College life will probably keep you pretty busy. But there’s lots going on in and around Rochester all year long, so you’ll want to put aside the books every once in a while and get off campus. Below you’ll find a list of major upcoming events in the Rochester area that should interest college students, and major campus events for most of Greater Rochester’s colleges and universities.
For more events, make sure to pick up City Newspaper every Wednesday, check out the searchable online calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com, or sign up for City’s Weekend Planner, a free e-newsletter packed with events every Thursday. And please keep in mind that dates below are subject to change.
August
August 24
August 28-29
This festival features live music from 22 local bands and plenty of great food.
Littlebridge Lane, Village of Fairport.
August 28- September 19
Promoting a sense of belonging on campus, this series of events brings together staff, faculty, and students in a series of events.
August 31
September 4-7
Festival of hot air balloons running throughout the Labor Day weekend.
Dansville Municipal Airport, Dansville.
September 7
With a theme of “Solidarity: Together We Can,” the parade celebrates the American labor movement with talented local marching bands.
Downtown Rochester
September 11-12, 18-19
Two weekends of wiener schnitzel, lederhosen, and over-sized steins. Camp Eastman, Durand Eastman Park.
September 11-13
Whether you’re a diehard anime fan or the casual Trekkie, come get your nerd on here.
Main Street Armory, 900 E. Main Street.
September 12-13
Entering its 59th year, the city’s longest running art festival features more than 400 local artists.
Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Avenue
mag.rochester.edu/clothesline.
September 12-13
Prepare for a flannel-draped event featuring log-rolling, chainsaw carving, tree falling, and plenty of arts and crafts.
Macedon Center Fireman’s Field, Canandaigua Road.
September 13
Celebrate the grape harvest by stomping some to a pulp yourself.
Casa Larga Vineyard and Winery, Fairport.
September 17-26
Sit on the cutting edge of art and theater with this 10 day celebration.
Downtown Rochester
September 19-20
Festival featuring 120 craft booths, 70 market vendors, and all kinds of food alongside a variety of special events.
Village of Palmyra.
September 20
Test your endurance with this 26.2-mile marathon and 13.1 mile half-marathon through the city.
September 21
Foodlink’s Festival of Food offers the chance to sample over 100 different local eateries.
Rochester Public Market, 280 North Union Street.
September 25
September 26-27
Indulge in all things grape, alongside live music and entertainment.
Naples Village, State Route 21, Naples.
September 26-17
Get the best of the harvest fruits, alongside an arts and crafts festival.
Gaslight Village, Wyoming, NY.
October 3-4
Celebrate the autumn colors with a weekend of food, football, and more.
Town of Cohoctan
October 3-4
Anything and everything apples, including arts and crafts, a pie contest, and a car festival.
Town of Hilton.
October 7
October 8-11
Alumni weekend with guest lectures, performances, seminars, and more.
October 8-18
LGBT film festival showing features, shorts, and documentaries.
Dryden Theatre, Little Theatre, and other venues.
October 11-14
October 12-13
October 13-18
Deck yourself out, or just check out the flashiest of Rochester threads. Featuring fashion shows, a boutique crawl and a clothing swap.
October 15-18
Homecoming weekend with live music, entertainment, and reunions.
October 16-17
November 2-16
Featuring lectures, readings, and author visits by Jewish writers and celebrations of Jewish culture.
Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Avenue.
November 25-29
November 26-27
December 11
December 14
December 18
December 19
December 23
January 11
January 13
January 14
January 25
January 25
January 19
January 19-31
This annual celebration will feature marshmallows roasting, a meet and greet with Huskies, and an ice-shaving demonstration. The weekend will also feature a student talent show and a featured comedian.
February 13-21
February 28-March 6
March 5-14
March 7-11
March 12-21
March 14-18
March 21-27
March 24-27
March 26-April 4
April 15-17
Student group performances, athletic events, Communal Principles Day, and Dandelion Day are features of the University of Rochester’s Springfest.
April 27
April 28
Featuring scavenger hunts, musical performances, dances and more.
May 2
May 3
May 7
May 7-8
May 13
May 13–15
May 14
May 15
May 20
May 20
May 21
This article appears in Aug 19-25, 2015.
