2026 Calendar

Events in downtown Rochester

Fifteen community events a year, almost all of them free - from a downtown-wide music festival to a Bigfoot scavenger hunt. This is what a living Main Street looks like.

Families at a Kids Summer Series teddy bear clinic in downtown Rochester

Coming up

A family finding a purple Bigfoot cutout hidden beside a tree in downtown Rochester

Jun 26 – Aug 31 · All summer, any time

Bigfoot Scavenger Hunt

All summer long - June 26 through August 31, 2026 - whimsical Bigfoot cutouts hide throughout downtown Rochester, each with a challenge to complete. Snap a photo, email your entry, and win raffle prizes including gift cards to downtown businesses. Free for all ages.

Event details →

Children enjoying entertainment at the Kids Summer Series in downtown Rochester

Next: Jul 25

Kids Summer Series

A free, family-friendly summer series in downtown Rochester from June 28 to August 19, 2026. Five themed days - Bubble Bash, Teddy Bear Clinic, Carnival, Legends & Lore, and Dino Discovery - with live entertainment by Sages Entertainment, vendors, and hands-on activities.

Event details →

Guilty of Giving fundraiser participants in themed jail costumes at The Garage in Rochester

Aug 8 · Evening at The Garage

Guilty of Giving

Rochester Main Street's jailbreak-themed fundraiser returns August 8, 2026 at The Garage. Local "do-gooders" get locked up for charity - donate to post their bail or keep them behind bars a little longer. Live music, themed fun, and food and drinks available from the bar.

Event details →

Sep 12 · 10 am - 12:30

Amazing Main Street Challenge

The Amazing Main Street Challenge takes place Saturday, September 12, 2026. Teams of two will race through Downtown Rochester solving riddles, completing puzzles, and tackling fun challenges at local businesses while competing for prizes and bragging rights.

Event details →

A band performing on an outdoor stage at PorchFest in downtown Rochester

Sep 27 · All afternoon, downtown-wide

PorchFest 2026

PorchFest returns to downtown Rochester on September 27, 2026 - a free outdoor music festival with more than 30 bands of every genre performing on stages throughout the district. Stroll downtown, hear a little of everything, and support music education. Produced by Rochester Performance & Arts Center.

Event details →

Children decorating pumpkins at the Halloween Spooktacular pumpkin patch in downtown Rochester

Oct 3 · 11 AM – 3 PM

Halloween Spooktacular & Pumpkin Patch

The Halloween Spooktacular takes over downtown Rochester on October 3, 2026 from 11 AM to 3 PM. Kids pick and decorate a free pumpkin at the Pumpkin Patch, enjoy trunk-or-treat with local businesses, and catch entertainment from Sages Entertainment. Free; donations welcome.

Event details →

Costumed dancers performing in the Zombie Walk through downtown Rochester at night

Oct 23 · 7 PM

Zombie Walk

On October 23, 2026 at 7 PM, local dance studios shamble through downtown Rochester dancing to "Thriller." The walk starts at Citizens Bank, moves down North Main Street, and ends at Central Street. Zombies of all kinds are welcome to join the front of the parade. Free to watch and join.

Event details →

Families in Halloween costumes trick-or-treating at downtown Rochester businesses

Oct 24 · 12 – 3 PM

Downtown Trick-or-Treat

On Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 12 to 3 PM, downtown Rochester businesses hand out candy to costumed kids. Pick up a trick-or-treat bag and the list of participating businesses at Central Square, then work your way down Main Street. Free and family-friendly.

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Santa greeting families in downtown Rochester on Shop Small Saturday

Nov 28 · All day downtown

Shop Small Saturday with Santa

On November 28, 2026, Santa comes to downtown Rochester to kick off the holiday season while local shops run Shop Small Saturday specials. Bring Santa a homemade cookie to enter a raffle for a $25 gift certificate to the downtown business of your choice.

Event details →

Visitors browsing rows of decorated Christmas trees at the Rochester Festival of Trees at Studley's Flower Gardens

Dec 2 – Dec 4 · Thu 5–8 PM · Fri 6–8 PM · Sat 1–6 PM

Festival of Trees

Rochester Main Street's biggest holiday fundraiser runs December 2–4, 2026 in partnership with Studley's Flower Gardens. Stroll a forest of decorated trees, bid in the silent auction, shop the holiday vendor market, visit Santa, and enter raffles to win a fully decorated tree.

Event details →

A custom elf cutout hidden in a downtown Rochester shop window for Elf Off The Shelf

Dec 4 – Dec 19 · Finale with Santa 11 AM – 2 PM at Central Square

Elf Off The Shelf

Part of the Santa Series, Elf Off The Shelf hides elves throughout downtown Rochester in early December. Find elves, fill out your passport, and trade it in with Santa at Central Square for raffle tickets - plus free photos with Santa and the Grinch at the finale.

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Annual events — dates to be announced

These return to downtown Rochester every year. Next dates are confirmed a few months ahead — each page is kept up to date as soon as they are.

Each August · dates TBA

Downtown Rochester Pub Crawl

The Downtown Rochester Pub Crawl is a Rochester Main Street event that sends participants on a walking route through downtown Rochester's independent bars, taprooms, and cocktail lounges in a single evening. It has run as a summer event. The next crawl has not been scheduled.

Event details →

Lilac Club Casino and Rochester Main Street charitable gaming partnership graphic

Each March · dates TBA

Charitable Gaming at Lilac Club Casino

For ten days each March, Rochester Main Street partners with Lilac Club Casino and shares 35% of gross gaming revenue with another local nonprofit. Play, enjoy a night out, and fund downtown grants, events, and beautification projects at the same time.

Event details →

Volunteers spreading mulch and cleaning up downtown Rochester during Rochester Cares day

Each April · dates TBA

Rochester Cares Community Cleanup

Rochester Cares is our annual spring cleanup on April 18, 2026. Volunteers gather downtown for coffee and donuts, then spread mulch, rake, and clear debris to get downtown Rochester ready for summer - followed by a thank-you meal from local restaurants.

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Crowds exploring downtown Rochester businesses during a community event

Each May · dates TBA

Free Comic Book Day

Free Comic Book Day comes to downtown Rochester on May 2, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Collect free comics at participating businesses, hunt for exclusives, and explore downtown - costumes encouraged. Presented by Rochester Opera House with support from Rochester Main Street.

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Community members gathered for the Rochester Main Street annual meeting

Each May · dates TBA

Annual Meeting & Meet-and-Greet

Rochester Main Street's Annual Meeting on May 6, 2026 at the Governor's Inn brings together downtown businesses, volunteers, city leadership, and supporters to celebrate the past year, share plans for the year ahead, and enjoy great food and company. RSVP required.

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Star Spangled Stroll patriotic community walk graphic for downtown Rochester

Each July · dates TBA

Star Spangled Stroll

On July 13, Rochester's patriotic community walk steps off at 3:15 PM from the North Main Street lot next to Citizens Bank, travels through downtown along Wakefield Street, and ends at Spaulding High School. Red, white, and blue encouraged - pets welcome on the stroll.

Event details →

Thank you to our Bedrock Partners

All partners →

Rochester Trustees
of the Trust