September around Rochester begins with warm afternoons and ends with the first clear signs of fall. It is grape-harvest season in the Finger Lakes, apple-picking season at local orchards, and one of the busiest months for festivals and performing arts. Cooler days also make it easier to return to hiking trails, canal paths, scenic drives, and outdoor art.
These ten ideas highlight some of my favorite ways to enjoy the transition from summer to fall.
Because festival schedules, harvest dates, and migration timing can shift throughout the month, read the latest Rochester This Week on Substack when you’re ready to make a plan.
1. Experience the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival
The ESL Rochester Fringe Festival fills downtown Rochester with theater, circus, dance, comedy, music, and performances that are difficult to categorize. I always find more shows than I can possibly attend, so I start planning as soon as the schedule is released. My approach is to choose a few must-see performances, then leave room for something unexpected.
2. Welcome Back the Performing Arts Season
September also brings the start of a new performing arts season. Look for opening productions and concerts at Geva Theatre, Blackfriars Theatre, and Eastman Theatre, including Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performances in Kodak Hall. Eastman School of Music is another excellent resource, with many student and faculty performances available free or at a modest cost, both in person and via livestream.
3. Watch the Fall Bird Migration
Close to Rochester, Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area is easy to visit throughout the season. Return several times in September to watch migration change as songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl pass through the Lake Ontario shoreline and surrounding wetlands. The Braddock Bay Bird Observatory also welcomes visitors during its fall banding season, offering a rare opportunity to watch trained volunteers identify, measure, band, and release migrating birds.
For a longer wildlife-watching trip, head west to Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge or east to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Both offer wetland overlooks and walking trails, but the birds you encounter will vary with migration timing, weather, and water levels.
4. Experience Grape Season in Naples
September is grape season in Naples, where vineyards cover the hillsides and the scent of ripe grapes drifts through the valley. At Jerome’s U-Pick, you can walk among the vines and pick table, juice, pie, and wine grapes. Different varieties ripen throughout September, so check the farm’s harvest schedule before visiting.
Later in the month, the Naples Grape Festival brings artists, music, regional food and wine, and plenty of grape pie to the village. Arrive early, expect crowds, and allow time to explore Main Street and the surrounding countryside.
5. Pick Apples and Taste Fresh Cider
September is prime apple-picking season around Rochester. Visit a local orchard to pick your own fruit, compare varieties, and bring home apples for eating, baking, or making applesauce. Many orchards also begin pressing cider this month, often with cider doughnuts and other early-fall treats available at the farm market.
Apple varieties ripen at different times, so check the orchard’s harvest report before leaving home. Return later in the season to discover how the selection and flavors change from September into October.
6. Spend a Day Along the Erie Canal
September is a comfortable time to explore the Erie Canal, whether you walk, bike, cruise, or settle in beside the water. Spencerport, Brockport, Fairport, Bushnell’s Basin, and Pittsford offer canal trails, historic village centers, and waterside dining. Stop for ice cream or a local brew, or bring a picnic to enjoy beside the canal.
7. Explore Finger Lakes Wine Country
Grape harvest gives Finger Lakes wine country a different energy in September. You may see bins of freshly picked grapes, active crush pads, and vines beginning to change color. Choose one lake or one compact group of tasting rooms rather than trying to cover an entire trail in a day. Canandaigua Lake offers the shortest drive from Rochester, Keuka Lake works well for a compact loop, and Seneca Lake provides the greatest number of tasting-room options.
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8. Take an Early-Fall Scenic Drive
September scenic drives are still mostly green at the beginning of the month, with more color appearing in the higher hills as October approaches. Because the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario moderate temperatures closer to Rochester, traveling south and uphill can offer an early preview of autumn. One of my favorite routes follows NY-21 south through Canandaigua and Naples, with side trips toward Bristol Springs or Honeoye for broad views across the western Finger Lakes.
9. Hike Into the New Season
Choose a gorge walk at Watkins Glen, Buttermilk Falls, or Letchworth State Park. Closer to home, stroll Turning Point Park’s boardwalk above the Genesee River or step into the old-growth canopy of Washington Grove and Hart’s Woods. For a more unusual landscape, navigate through a rock city.
Worth the Longer Drive: Allegany State Park
Just under two hours from Rochester, Allegany State Park is worth the drive for its forested hills, lakes, wildlife, and early autumn color. Explore the Red House or Quaker area, stopping at overlooks and trailheads along the way.
10. Discover Art in the Landscape
September’s cooler weather makes it easier to spend several hours exploring outdoor art. Walk among the sculptures at Griffis Sculpture Park, follow a public-art route through a Rochester neighborhood, or build a day trip around murals and installations in another community. Outdoor art rewards curiosity—you never know what will catch your attention around the next corner.
September’s calendar also includes annual traditions such as Foodlink’s Festival of Food and the AppleUmpkin Festival in Wyoming, along with neighborhood fall celebrations around Rochester. Dates and venues may change from year to year, so check the official event websites before making plans.
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Paved, Boardwalk, and Gravel Pathways for Easy Strolls
These paved pathways and boardwalks are ideal for folks using strollers, walkers, wheelchairs, or managing other mobility challenges.
Planning ahead? Explore the October guide or browse things to do around Rochester throughout the year.
What are your favorite September 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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