Rochester, NY is known for its active festival scene, all year round. Here, there's something for everyone: food trucks, local art, live music, and more. Jump start your first visit to a Rochester festival by assessing these options below:
Rochester Lilac Festival | May 9-18, 2025
The largest free festival of its kind in North America, spring in Upstate NY is welcomed with two incredible weekends celebrating the 127th edition of the Rochester Lilac Festival. Peek around every corner and you’ll discover magnificent gardens and exhilarating special events.
Whether you’re a regular visitor or first-time Festival-goer, you’ll quickly discover that every day brings something new to experience at the world-famous Rochester Lilac Festival.
Rochester Greek Festival | May 29-June 1, 2025
Join us May 30th to June 2nd as we continue our tradition of bringing the aromas, tastes, sounds, and traditions of Greece to Rochester on the grounds of the Greek Orthodox Church. Taste the Greek treats, visit the Taverna, experience shopping in a Greek marketplace, enjoy music, dancing and more.
Rochester Cocktail Revival | June 2-8, 2025
Rochester Cocktail Revival is New York State's only annual weeklong spirits festival. Since its inception in 2014, RCR has grown to include 30+ craft cocktail bars and present 80+ events, including pairing dinners, themed parties, a daytime spirit tasting, education, live music, outdoor events, interactive arts performances, and the climactic Bar Room Battle Royale between local mixologists.
Fairport Canal Days | June 6-8, 2025
Fairport Canal Days is celebrating its 48th year as one of the premier juried art festivals in the Northeast alongside the scenic village on the historic Eric Canal. This event is located in Fairport, NY: a "front-porch" friendly village, with a busy two days of food, music, arts and crafts vendors, and more. This 2025 festival will include an homage to the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal.
Harbor Fest at Ontario Beach Park | June 20-22, 2025
The Rochester Harborfest is returning to Ontario Beach Park and the Port area. This year’s event will mark the opening of the summer season at the beach. Activities include a beach volleyball tournament, a professional sand sculpting demonstration, a car show, a boat parade of lights, food and merchandise vendors, tours of the historic lighthouse, and a children’s area including free rides on the 119 year old Denzel Carousel.
Rochester International Jazz Festival | June 20-28, 2025
The Rochester International Jazz Festival is one of the world’s leading jazz festivals presenting legendary performers, familiar favorites, rising stars, and new discoveries from around the world.
The multi-dimensional nine-day festival is held annually in Rochester, NY, and presents more than 1,750 artists from around the world in 320+ shows at 21 venues. Founded in 2002, attendance has grown from 15,000 in 2002 to 208,000 in 2019. The Rochester International Jazz Festival is excited to return to the city's East End once again this year, with free and ticketed shows.
Corn Hill Arts Festival | July 12-13, 2025
Rochester’s oldest residential neighborhood is the backdrop for this popular weekend-long art and music festival featuring more than 350 artists and vendors.
Rochester Pride Parade and Festival | July 19, 2025
Celebrate Rochester’s LGBTQIA+ community with annual Pride Parade and Festival in Highland Park. Features free entertainment and performances, shopping vendors, community partners and more. Join in and show your Pride!
Puerto Rican Festival of Rochester | July 31-August 2, 2025
Celebrates and recognizes the Puerto Rican culture. First held in 1969, this annual event takes place in downtown Rochester featuring live music, cultural events, dance and food.
Hoochenanny Music & Whiskey Festival | August 8-10, 2025
National music headliners meet world-class whiskey this summer across 14 acres at Camp Eastman in Irondequoit, NY. Live music will be presented on two outdoor stages, while numerous whiskey experiences, including samples, bottle shops, craft cocktails, a rarities bar and more, will be hosted in seven custom-built tent structures. The Hoochenanny features 30-plus distilleries and 18 music acts including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Dark Star Orchestra, moe. and Charles Wesley Godwin.
Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival | August 9, 2025
Since 1995, the City of Rochester has produced its legendary “Rochester Music Festival” as a family-friendly experience designed to offer authentic, grassroots community engagement. Mark your calendars for this celebration of soulful sounds and community spirit at Rochester’s Innovative Field.
M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival | September 6 & 7, 2025
For over 60 years, the M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival has been MAG’s largest annual fundraiser and biggest celebration of the arts. Shop over 300 artists from across the country at this juried, two-day festival on the beautiful grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery. Clothesline is also the place to experience all-day live entertainment, sample food from some of Rochester’s favorite food trucks and vendors, enjoy free family art activities, and visit the museum!
Rochester Fringe Festival | September 9-20, 2025
Since debuting in 2012, the Fringe has drawn more than a half-million visitors from all over the world to nearly 4,500 diverse performances and events. In fact, Rochester’s not-for-profit Fringe has become one of the largest and most successful fringe festivals in the nation, the largest multidisciplinary performing arts festival in New York State, and one of the region’s most anticipated festivals each year.
Roc Holiday Village | December 5-28, 2025
Roc Holiday Village is Rochester, New York’s magical winter festival! The festival features outdoor seating and fire pits, free ice skating and skate rentals, a unique shopping village, and indoor bar with tasty food and drinks, free visits with Santa, tree lighting, hand-crafted goods, cozy winter igloos, free crafts for kids, holiday celebrations, live music, private events, nightlife and more.
