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Last updated: October 10, 2025
November is a month of transition and reflection. The last whispers of fall blend seamlessly with the early murmurs of the holiday season, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere. As the month begins, enjoy the final moments of autumn’s beauty, then watch the world transform, with homes and streets twinkling in festive lights and holiday decorations.
George Eastman Museum
Nov 8, 2025–Jan 4, 2026: Holidays at the George Eastman Museum. GEM is a gorgeous place to experience the joy of the holiday season. In addition to the delightful Sweet Creations Gingerbread Displays, Wreath Display, and Tabletop Tree Display, the Dryden Theatre offers a wide selection of festive films; the 2025 schedule will be announced soon. Admission fee. 900 East Avenue, (585) 327-4800, eastman.org
Find more holiday-themed events in December soon!
Canandaigua Treaty Day
Nov 11: Canandaigua Treaty Day Celebration. The Canandaigua Treaty, signed on November 11, 1794, established peace and friendship between the United States of America and the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This event presents a unique opportunity to witness the past and present coming together, reminding us of the treaty’s significance and the bond it has created between the two nations. Ontario County Courthouse, 27 N. Main Street, ganondagan.org
Lights on the Lake
Nov 17, 2025–Jan 12, 2026: Lights on the Lake. The drive-through holiday light show at Onondaga Lake Park features a two-mile route lined with towering displays, a fantasy forest, vibrant arches, and a magical fairy-tale ending. Admission fee. 106 Lake Drive, (315) 451-7275, lightsonthelake.com
Skaneatele Dickens Christmas
Nov 28, 29, 30, Dec 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, and 24: Dickens Christmas. The World’s Smallest Parade kicks off this month-long weekend festival on Bright Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). The festival continues every Saturday and Sunday, leading up to Christmas. Charles Dickens and other characters can be seen roaming the streets, shops, and restaurants, greeting guests and spreading holiday cheer. Enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides around the village, caroling and plays at the gazebo, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Multiple venues, Skaneateles, Onondaga County, (315) 685-0552, skaneateles.com
Shop Local This November
November 29, 2025, is Small Business Saturday, but you can shop these holiday markets and bazaars all month long!
- Nov 2: The Novel Affair Book Fair, ARTISANworks
- Nov 7: Night of Lights, Shops on the Ridge
- Nov 7–9: Winter Wonderland Shopping Fling, held throughout Wayne County
- Nov 8–9: Holiday Market, GCVM
- Nov 8–9: Weaver’s Guild of Rochester Holiday Sale, Perkins Mansion, East Ave
- Nov 8–9: Zonta Holiday Craft Festival, Batavia Downs
- Nov 14: Christmas in the Country, Dome Arena, Henrietta
- Nov 14–16: Christkindl Market, Granger Homestead
- Nov 15: Holiday Market, Schutt’s Apple Mill
- Nov 21–23: Holiday Bizzar, RMSC
- Nov 22: Giving Thanks Holiday Market, East Ave
- Nov 23: Give Thanks Market, Perinton Rec Center
- Nov 28–29: Themata (The Market at the Armory)
- Nov 29: Native Made Market, RMSC
- Nov 29–30: Nightmare Before Christmas Market, ARTISANworks
- Nov 30, Dec 7, 14: Holidays at the Public Market
Explore More
New & Used Bookstores Around Rochester
Books take us on a journey through time and space. If you’re looking for a new adventure, check out these bookstores around Rochester.
Give the Gift of Rochester! 5 City Shops that Celebrate Regional Novelties
These Rochester gifts are more than mere objects; they are nostalgic expressions of the city’s soul, making them a joy to give and receive.
300+ Places to Shop Locally Around Rochester, New York
Shopping locally is about discovering something uniquely Rochester while directly impacting the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors.
November 2025 Events Listing
Chronological highlights for 2025—verify hours, tickets, and venue updates before you go.
- Nov 1: Beatlemania Now, Innovation Square
- Nov 1: Wegmans East Avenue Grocery Run
- Nov 2: Swan Lake, West Herr Auditorium
- Nov 7: JAWS In Concert, RPO @ RBTL
- Nov 8: Mark Normand: Ya Don’t Say Tour, Kodak Center
- Nov 8: Veterans Day Parade, Highland Park
- Nov 8–9: Preparing for Winter, GCVM
- Nov 8–Jan 4: Holidays at the George Eastman Museum
- Nov 9: RTOS Presents Jelani Eddington, RBTL
- Nov 11: Canandaigua Treaty Day Celebration
- Nov 11: Billy Strings, Blue Cross Arena
- Nov 12: WBEE’s Guitars & Stars, RBTL
- Nov 13: Rocky Horror Picture Show, RBTL
- Nov 15: Legends of Laughter, RBTL
- Nov 15–Dec 31: Wonderland of Trees, Holland Land Office Museum
- Nov 16–Jan 5: Holiday Laser Shows, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium
- Nov 17–Jan 12: Lights on the Lake, Liverpool
- Nov 18–30: Hamilton, RBTL
- Nov 21: RPO Pops: Embark, Eastman Theatre
- Nov 21: Michael Carbonaro: Wonderboy, Kodak Center
- Nov 22: Willy Wonka Taste-A-Long, Kodak Center
- Nov 22–Dec 28: A Christmas Carol, Geva Theatre
- Nov 22–Jan 4 (select dates): Festival of Lights, Our Lady Of Fatima in Lewiston
- Nov 22–Dec 21 (weekends), plus Dec 23: Polar Express, Medina Railroad Museum
- Nov 26–30: The Nutcracker, RPO & Rochester City Ballet
- Nov 27: Webster Turkey Trot, Webster Park
- Nov 27: Feast Thanksgiving Day Run, Blue Cross Arena
- Nov 27: Wedge Waddle, Abundance Co-op
- Nov 28, 29, 30, Dec 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, and 24: Dickens Christmas, Skaneateles
Explore More
Roc Holiday Village: 2025 Season
The 17-day Roc Holiday Village begins Dec. 6 with free ice skating, shopping, music, fire pits, and food from cozy indoor and outdoor vendors.
High School Musicals and Dramas in Monroe County for the 2025-26 School Year
Support Monroe County’s talented high school performing artists while enjoying the most celebrated musicals for a fraction of the cost.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy a show on stage or screen. Experience diverse artistic expression, from Broadway productions to classic movies.
Rochester in October 2025: Fall Foliage, Pumpkin Picking, and Paranormal Fun
Experience October in Rochester with foliage hikes, pumpkin farms, ghost walks, scenic train rides, and festive events throughout the month.
Your 2024 Holiday Spirit Guide: Festive Events that Celebrate the Season
As the holiday season approaches, Rochester transforms into a place filled with community warmth, light, and festive spirit.
The Clock of Nations Returns to Midtown
Experience the iconic Midtown Plaza Clock of Nations, now open to the public at Tower280 in Rochester, NY, daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Colorful Places: Day Trip Ideas to Brighten a Gray Rochester Day
In a city where weather often impacts our mental health, exposing yourself to vibrant hues can help dispel the gloom of a gray Rochester day.
Shared Rochester Experiences that Make Great Gifts
Giving the gift of shared Rochester experiences offers rewards that go well beyond mere personal joy—where less is genuinely more.
What are your favorite November activities around Rochester?
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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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Enjoy the Journey Together!
