There are hundreds of resources for finding fun things to do in Rochester. We’ve gathered the best of them here to make it easier to explore stuff for adults and college students to do around town.
Discover the best concerts, festivals, community events, and special events this weekend or anytime!
Live Music
There are plenty of places that offer periodic live musical performances, but these folks make it their core business model and tend to offer it multiple times a week. They bring in talent from around the country, and find talent right here at home to amplify.
Johnny’s Irish Pub Live Music Calendar
Fairport B-Side Live Music Calendar
The Bug Jar Live Upcoming Shows
Montage Music Hall Event Calendar
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Live Music Calendar
Nashvilles Events and Shows Calendar
Flour City Station Upcoming Events Calendar
Pelican’s Nest Entertainment Calendar
45 Cheap & Free Outdoor Concerts Around Rochester
Free outdoor concerts around Rochester start ramping up in June, when the city and surrounding towns kick off their summer music series and festivals.
Sporting Events
Rochester RazorSharks basketball
Rochester Knighthawks indoor lacrosse
Periodic & seasonal things to do in Rochester
DeTOURS at the Memorial Art Gallery
Genesee Country Village & Museum special events
New York State Parks Events Calendar
Rochester Festivals – Six in the City
“Festival season” in Rochester runs from May to September. Let’s focus on the six most popular summertime City of Rochester festivals!
200+ Annual Events Around Rochester
Centered on food, drink, music, and culture these festivals & events around Rochester bring our community together throughout the year.
2020 New York State & County Fairs
Our state and county fairs offer their own unique blend of agriculture, amusement, and entertainment, dating back to the early 1800s.
27 House & Garden Tours Around Rochester
Every year there are dozens of opportunities around Rochester to walk through grand and historic homes, and meticulously manicured garden spaces.
New Years Eve 2019-2020 Around Rochester
Need ideas for New Years Eve around Rochester? We’ve included a variety of playful places to ring in the new year on December 31, 2019! Happy New Year 2020!
College Campus Events
Many campus events are open to the public, and often times they are also free! I’ve seen excellent concerts and plays at Roberts, RIT, and Naz, well-known speakers at U of R, and had so much fun learning and playing at Imagine RIT.
Roberts Wesleyan Cultural Life Center Events
University of Rochester Events
SUNY Brockport Fine Arts Series
Other Entertainment Venues
These are places that feature other types of entertaining…movies, plays, comedy, music, etc. We’ll keep adding to this so feel free to suggest others!
95 Performing Arts Venues Around Rochester
Rochester has an excellent performing arts scene! Find plays and musicals by high school and college students, local professionals, and touring companies.
12 Historic Small Movie Theaters
There is something about a 100-year-old small movie theater that enhances your experience and transcends you through space and time.
Yes, there are still drive-in theaters near Rochester! The Vintage Drive-In in Avon is the closest, but there are five others within a 90 minute drive.
Event calendars for things to do around Rochester
These are the most popular event calendars around, and the ones I refer to the most. You’ll definitely find something to do this weekend. Or filter by date or date range to look for future events.
If you know of other robust event calendars leave us a comment. We’d love to add to the list.
CITY Newspaper Choice Concerts
The Ultimate Guide for Spending Quality Time Together in Rochester
Spending time exploring with your partner is a great way to connect and learn about each other, and avoid the routine rut.
132 Things to Do Around Rochester, NY
We’ve pulled together a list of fun and unique things to do around Rochester, NY within two hours of home—perfect for quick getaways.
60 Day Trips within 30 Minutes of Rochester
Sometimes you just need a fun, spontaneous adventure or quick getaway to refresh your day. Try one of these day trips within 30 minutes of Rochester.
Free Things to Do Around Rochester
Our top 12 day trip ideas for unique, fun, and free things to do in Rochester will give you over 500 actual destinations to explore.
Enjoy discounted admissions or ticket purchases at these destinations with the Monroe County Library System VIP Pass!
Where do you find things to do around Rochester?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!