The list of things to do in Rochester this winter can be limitless! We’ve pulled together 50 activities that will keep you busy this season including outdoor and indoor activities, special events and so much more.
It’s time to bundle up!
1. Adopt-a-maple tree at Kettle Ridge Farm or participate in maple sugaring festivities at Genesee Country Village & Museum
2. Go ice-skating at Tim Horton's Iceplex, Dick’s House of Sport, Rochester Ice Center, or Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park
3. Hit the slopes at Bristol Mountain or Swain Ski Resort
4. Taste the fruits of New York State at the Annual NYS Ice Wine Festival at Casa Larga Vineyards
5. Enjoy fresh seasonal produce and other locally made goodies at the Rochester Public Market
6. Explore Cumming Nature Center's 12 miles of trails. Grab some snowshoe or ski rentals for added fun!
7. Enjoy a nature hike, sledding, snowshoeing and more in Monroe County’s more than 12,000 acres of parkland and traditional Native American winter games at Ganondagan State Historic Site
Family Fun
8. Immerse yourself in Hodinöšyö:nih culture and learn about the tribe's history at RMSC's new exhibit Hodinöšyö:nih Continuity | Innovation | Resilience
9. Explore the Butterfly Garden at The Strong Museum of Play
10. Root for the home team with the Rochester Americans, the Rochester Knighthawks, or RIT Hockey at University Arenas at RIT
11. Warm up at an indoor garden at the Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park
12. Trek through the Skyline Climb at The Strong Museum of Play
13. Run, jump, and climb at Altitude Trampoline Park
14. Challenge the kids with arcade games at Clubhouse Fun Center
15. Make a visit to the Rochester Public Library, and see if your kids can find the elusive secret room in the children's section
Ready, Set, Go!
16. Sports enthusiast? Check out WeTheHobby's extensive sports card and memorabilia collection!
17. Venture through these iconic Monroe County Parks
18. Climb to new heights at RocVentures
19. Craft your own candle scents at Scents by Design
20. Compete with friends at Clubhouse Fun Center or Dave & Busters in Marketplace Mall
21. Soar with aerial yoga, bungee fitness, silk ribbons, and the flying trapeze with classes at Roc City Circus
22. Discover something new with Day Trips Around Rochester
23. Take a class and learn new skills from local experts at the Rochester Brainery
24. Take advantage of the indoor fields at Total Sports Experience
Stay Warm with Local Libations (21+)
25. Take a brewery tour with Crush Beer & Wine Tours, Rochester Pedal Tours, RocTours, or Sip Back and Relax Tours
26. Visit a Rochester/Finger Lakes brewery (or all of them!) Discover local beer at Genesee Brew House, Rohrbach Brewing Company, Sager Beer Works, Strangebird, Three Heads Brewing, and more.
27. Enjoy tasting flights, wine by the glass, cheese boards, chocolates, and nibbles at Rochester wine bars like Living Roots Wine & Co., Flight Wine Bar, Unwine'd, and Legacy Wine Bar.
28. Sip a craft cocktail at Bar Bantam, Good Luck, Radio Social, Bonnie & Clyde, Tapas 177, Velvet Belly, and more. Not a drinker? Grab a delicious mocktail from Rochester's N/A bar and bottle shop AltBar.
29. Hit the trails—the wine trail that is! During our coldest season warm up with a visit to one of several local wine trails, including Lake Ontario, Keuka Lake, Seneca Lake, and Cayuga Lake wine trails. Don't miss out on wine tastings at 20 Deep Winery, Arbor Hill Winery, Casa Larga Vineyards, Deer Run Winery, and Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery!
30. Enjoy some delicious small-batch bourbon whiskey from Iron Smoke Distillery
31. Enjoy live music, local beer, and wine while shopping at the Record Archive—the first record store in New York State to serve beer and wine
Brighten Your Day with Rochester Arts & Culture
32. Beat the winter doldrums with Dutch Connection—the George Eastman Museum’s annual floral display (coming February 2026!)
33. Experience Frontiers of Impressionism at the Memorial Art Gallery
34. Stop by the Eastman School of Music for a student or faculty concert
35. Celebrate woman’s suffrage with a trip to the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House
36. Attend a poetry or book reading at Writers and Books
37. Get inspired by ARTISANworks's 500,000+ item collection
38. See a performance of The Woman in Black or Barefoot in the Park at Geva Theatre Center
39. Listen to a performance by the Rochester Oratorio Society
40. Go see Spamalot or Wicked at Rochester Broadway Theatre League
41. Relax with a spa day at The Spa at Woodcliff, The Spa at the Del Monte, or The Spa at The Lake House on Canandaigua
42. Catch a performance of The Grown-Ups at Blackfriars Theatre
43. See a showing of The Secret Agent, Marty Supreme, and more at The Little Theatre and enjoy their delicious popcorn!
44. Attend a photography show at Image City Photography Gallery!
45. Catch a performance of Hello, Dolly! at OFC Creations
46. Spend an evening seeing a comedy show at Comedy @ The Carlson
47. Check out a Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performance like Philharmonics, Sunday Matinees at Naz, and more!
48. Warm up by watching live glassmaking shows at the Corning Museum of Glass
49. Try your luck at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, or Del Lago Resort & Casino
50. Show us how you're enjoying the season! Post a picture living your best life in Rochester this winter and tag us on social or use our hashtag #VisitROC.
