Whether you have been a lifelong resident or you’re just visiting, there is a plethora of fun things to do in Rochester NY. Below is a brief introduction to just some of the options before you.
Music
Rochester boasts a number of excellent venues for music lovers of many different tastes and genres. There is of course the aesthetically stunning Eastman Theatre, home of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the adjoining Kilbourn Hall, where chamber music concerts and recitals are given throughout the year. If you are partial to independent rock music, you may want to consider venues like Abilene Bar and Lounge, Skylark Lounge, and of course the Bug Jar, which features live music nearly every night of the week. For musical acts that are decidedly more mainstream, there is Water Street Music Hall.
Art
While the city boasts the renowned George Eastman House and the affiliated Dryden Theatre, where classic and obscure films are regularly shown, there is also a rich community of local art institutions and galleries offering activities in Rochester NY. For example, as its name suggests, the Rochester Contemporary Art Center in the heart of the city routinely produces exhibits of works by current artists, many of them local. There are also local galleries like 1975 Gallery and the art space known as The Yards, where Rochester artists can present their works. Many local artists maintain studios at The Hungerford Building, and on First Fridays these studios are open to members of the public who wish to view the works and speak with the artists.
Sports and the Outdoors
If you are a sports fan and you’re looking for stuff to do in Rochester, the minor league baseball Rochester Red Wings and the National Women’s Soccer League’s WNY Flash play during the spring and summer, while the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans play during the fall and winter. If you are a lover of the outdoors, there are numerous parks to enjoy, including Cobb’s Hill Park and Highland Park.
If you have additional questions, comments, or tips regarding fun things to do in Rochester NY, be sure to share them in the section below.