Things to Do Around Rochester Throughout the Year

This section highlights seasonal activities and recurring events that can help shape a day trip throughout the year. It includes cultural celebrations, arts and music festivals, fairs, historic commemorations, and regional traditions. Dates, locations, and programs may change, so confirm current details with event organizers before making plans.

For the most current events, read the latest Rochester This Week on Substack.

Explore Rochester by Season

• Wintertime in Rochester — Finding beauty, warmth, and reasons to leave the house during Rochester’s longest season.
• Springtime in Rochester — Following maple season, migration, waterfalls, flowers, and annual reopenings.
• Summertime in Rochester — Making the most of long days, fresh water, festivals, farms, and warm evenings.
• Autumn in Rochester — Following migration, harvest, and fall color from the distant hills back toward the city.

January

JBegin the year with a First Day Hike at Letchworth, Hamlin Beach, Taughannock, Niagara Falls, or another participating state park or historic site. Many local parks and nature centers also organize guided walks and outdoor programs.

When gray skies settle in, visit a library, museum, conservatory, or theater. Explore the tropical environment of the Lamberton Conservatory and the Butterfly Garden at The Strong National Museum of Play. You can also warm up with a good book or a beverage beside a fireplace in a local library, cafe, or restaurant.

On an inviting winter day, layer up and head outdoors. Walk the Birdsong Fairy Trail at Mendon Ponds Park, explore a snow-covered boardwalk, or look for animal tracks along a familiar trail.

Monroe County Winterfest at Mendon Ponds Park offers outdoor activities, guided hikes, demonstrations, children’s programs, food vendors, and performances at locations throughout the park. Activities vary with weather and trail conditions.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in January

February

When temperatures remain below freezing for several days, drive to Letchworth State Park to see the ice volcano near Glen Iris Inn and frost-covered trees around Middle Falls. You may also find ice formations along the Lake Ontario shoreline at Webster Park and Ontario Beach Park. View shoreline ice from a safe distance and avoid walking on ice-covered piers.

During prolonged cold spells, mist creates dramatic ice formations around Niagara Falls. Closer to Rochester, Mendon Ponds, Black Creek, Ellison, and Cobb’s Hill Parks offer popular sledding hills. February also brings events associated with the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, and Mardi Gras.

Dutch Connection fills the George Eastman Museum with tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other flowering bulbs. The indoor display brings color to the mansion and conservatory during the middle of winter.

Polar Plunge draws participants and spectators to Ontario Beach Park for a winter fundraiser benefiting Special Olympics New York. It is one of several activities held during Rochester’s Lakeside Winter Celebration weekend.

Fire & Ice Festival fills downtown Canandaigua with ice-carving demonstrations and competitions, fire performances, winter animals, wagon rides, culinary experiences, and activities at businesses along Main Street.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in February

March

March marks the beginning of maple season. Sugarhouses, nature centers, and farms collect sap as temperatures rise above freezing during the day and fall below freezing at night.

Canada and snow geese migrate north through New York, sometimes gathering by the tens of thousands at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area, and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

March is also a busy month for high school musicals. Local productions offer an opportunity to support young performers while enjoying classic and contemporary theater close to home.

New York State Maple Weekends take place at participating sugarhouses across the region. Many producers offer demonstrations, tours, pancake breakfasts, tastings, and opportunities to purchase maple syrup and other products.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade brings marching bands, community groups, dancers, and spectators to downtown Rochester. The parade travels along East Avenue and Main Street, with celebrations continuing at restaurants and gathering places throughout the city.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in March

April

As April rain combines with snowmelt, rivers, creeks, and streams swell. Waterfalls become especially powerful, making this a good time to visit High Falls, Letchworth State Park, Niagara Falls, and other waterfalls that can be viewed safely from established overlooks. Gorge trails may remain closed until late spring, so check conditions before visiting.

Imagine RIT Creativity and Innovation Festival invites visitors to explore interactive student projects and exhibits throughout the Rochester Institute of Technology campus. Demonstrations cover subjects such as technology, engineering, art, design, science, gaming, and entrepreneurship.

Rochester International Film Festival presents programs of short films from filmmakers around the world at the Dryden Theatre. Founded in 1959 as Movies on a Shoestring, the volunteer-run festival is one of Rochester’s longest-running film traditions. Depending on the year, the festival may extend from late April into early May.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in April

May

As spring takes hold, seasonal parks, attractions, and businesses begin to reopen. Roads, restrooms, and other amenities return to service in county and state parks. Gorge trails often reopen around Memorial Day, although timing depends on weather, trail conditions, and maintenance.

The Erie Canal opens for navigation in spring, and Seabreeze Amusement Park begins weekend operations. Farmers’ markets expand their offerings as locally grown asparagus, greens, flowers, and bedding plants become available.

Rochester Lilac Festival celebrates the city’s floral heritage with free concerts, art, food, races, and other events in Highland Park. Visitors can explore hundreds of lilac varieties in the park’s historic collection.

Rochester Greek Festival shares Greek food, music, dancing, and cultural traditions on the grounds of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. The festival also provides an opportunity to learn about Rochester’s Greek community and Orthodox faith traditions.

GlassFest transforms Corning’s Historic Market Street into a pedestrian-centered celebration of the city’s glassmaking identity. The Memorial Day weekend festival features glassblowing demonstrations, artists and makers, music, food, shopping, hands-on activities, and fireworks.

Red, White & Blue Balloon Festival brings hot-air-balloon pilots to Letchworth State Park over Memorial Day weekend. Launches take place near the Archery Field Overlook when wind and weather conditions permit. Because balloon flights can be postponed or canceled, confirm conditions before making a special trip.

Geneva Music Festival presents classical, jazz, bluegrass, and other musical performances at venues in and around Geneva. The festival spans several weeks in late spring and includes ticketed programs and community concerts.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in May

June

June brings the return of Food Truck Rodeos, Parties in the Park, ZooBrew, Concerts by the Shore, and outdoor concert series in towns and villages throughout the region. Beaches, public pools, and waterparks open for the season, and amusement parks move into their summer schedules.

Gorge trails and farmers’ markets are active, with strawberry season beginning late in the month. Warm days and long evenings make it easier to combine an outdoor activity with a concert, festival, or meal.

Celtic Faire at Genesee Country Village & Museum explores traditions from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales through heritage music, dance, food, artisan demonstrations, Highland games, and clan booths. The event also considers the influence of Celtic immigrants in the Genesee Valley.

Juneteenth Festival and Parade commemorates the end of slavery in the United States through music, art, food, performances, educational programs, and community gatherings in Rochester. Genesee Country Village & Museum also offers Juneteenth programming that interprets emancipation, freedom, and Black life in nineteenth-century New York.

Rochester Cocktail Revival brings local bars, restaurants, distilleries, and beverage professionals together for tastings, pairing dinners, classes, live entertainment, and special events.

Fairport Canal Days fills the village with artists, vendors, live entertainment, food, and family activities during a weekend festival along the Erie Canal. 

Rochester International Jazz Festival brings musicians from around the world to Rochester for nine days of performances. In addition to ticketed concerts, the festival offers free performances on outdoor stages throughout downtown.

Keuka Arts Festival showcases fine art and skilled crafts along the Keuka Outlet Trail near downtown Penn Yan. The festival also features music, food, regional beverages, demonstrations, and activities.

Taste of the Finger Lakes gathers Finger Lakes restaurants, wineries, breweries, cideries, farms, and other food producers at the Ithaca Farmers Market. The ticketed evening benefits regional organizations working to improve access to healthy food.

Taste of Syracuse fills the area around Clinton Square with local restaurants, food samples, music, and vendors. Multiple stages present live performances throughout the downtown festival.

New York State Blues Festival celebrates blues music and its influence on other musical traditions. The free festival at the New York State Fairgrounds presents national, regional, and local musicians over several days.

Arts at the Gardens brings artists and craftspeople to the grounds of Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park. Admission includes access to the gardens and mansion, with music, food, and beverages available during the event.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in June

July

July brings classic carnivals, county fairs, art shows, community celebrations, and outdoor performances throughout Greater Rochester. Genesee Country Village & Museum observes Independence Day with a Naturalization Ceremony.

Local farms offer raspberries, cherries, lavender, flowers, and seasonal produce. County fairs begin in July and continue into August, celebrating regional agriculture with livestock exhibitions, 4-H programs, demonstrations, competitions, food, and midway rides.

Corn Hill Arts Festival fills Rochester’s oldest residential neighborhood with hundreds of artists, live music, food vendors, and family activities.

Rochester Pride Parade and Festival celebrates Rochester’s LGBTQ+ community with a parade, music, performances, food, vendors, and community organizations.

Ganondagan Indigenous Music & Arts Festival celebrates contemporary and traditional Indigenous culture through music, social dancing, storytelling, art, and demonstrations. The Seneca Art & Culture Center and reconstructed bark longhouse provide additional context for understanding Haudenosaunee history and living traditions.

Black Culture Festival gathers Black artists, musicians, food vendors, businesses, and community organizations for a celebration of culture, creativity, and connection in downtown Rochester.

Ames Amzalak Rochester Jewish Film Festival presents films exploring Jewish history, faith, identity, and contemporary life. Screenings may include discussions with filmmakers, scholars, and community members, along with related music and cultural programs.

Seneca Falls Canal Fest celebrates the community’s relationship with the Cayuga-Seneca Canal through music, food, vendors, children’s activities, a duck race, and other events around Seneca Falls Harbor.

Convention Days commemorates the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention through talks, performances, art, and programs at Women’s Rights National Historical Park and other locations throughout the village.

Canandaigua Lakefront Art Show brings regional artists, music, and food vendors to Kershaw Park on Canandaigua Lake’s north shore.

Pageant of Steam in Hopewell celebrates antique farm machinery with working steam engines, parades, tractor pulls, demonstrations, exhibits, a flea market, and other activities.

Taste of Wayne County brings restaurants, farms, beverage producers, and other food businesses from across Wayne County to downtown Newark. Samples, live music, and the canal-side setting make it easy to combine the event with an evening walk through the village.

Taste of Buffalo showcases the Buffalo Niagara region’s restaurants, wineries, and food businesses along Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo. Visitors purchase food tickets to sample small portions, including Buffalo specialties and dishes representing the region’s varied culinary traditions.

Sterling Renaissance Festival recreates a sixteenth-century English village with staged performances, artisan demonstrations, food, games, costumed performers, and twice-daily jousting tournaments. The festival operates on weekends during July and August.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in July

August

August offers one of the fullest concentrations of cultural festivals in Greater Rochester. These gatherings provide opportunities to experience traditional foods, music, dance, art, history, and religious customs while learning more about the people who have shaped the region.

Blueberries, peaches, tomatoes, and sweet corn are in season, and sunflower fields bloom at farms throughout the area. County fairs and outdoor concerts continue, while the first signs of late summer begin to appear.

Puerto Rican Festival celebrates Puerto Rican heritage through live music, dance, food, cultural performances, vendors, and family activities. First held in 1969, it has become one of Rochester’s longest-running community festivals.

Carifest celebrates Caribbean culture with a downtown parade followed by music, dance, food, vendors, and performances in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park.

Saint Stanislaus Polish Arts Festival shares Polish food, music, dancing, crafts, and traditions on the grounds of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church in Rochester’s historic Polish neighborhood.

St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Festival presents Ukrainian food, folk dancing, live music, arts, crafts, and church tours. Founded in 1973, the festival offers a window into the traditions and continuing presence of Rochester’s Ukrainian community.

Egyptian Festival at St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in West Henrietta shares Egyptian food, music, art, and cultural traditions. Church tours provide an opportunity to learn about Coptic Christianity and the history of the local congregation.

Glorious Garlic Festival in Geneva celebrates one of the region’s most aromatic crops with garlic-inspired food, cooking demonstrations, regional wine and beverages, artists, vendors, and live music near the Seneca Lake shoreline.

Fiddle & Folk Festival at Genesee Country Village & Museum celebrates traditional music associated with New York State. Performances take place throughout the Historic Village, accompanied by musicians, instrument makers, and others involved in the region’s folk-music community.

Fairport Music Festival features two days of live music on outdoor stages along Liftbridge Lane East, with additional performances at bars and restaurants throughout the village.

The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse features agricultural exhibits, livestock competitions, concerts, midway rides, food vendors, demonstrations, and displays representing communities from across New York. The fair opens in late August and continues through Labor Day.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in August

September

September marks the beginning of apple season, making it a popular time to visit local orchards for cider, fry cakes, fritters, doughnuts, and slushies. Farms such as Stokoe Farms, Wickham Farms, and Long Acre Farms begin offering pumpkin picking, corn mazes, hayrides, train rides, and other fall activities.

Football season also returns, with Buffalo Bills games drawing fans from across the region. Cooler evenings create comfortable conditions for outdoor festivals, concerts, and village walks.

Turkish Festival in Chili shares Turkish food, traditional music, cultural exhibits, and community traditions during a three-day celebration hosted by the Turkish Society of Rochester. Admission and parking are free.

India Festival at the India Community Center in Macedon shares Indian food, music, dance, art, and cultural traditions with the wider Rochester community.

Clothesline Festival transforms the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery with artists, craftspeople, live entertainment, and food vendors. Admission includes access to the museum.

Naples Grape Festival celebrates the Finger Lakes grape harvest with regional wineries, grape pies, arts and crafts, live entertainment, tastings, and family activities throughout the Village of Naples. Heavy traffic is common, so arrive early or use available shuttle services.

Rochester Fringe Festival presents free and ticketed performances at venues throughout the city. Theater, dance, music, comedy, visual art, circus, and multidisciplinary productions range from established performers to experimental work.

Ithaca Porchfest transforms porches in the Fall Creek and Northside neighborhoods into performance stages for local and regional musicians. A map and schedule help visitors move among performances throughout the afternoon.

Apple Harvest Festival fills Ithaca Commons with apples, cider, doughnuts, food, crafts, music, and seasonal activities. Downtown shops and restaurants also participate in the celebration.

Niagara County Peach Festival celebrates the local peach harvest with food, entertainment, a parade, community programs, and family activities in Lewiston.

Wings & Wheels in Hammondsport celebrates the village’s aviation and automotive history with seaplanes, classic vehicles, demonstrations, food, music, and activities near Keuka Lake.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in September

October

October brings scenic train rides, fall bird migrations, ghost walks, and harvest activities at local farms. Apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, and freshly made fry cakes continue throughout the month.

Plan foliage outings from mid-October into early November. Mount Hope Cemetery, Durand Eastman Park, Highland Park, Letchworth State Park, the Bristol Hills, and the Finger Lakes countryside offer varied autumn landscapes.

ROC the Riverway Weekend celebrates the Genesee River with guided hikes, bike rides, paddles, tours, educational programs, and other activities along the river corridor. Many activities are free, although some require advance registration or a ticket.

Ellicottville Fall Festival combines autumn foliage with scenic chairlift rides, mountaintop activities, live music, artists, vendors, food, and events throughout the village and at Holiday Valley Resort.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in October

November

November marks the transition from fall to the holiday season. Early in the month, you may still find autumn foliage, scenic walks, and late-season farm markets. Holiday lights, markets, performances, and indoor activities begin as the days grow shorter.

Museums, theaters, libraries, and conservatories provide options during unsettled weather. This is also a quieter time to revisit favorite destinations before the holiday calendar becomes busy.

Canandaigua Treaty Day Celebration commemorates the Treaty of Canandaigua, signed in 1794 between the United States and the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The annual observance includes speakers, cultural presentations, and a public commemoration at the Ontario County Courthouse.

Holidays at the George Eastman Museum fills the historic mansion with gingerbread displays, decorated wreaths, tabletop trees, and seasonal decorations. Holiday films and other programs take place at the Dryden Theatre.

Christkindl Market at Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum in Canandaigua gathers artists, craftspeople, and food vendors beneath decorated tents for a juried holiday market.

Dickens Christmas transforms the Village of Skaneateles through appearances by Charles Dickens characters, horse-drawn carriage rides, live entertainment, and special programs on weekends during the holiday season.

Lights on the Lake is a drive-through holiday display with illuminated and animated scenes along the shore of Onondaga Lake. The event begins in November and continues through the holiday season.

Corning’s Parade of Lights welcomes Santa and Mrs. Claus to Centerway Square with decorated floats and community groups. It begins a season of downtown events collectively known as Crystal City Christmas.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in November

December

December brings holiday lights, seasonal performances, markets, decorated historic sites, and community traditions throughout Greater Rochester.

Many Rochesterians remember visiting Midtown Plaza during the holidays. Today, Roc Holiday Village carries part of that tradition forward with ice skating, shopping, entertainment, food, and seasonal activities. Performances of The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, and holiday concerts return to area theaters and concert halls, while The Little Theatre and Dryden Theatre screen seasonal films. Houses of worship present concerts, and public light displays brighten neighborhoods throughout the region.

Lamberton Conservatory Holiday Show fills the greenhouse with seasonal plants, decorations, and lights. Selected evening hours allow visitors to see the displays after dark.

Holidays at Genesee Country Village & Museum explores nineteenth-century holiday traditions through guided tours, historic demonstrations, meals, teas, and seasonal programs, including Yuletide in the Country and the Holiday Open House.

Holidays at the Rochester Public Market features vendors selling Christmas trees, wreaths, decorations, specialty foods, and handcrafted gifts. Selected weekends may also include music, carriage rides, and visits with Santa.

Roc Holiday Village transforms Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park in downtown Rochester with ice skating, shopping, entertainment, seasonal food and drinks, and visits with Santa throughout December.

It’s a Wonderful Life Festival celebrates the connection between Seneca Falls and Bedford Falls, the fictional setting of It’s a Wonderful Life. Screenings, exhibits, presentations, themed meals, and appearances by people associated with the film bring visitors to the village each December.

Sparkle fills Corning’s Historic Market Street with vendors, music, performances, shopping, and holiday activities during Crystal City Christmas.

➡️ Explore the top 10 things to do in Rochester in December

Looking for Something to Do Now?

Ready to make a plan? Read the latest Rochester This Week for my current recommendations, browse trusted event resources for the weekend, or find reliable ideas for a weeknight evening out.

What are your favorite things to do around Rochester each month?

I’d love to hear from you—please reach out and share your thoughts and experiences.