spans the Genesee River and connects to Seneca Park. (See Gardens & Arboretums.) The area, known as Casconchiagon—River of Many Falls—was the site of a Seneca Nation village until 1819. After Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Kelsey’s Landing became a terminus for the Underground Railroad, where boats would dock and guide freedom-seeking African Americans, including Frederick Douglass in 1859, to safety across Lake Ontario to Canada.

Cobbs Hill + Washington Grove

Nestled between Culver Road, Monroe Avenue, and Highland Avenue, lower Cobb’s Hill Park is primarily recreational, but the hill makes it unique. Encircling a reservoir is a paved 0.7-mile walking path offering a panoramic view of the Rochester skyline. A trail through Washington Grove leads visitors through a tranquil urban forest of old oak trees to a series of ever-changing graffiti-tagged water towers.

Landmark Society Walking Tours of Rochester

If you are a fan of history and architecture, you will enjoy these self-guided Landmark Society walking tours of center city Rochester. The Liberty Pole East City Loop Tour and the East End & Cultural District Tour are closest to the Jazz Fest performance venues.

Mount Hope Cemetery

The cemetery, established in 1838, is a popular destination for Rochester residents seeking a peaceful retreat from the bustling city. Walkers, runners, and bikers often use the well-maintained roadways, even during the colder months. While the landscape is delightful year-round, this beautiful Victorian cemetery is extraordinary in October. The diversity of trees in the arboretum displays a vibrant array of colors, with bold yellows and reds carpeting the ground before the snow arrives. The cemetery is divided into two sections: the south side, which is the newer area, and the north side, which is older and home to notable figures such as Nathaniel Rochester, Susan B. Anthony, and Frederick Douglass. The north section’s winding cobblestone roads are best explored on foot and provide a glimpse into the cemetery’s rich history, ecology, and geology. Maps and guided tours are available to provide more in-depth information about the land’s fascinating past, including ice age landforms and fossils. There are several entrances, including the main south entrance at 1133 Mount Hope Avenue and the north gatehouse entrance at 791 Mount Hope Avenue.

Rochester Public Market

The Public Market is a great day-trip destination in a bustling area filled with shops, restaurants, and cafes. You can find a wide variety of fresh produce, meat, seafood, and artisanal products like pasta, honey, and spices. The market is also home to popular coffee shops and restaurants. A seasonal open-air trolley transports visitors between the market and the Trinidad Street lot between North Union and Scio Streets. Be sure to check the website for free special events. Open all year on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Our World-Class Museums

George Eastman Museum

The museum honors the life and contributions of George Eastman, the father of modern photography. As the world’s oldest photography museum, it houses an impressive collection of over 400,000 photographic objects and 28,000 moving image titles. Visitors can tour Eastman’s unique home and explore the museum’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. The 500-seat Dryden Theatre offers film screenings in their original format on most evenings.

National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House

The docent-led tour brings to life Anthony’s mission to secure inalienable rights for all Americans and, most notably, women’s right to vote. Her Rochester home served as headquarters for the National American Woman Suffrage Association. In Anthony Square, just down the street, you will find a life-sized sculpture of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass having tea, discussing the day’s news, or perhaps sharing a birthday celebration—Anthony was born on February 15, and Douglass chose February 14, not knowing his birthdate. While they did not always agree, they shared a lifelong friendship and rest near each other in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Strong National Museum of Play

The Strong houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of play-related materials. Besides its fascinating interactive exhibits, the museum has a kid-sized Wegmans grocery store, historic pinball and arcade games, and a ropes course above Skyliner Diner. The Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden offers a beautiful rainforest environment for those looking to escape cold weather. The museum also houses the National Toy Hall of Fame, World Video Game Hall of Fame, and various collections from Margaret Woodbury Strong, ensuring plenty to see and do for an entire day.

ARTISANworks

This unique and immersive experience challenges the senses and defies conventional boundaries. Discover a world of vibrant color and intricate design. From the original works of Picasso and Warhol to the artist studios that showcase the creative process in action, this is a space where art lives. Explore the 360-degree canvas and discover hidden gems that can surprise, inspire, and sometimes shock you. Whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or simply looking for something new and exciting, ARTISANworks promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Rochester Museum & Science Center

RMSC’s city campus features the three-story science museum and the Strasenburgh Planetarium. In the museum, don’t miss the two singing Tesla coils in the Electricity Theater, where audience members can volunteer to stand inside a Faraday cage while the coils sing a duet with lightning. The planetarium offers a state-of-the-art view of our solar system and the visible universe using near-real-time data. The lounge chairs in the planetarium are not fixed to the floor, making the space accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. On Saturday nights, when the summer sky over Rochester is clear, guests can climb the observation tower’s 60 steps to view planets, nebulae, and other celestial objects through telescopes. The entrance to the tower is outside the main planetarium building, near the back parking lot. RMSC also manages the Cumming Nature Center, a 900-acre preserve in Naples, about an hour south of Rochester. (See Nature Centers & Preserves.) Admission fee. Saturday night telescope viewings are free.

Memorial Art Gallery

MAG boasts a rich permanent collection, an impressive range of traveling exhibitions, and a diverse schedule of classes and events, like third-Thursday DeTOURs. On the museum’s grounds, wander through Centennial Sculpture Park, which features world-renowned artists alongside whimsical photo-ops, including some best viewed at night. Try to decipher the Morse code set into the red brick sidewalk.

Food & Beverage Around Jazz Fest

There are plenty of food options available on-site during Jazz Fest. Find food trucks on Main Street, in the Big Tent, at Parcel 5, and on East Avenue at Chestnut Street. Here are a few more options for when you’re out exploring Rochester during the daytime.

Explore Greater Rochester

If you are staying in Rochester for Jazz Fest and have a vehicle you can use to explore the region during the daytime, these are a few places you should check out!

What are your favorite spots around Jazz Fest?

There are free shows on “Jazz Street” and at outdoor stages around East Avenue every night for which you do not need tickets to attend. And bring your own chair; you won’t regret it!

Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.