Celebrate the spring season with festivals and events that take advantage of all the beauty, culture, and fun that Rochester and the Finger Lakes regions have to offer. We've pulled together the following list of top events and activities you don't want to miss when you #VisitROC this May.
Arts & Culture
Back to Top of ListMay 2 | Genesee Country Village & Museum
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration
May 2 | Strong Museum of Play
Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration Day 2026
May 3 | Memorial Art Gallery
May 6 | Memorial Art Gallery
May 7 | Strong Museum of Play
Garth Fagan Dance 55th Anniversary Performance Celebration
May 7 - 10 | Nazareth University
May 8 | Memorial Art Gallery
May 8 - 17 | Highland Park
World Video Game Hall of Fame Celebration
May 9 | Strong Museum of Play
May 10 | Rochester Museum & Science Center
May 16 | Strong Museum of Play
Mother Goose with Rochester City Ballet
May 17 | Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
May 22 | Genesee Country Village & Museum
May 22 & 23 | Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
May 23 & 24 | Rochester Museum & Science Center
May 24 | Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
May 28 - 31 | Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
May 29 | Genesee Country Village & Museum
May 30 | Memorial Art Gallery
May 30 & 31 | Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Taking Care with Peanuts Exhibit Opening Weekend
May 30 & 31 | Strong Museum of Play
Festive Fun + Outdoor Markets
Back to Top of ListMay 1 - 3 | Long Acre Farms
May 7 | Fairport Main Street
May 8 & 9 | Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park
Starting May 9 | Rochester By Water
May 10, 17, 24-25, & 31 | Rochester Public Market
May 14 | Rochester Public Market
Starting May 15 | Colonial Belle
May 16 | George Eastman Museum
May 21 | High Falls Historic District
May 23 | Port of Pittsford
May 24 | Culver Road Armory
May 27 | Rochester Public Market
May 30 | Genesee Country Village & Museum
Taking The Stage (And Screen)
Back to Top of ListRochester International Film Festival
May 1 & 2 | Dryden Theatre
May 1 - 10 | Geva Theatre
CCPAS Student Spotlight Concert
May 2 | Hochstein performance Hall
May 2 - 17 | Centerstage at the JCC
May 3 | The Little Theatre
May 4 | The Little Theatre
Live Music at the Rochester Lilac Festival
May 8 - 17 | Keybank Center Stage
May 8 - 24 | Blackfriars Theatre
The 2026 Lenya Competition Finals
May 9 | Kilbourn Hall
Wind Beneath My Wings: Mother's Day Cabaret
May 9 & 10 | OFC Creations Theatre
Georgia O'Keeffe: The Brightness of Light
May 10 | The Little Theatre
Over the Rainbow: A Golden Girls Musical
May 14 - 31 | OFC Creations Theatre
May 16 | West Herr Auditorium Theatre/RBTL
2026 Emerging Artist Competition “Joseph Eduardo” Finals
May 16 | Hochstein Performance Hall
Joe Jackson + Band: Hope and Fury Tour 2026
May 16 | Kodak Center
May 20 | West Herr Auditorium Theatre/RBTL
Eastman- Rochester New Horizons Green Band and Symphonic Band Spring Concert
May 20 | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
The Bibbidi-Bop Royal Princess Brunch
May 24 | OFC Creations Theatre
Starting May 27 | Geva Theatre
Hitting The Field & Course
Back to Top of ListHome Games: May 1-3, 12-17, 25, 27-31 | ESL Ball Park
Home Games: May 9 & 23 | Rochester Community Sports Complex
Eat & Drink
Back to Top of ListThroughout May | Various Locations
Throughout May | Dinosaur BBQ
May 1 | Seneca Park Zoo
May 2 | Unwine'd
May 2 | Vine & Tap
Cinco De Mayo Food & Beer Pairing
May 5 | Sager-Stoneyard Pub
Date Nite: Lovers & Friends Edition
May 5 | Island Wraps
May 8 | Italian American Community Center
May 13 | Unwine'd
May 16 | Rochester Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
Lilac Table Tasting Collective
May 16 | Rochester Lilac Festival
May 21 & 28 | Casa Larga Vineyards
May 23 | Various Locations
May 23 & 24 | Genesee Country Village & Museum
May 26 | Island Wraps
May 30 | Island Wraps
Mom's Special Day
Back to Top of ListMay 9 | Woodcliff Hotel & Spa
May 9 | Hochstein Performance Hall
May 9 & 10 | Scents By Design
Wind Beneath My Wings: A Mother's Day Cabaret
May 9 & 10 | OFC Creations Theatre
May 10 | Seneca Park Zoo
May 10 | Casa Larga Winery
May 10 | 20 Deep Winery
May 10 | Horizon's Modern Wine Bar
May 10 | Iron Smoke Distillery
May 10 | Nolan's on Canandaigua Lake
May 10 | Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Site
May 10 | La Bola
May 10 | Genesee Country Village & Museum
Discover even more Mother's Day events here.
There are so many things to see, do and experience when you visit Rochester this May! Looking for even more inspiration? Discover things to do this spring in Rochester here. Whatever you choose to do, share your adventures in Rochester with us using #VisitROC!
