A Main Street America community · Rochester, NH
Rochester Main Street is a volunteer-driven nonprofit keeping downtown Rochester, New Hampshire a place where people gather, shop, dine, and celebrate - today and for generations to come.
Central Square, planting day
Bigfoot sighting
PorchFest downtown
Happening right now
Own a business downtown - storefront, home-based, or a one-person operation? Take five minutes to add yourself to the BOOMS survey. The data helps Rochester Main Street and other local nonprofits win grant funding, and it helps businesses make the case for investment downtown.
Take the survey (5 minutes) ↗Happening now
June 26 – August 31 · Free
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.
Next: Jul 25
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 →
Aug 8 · Evening at The Garage
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
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 →
Oct 3 · 11 AM – 3 PM
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 →
Wyndotte Alley deck, built 2023
The Main Street Approach
Sponsorships start at just $75, and every donation - weekly, monthly, or once a year - goes straight into events, beautification, and grants for downtown Rochester.
Downtown Rochester offers year-round free events like PorchFest, the Bigfoot Scavenger Hunt, and the Festival of Trees, plus the Rochester Opera House, Rochester Museum of Fine Arts, public art installations, the Cocheco Riverwalk, and dozens of local shops and restaurants.
Rochester Main Street is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit that revitalizes downtown Rochester, NH through community events, beautification projects, historic preservation, grants, and small business support, following the national Main Street America four-point approach.
Donate weekly, monthly, or bi-annually; volunteer for events and cleanups; or become a sponsor - opportunities start at just $75. Every dollar goes directly into downtown projects, events, and grants.
