The Greater Rochester area hosts hundreds of annual celebrations that showcase the region’s rich culture and community spirit. These events include cultural festivals, neighborhood celebrations, fitness-focused activities, food truck rodeos, parades, concerts, and community gatherings, all contributing to the city’s lively social calendar. This guide highlights Rochester’s most popular festivals, which attract hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors to our city.
May
Rochester Lilac Festival
May 9–18, 2025
Rochester’s Lilac Fest is the largest free festival of its kind in North America. Lilac Fest is a 10-day event that offers free concerts, art shows, tastings, footraces, and a parade. Highland Park’s lilacs—over 500 varieties across 1,200 shrubs—fully bloom by mid-May, along with pansies, tulips, magnolia, rhododendrons, azaleas, and flowering dogwood and cherry trees. Many Rochesterians’ tradition is to attend the festival on Mother’s Day.
June
CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival
June 20–28, 2025
The nine-day Jazz Fest brings musicians and attendees from all over the world to Rochester. The event features hours of exceptional music, including many free performances at outdoor stages throughout Rochester’s East End.
July
Corn Hill Arts Festival
July 12–13, 2025
Avery Mall is the official shuttle stop for the popular weekend-long art and music festival. Find over 350 artists and vendors along nine tree-lined streets that make up Corn Hill—one of Rochester’s oldest residential neighborhoods.
ROC Pride Festival & Parade
July 19, 2025
The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. at Science Parkway and proceeds north along South Avenue to Highland Park for the festival. Join the LGBTQ+ community celebration with food, wine, and beer, plus hours of entertainment.
September
M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival
September 6–7, 2025
The Memorial Art Gallery hosts this two-day open-air exhibition—Rochester’s longest-running celebration of the arts—that features over 300 juried artists. A festival pass also includes museum admission.
Rochester Fringe Festival
September 9–20, 2025
This 12-day festival offers a diverse range of entertaining performances. One Fringe Place, including the Spiegeltent and Spiegelgarden, serves as the festival center, with dozens more venues hosting over 500 free and ticketed performances across the city.
Roc Holiday Village
December 5–28, 2025
Wednesday through Sunday
The first full December weekend marks the beginning of this delightfully nostalgic 17-day celebration. The festivities start with the official lighting of the Main Street Liberty Pole, followed by a Santa-led procession to the Village at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. Enjoy a range of free holiday-themed activities and community events, including ice skating, live music, shopping, dining, and a chance to meet Santa Claus.
Looking for more City of Rochester festivals and events?
In addition to the seven most significant festivals noted above, here is a quick list of annual events and festivals around Rochester.
Events with Multiple Dates
Food Truck Rodeo
last Wednesday night of the month, April through September
Zoo Brew
Fridays nights, once a month, May through September, with special events throughout the year
Party in the Park
Thursday nights, June – August
Concerts by the Shore
Wednesday nights, June – August
Bands on the Bricks
Friday nights, July & August
February
Lakeside Winter Celebration + Polar Plunge
March
April
Rochester Erotic Arts Festival
Gateway Music Festival, biennial
May
Rochester International Films Festival
June
July
Rochester International Jewish Film Festival
National Warplane Museum Airshow
August
Rochester International Air Show
Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival
St. Stanislaus Polish Arts Festival
September
Ukrainian Arts & Craft Festival
Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival
October
November
December
It’s a Wonderful Life in the South Wedge
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Which are your favorite Rochester festivals?
Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.
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Enjoy the Journey Together!
Hi, there’s a craft show on 10/22 at Temple B’rith Kodesh, this is their 7th year. If you want to add here is the info:
Artfest On The Avenue 10/22 Sunday 9-5pm
What can be better than an art fest with hand picked artisans? The seventh annual Artfest on the Avenue. More than 40 high quality artisans will present ceramics/pottery, wearable art, clothing, purses, scarves, baby/ children’s clothing, quilts and fabric art, jewelry, paintings, photography, mixed media, woodworking, glass and more.
Fabulous silent auction also! Plenty of free parking in the back. Sponsored by Temple B’rith Kodesh Sisterhood.
$2 Entrance Fee.
https://www.tbk.org/wrj-tbk-sisterhood-calendar
Please include Rochester Summer Soul Music festival
Rosetta, thank you! I’m happy to add Summer Soul!