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Last updated: November 4, 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 as homes and streets twinkle with festive lights and holiday decorations.
November Day Trips Ideas
Artful Escapes: Galleries, Studios & Museums
November is a wonderful time to explore Rochester’s vibrant arts scene, especially as the weather turns crisp and you’re seeking inspiration indoors. From the Memorial Art Gallery’s exhibitions and Haudenosaunee Heritage Celebration Day to the intimate shows at Image City Photography Gallery and the hands-on creativity at Flower City Arts Center, there’s no shortage of thoughtful, beautiful spaces to explore. First Friday on November 7 offers open studios and evening gallery hopping across the city, while spots like RoCo keep things contemporary year-round. Pair your art outing with a cozy café or bookstore nearby for a day well spent.
Nov 2–Mar 1, 2026: Frontiers of Impressionism: Paintings from the Worcester Art Museum, Memorial Art Gallery
Sugar & Spice: Where to Find Rochester’s Sweetest Stops
November is the perfect time for a cozy pie and chocolate loop. Pick up a fresh-baked pie from local favorites like Leo’s Bakery & Deli, Goodman Bakes, Pastrymancer, Forno Tony, Butterjoy, Go Frost Yourself, or Savoia Pastry Shoppe, then treat yourself to handcrafted sweets from Rochester’s beloved chocolatiers. Whether you’re stocking up for Thanksgiving or just savoring the season, these stops make for a deliciously comforting day trip.
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21 Rochester-Area Chocolatiers
Many of our fine Rochester-area chocolatiers are 3rd- and 4th-generation descendants using traditional family recipes with modern twists.
Holidays at the George Eastman Museum
Nov 8, 2025–Jan 4, 2026. 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. Admission fee. 900 East Avenue, (585) 327-4800, eastman.org
Holiday Movies at the Dryden:
- Nov 28: A Christmas Story
- Nov 29 (2 p.m.): A Christmas Story
- Nov 29: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- Dec 2: Hell’s Heroes
- Dec 5: It’s a Wonderful Life
- Dec 6 (2 p.m.): National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- Dec 6: Deaf Santa Claus
- Dec 10: It’s a Wonderful Life
- Dec 13 (2 p.m.): It’s a Wonderful Life
- Dec 18: A Christmas Carol
- Dec 20 (2 p.m.): A Christmas Carol
Canandaigua Treaty Day
Nov 11. 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
Nov 16: Haudenosaunee Heritage Celebration Day, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester
Skaneateles Dickens Christmas
Nov 28, 29, 30, Dec 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, and 24. 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 13–15: Merrily We Roll Along, Nazareth University Arts Center Callahan Theater
- 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 Bazaar, RMSC
- Nov 21–23: Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical, Roberts Wesleyan
- Nov 22: Giving Thanks Holiday Market, East Ave
- Nov 23: Give Thanks Market, Perinton Rec Center
- Nov 26–Dec 7: OFC’s Broadway in Brighton Series™ Presents Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas
- 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
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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.
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.
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 2–Mar 1, 2026: Frontiers of Impressionism: Paintings from the Worcester Art Museum, Memorial Art Gallery
- Nov 6–Dec 12: The Writing’s on the Wall – a WALL\THERAPY Primer
- Nov 7: JAWS In Concert, RPO @ RBTL
- Nov 7: First Friday, Rochester
- 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 14–Dec 6: Festival of Trees, Granger Homestead, Canandaigua
- Nov 15: Maker Faire Rochester, RIT Gordon Field House
- Nov 15: Legends of Laughter, RBTL
- Nov 15–Dec 31: Wonderland of Trees, Holland Land Office Museum
- Nov 15–Jan 4: Holiday Laser Shows, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium
- Nov 16: MAG Haudenosaunee Heritage Celebration Day, Rochester (free admission)
- 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 21–23: Miracle on 34th St: The Musical: National Broadway Tour, Roberts Wesleyan
- 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, Dec 5, 6, 12, 13: Real Santa Train Rides to the North Pole at the R&GVRR Museum
- Nov 28, 29, 30, Dec 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, and 24: Dickens Christmas, Skaneateles
Explore More
Roc Holiday Village: 2025 Season
The 16-day Roc Holiday Village begins Dec. 5, 2025, with free ice skating, shopping, music, 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 and Paranormal Fun
Experience October in Rochester with foliage hikes, pumpkin farms, ghost walks, scenic train rides, and festive events throughout the month.
Rochester in December 2025: A Month of Sparkle & Celebration
As the holiday season approaches, December in 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.
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!
