This year’s festival will take place from May 9 to 18, 2025.
Every May, Highland Park plays host to Rochester’s Lilac Festival, though the lilacs are not the only attractions to see. According to the festival website, Lilac Fest is the largest free festival of its kind in North America. Concerts begin in the early evening, leaving your days free to explore the Rochester area. While visiting our beautiful little city, here are a few of my favorite places to see around the Highland Park area.
Highland Park – you are here!
There is so much more to Highland Park than the festival area and the Lilac Collection! Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Highland is Rochester’s first park.
Explore all the pathways, flower and tree collections, memorials, and play spaces while you’re here! Favorites among locals include the walk-through tree and Poet’s Garden, both located near the Lamberton Conservatory, to the west of the reservoir.
Places in the Immediate Area of the Lilac Festival
Lamberton Conservatory and Sunken Garden are part of Highland Park; Mount Hope Cemetery and Ellwanger Garden are right down the street, so that you can walk from the Lilac Festival. They make a perfect quick getaway from the crowds.
Ellwanger Garden Open House
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Highland Park’s Lamberton Conservatory is a serene, colorful glass greenhouse displaying diverse exotic, desert, and economic plants.
Sunken Garden at Warner Castle
In Highland Park, walk behind Warner Castle or up the hill from Highland Bowl, and there you will find the magnificent Sunken Garden.
Mount Hope Cemetery’s winding roads are best explored on foot for a glimpse into the area’s rich history, ecology, and geology.
Outdoor Destinations Around Rochester
As much as I love the immediate Highland neighborhood, if you’re in town for a few days for all the free concerts, these are a few outdoor places in the city you can explore before the evening concerts begin.
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Explore the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Enjoy each canal town along the 115-mile stretch between the Cayuga-Seneca Canal and the Niagara River, with Rochester at the heart.
The peaceful view from Cobbs Hill, along with the friendly people walking and taking it all in, make it a unique Rochester experience.
At Genesee Valley Park, the river merges with the Erie Canal and continues north through Rochester before reaching Lake Ontario.
Rochester’s Olmsted-Designed Parks
Rochester is fortunate to be one of a handful of American cities with a park system comprised of Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks.
The Rochester Public Market is the best place to find the freshest locally grown produce, seafood, beef, cheese, bread, and beverages.
6 Self-Guided Tours of Rochester
If you are a fan of history and architecture, you will enjoy these self-guided Landmark Society tours of center city Rochester.
The 20-acre Seneca Park Zoo is a small portion of the 300-acre county park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1893.
Besides a sandy Lake Ontario beach with ample parking, visitors can enjoy the carousel, pier, lighthouse, and Abbott’s Frozen Custard.
To find Rochester’s hidden sidewalk, start at Ontario Beach Park and head west on Beach Ave. The two entrances are across from Clematis and Cloverdale Streets.
Street Art: Exploring Rochester’s Murals & Graffiti
Rochester has a vibrant street art culture, with dozens of murals, graffiti, and other forms of public art on display throughout the region.
Exceptional Rochester Museums
The festival takes place in May. It’s not the warmest or driest month of the year in Rochester! Just in case you visit Rochester for the Lilac Festival on a rainy day, here are a few places to spend a few engaging hours riding the storm out.
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I’ve heard ARTISANworks described as a walk-through kaleidoscope, a bombardment on the senses, and a 360° canvas that defies all boundaries.
Strong National Museum of Play
The Strong National Museum of Play boasts the world’s most extensive collection of play-related historical materials.
Rochester Museum & Science Center
Between the star shows, laser shows, interactive exhibits, and Singing Tesla Coils, the Rochester Museum and Science Center will entertain you for hours!
The Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester boasts a rich permanent collection and an impressive range of traveling exhibitions.
Food & Beverage
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650+ Highly Recommended Restaurants Around Greater Rochester
Some food destinations are well-established, while others are quickly becoming favorites as Rochester’s culinary scene explodes.
Savor Local Flavor: 28 Breweries & Cideries in Monroe County
Considering all the breweries that call the Greater Rochester area home can be overwhelming. Let’s focus on the ones here in Monroe County.
92 Ice Cream Shops Near Rochester, NY | 2025 Interactive Map
Discover 92 ice-cream, custard & gelato spots near Rochester, NY—see who churns their own flavors or scoops Perry’s, then plot your route on our 2025 interactive map.
21 Rochester-Area Chocolatiers
Many of our fine Rochester-area chocolatiers are 3rd- and 4th-generation descendants using traditional family recipes with modern twists.
Have a bit more time to see the Greater Rochester area?
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Our Favorite 5 State Parks to Explore
Within a 2-hour drive of Rochester, there are 49 NY State Parks all worthy of exploration, but try our favorite five if you haven’t already!
Our Favorite 5 County Parks to Explore
The Monroe County Parks systems includes 20 parks that are all worth exploring, but these are the five you absolutely must see.
Our Favorite 5 Town Parks to Explore
Among my top five favorite town parks are those with distinctive wooded areas, diverse wildlife, and captivating water features.
5 Exceptional Waterfalls Near Rochester
The Greater Rochester region is home to numerous waterfalls. Here are my five favorites to help you start planning your next day trip.
Geologic History of the Rochester Area
These day trips into Rochester’s geologic history will remind you just how amazing our corner of the Earth is.
132 Things to Do Around Rochester
We’ve pulled together a list of fun and unique things to do around Rochester, NY, within two hours of home—perfect for quick getaways.
What do you look forward to most during the Rochester Lilac Festival?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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People often ask if I get free access to the places I visit. The answer is no—unless I’m invited to a special preview or offered behind-the-scenes access through my media role. Most of the time, I don’t even mention Day Trips Around Rochester, New York when I visit a place. I want to have the same experience you would.
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Debi
Enjoy the Journey Together!
