ANNUAL MANUAL '09: 2009 Festival Guide 

[ EVENTS ] COMPILED BY LEAH KRAUS

For a city its size Rochester is jam-packed with events. Once the weather warms up we tend to go a little crazy, and nary a weekend goes by between April and October when there isn't some fabulous festival bringing thousands of people to the streets.

            Below is a list of many of the major events of 2009. For a complete events calendar, check out City Newspaper every Wednesday, or visit rochestercitynewspaper.com/events and use our searchable online calendar.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

March 14

East Ave/E Main St, Downtown

Parade, family festival

234-5167, rochesterparade.com

Deaf Rochester Film Festival

March 26-29

Dryden Theatre, Little Theater, etc.

Works by deaf filmmakers, featuring deaf issues

Deafrochesterfilmfestival.org

Rochester International Film Festival

April 23-25

Dryden Theatre, George Eastman House

Short-film festival

rochesterfilmfest.org, 234-1313

Rochester Erotic Arts Festival

April 24-26

Clarion Riverside Hotel

Artistic expressions celebrating sensuality/sexuality

rochestereroticartfest.com, 529-5885

Sheep Sheering Festival

April 25

Springdale Farm, Spencerport

Demos, wool cleaning, music

Springdalefarms.org, 349-2090

Lilac Festival

May 8-17

Highland Park

500 varieties of lilacs, live music, activities, food

lilacfestival.com

RochesterHighFalls International Film Festival

May 13-18

Little Theatre, Dryden Theatre, etc.

Screenings of more than 80 films (full-length, shorts, documentaries)

rochestersmoviefest.com

Memorial Day Parade

May 25

Downtown Rochester

Parade

ci.rochester.ny.us, 544-2839

Greek Festival

May 28-31

Greek Orthodox Church, East Avenue

Food, dancing, cultural presentations

rochestergreekfestival.org, 244-3377

East End Nightlife Festival

June 5, July 10, August 14

East End District

Bars, clubs, restaurants open onto the street; music and beer

rochesterseastend.com, 234-0630

FairportCanal Days

June 5-7

Main Street, Fairport

Arts & crafts, food, music, family activities

fairportcanaldays.com

Square Fair/Aberdeen Street Festival

June 6

Aberdeen Street

Drumming, storytelling, singing and music

328-6571

Spencerport Firemen's Carnival

June 10-14

Spencerport

Kiddie parade, grand parade, amusement rides

vil.spencerport.ny.us, 352-4771

Rochester International Jazz Festival

June 12-20

Many venues in Rochester's east end

More than 250 shows, featuring local, national, and international acts

rochesterjazz.com, 454-2060

Juneteenth Celebration

June 13

Susan B. Anthony Square

Celebration of the ending of slavery

454-2680, 200-9119

Maplewood Rose Festival

June 19-21

Maplewood Rose Garden, Lake Ave.

Roses, Genesee Gorge tours, live music

maplewood.org, 428-6767

RochesterHarbor and Carousel Festival

June 26-28

OntarioBeachPark

Arts and crafts, food, activities, music

cityofrochester.gov, 428-6770, 865-3320

Taste of Rochester

June 26-28

Main Street, Downtown Rochester

Live music, wine tasting, food sampling

tasteofrochester.net, 730-6104

July 4 Fireworks

July 4

Downtown Rochester

Fireworks display

cityofrochester.gov, 428-6697

Sterling Renaissance Festival

Weekends, July 4-August 16

Sterling, NY

"Olde school" food, drink, performances, crafts

sterlingfestival.com

Brockport Merchants Sidewalk Sale & Street Fair

July 9-11

Main Street/Market Street, Brockport

Shopping, entertainment, food

637-3340

Hill Cumorah Pageant

July 10-11 & 14-18

Hill Cumorah, near Palmyra

Theatrical retelling of the Book of Mormon

hillcumorah.org/Pageant, 315-597-5851

Corn Hill Arts Festival

July 11-12

Corn Hill neighborhood

Hundreds of craftspeople, live music, family events, food

cornhill.org, 262-3142

Rochester Jewish Film Festival

July 12-20

Little Theatre, Dryden Theatre, JCC

Movies by Jewish filmmakers/of Jewish interest

rjff.org, 461-2000 x235

Monroe County Fair

July 15-19

MonroeCountyFairgrounds, E. Henrietta Rd.

Agricultural exhibits, animals, rides, food

mcfair.com, 334-4000

Gay Pride Celebration

July 17-19

Various, including GeneseeValleyPark

Upstate New York's largest, with a picnic and Pride Parade

gayalliance.org

Boulderfest

July 24-26

Boulder Coffee, Alexander St

Outdoor music and vending

boulderfestival.com, 454-7140

Puerto Rican Festival

July 24-26

Frontier Field

Latino music, food, parade

prfestival.com, 234-7660

10 Ugly Men Festival

July 25

GeneseeValleyPark

Music, food, drinks, charity sporting events, kids activities

tenuglymen.com, 943-1543

Main Game

July 25

Main Street

Youth-oriented games and activities

428-6767, cityofrochester.gov

SpencerportCanal Days

July 25-26

Along the Erie Canal, Spencerport

Arts & crafts, entertainment, food, canoe race

vil.spencerport.ny.us, 349-1331

Waterfront Art Festival

July 25-26

KershawPark, Canandaigua

Arts & crafts, kids' activities

waterfrontartfestival.com, 671-9102

Polish Festival

August 7-8

St. Stanislaus Church, Hudson Ave.

Polish food, Polish music, dancing, crafts, cultural festivities

polishartsfest.org, 467-3068

African/African-American Festival

August 1

GeneseeValleyPark

Food, entertainment, African drum & dance, arts & crafts

rochesterabove.org, 576-2471

Park Ave Summer Arts Fest

August 1-2

Park Avenue

Arts & crafts, live entertainment, food, family activities

rochesterevents.com

Northeast Naturist Festival

August 4-9

EmpireHavenNudistPark

Workshops, sports dances, spiritual activities

244-1219, naturistrochester.org

German Fest

August 7-9

GatesMemorial Park

German food, drink, dancing, entertainment

rochestergerman.com

RBBC Love 'N' Gospel Fest

August 8

GrandAvenuePark

Live gospel music, food

262-8172

Carifest & Parade

August 8

Main St., downtown Rochester

Caribbean-themed festival, parade

rwifo.com, 234-0909

Brockport Summer Arts Fest

August 8-9

Main Street, Brockport

Food, music, rubber duck derby, dragon boat races

rochesterevents.com, 473-4482

Tour de New York

August 8-13

Downtown Rochester, and region

Various bike racing events

tourdenewyork.com

Clarissa St. Reunion

August 15

Clarissa and surrounding streets

Neighborhood reunion, parade, jazz/gospel/r&b music

234-4177

Sankofa Music, Dance & Arts Festival

August 21-22

Village Gate

Poetry, Drumming, Music, Dance, Kids' activities

442-9892, 271-7010

New YorkState Festival of Balloons

September 3-7

Dansville

Hot air balloon rides, food, entertainment, music, kids' rides

nysfob.com

Labor Day Parade

September 7

Downtown

Parade

263-2650, ci.rochester.ny.us

Hang Around Victor Day

September 5

Main Street, Victor

Arts & crafts, food

742-1476

Victor Fest

September 5

Fireman's Field, Victor

Live Music, food, fireworks

742-0140

Clothesline Arts Festival

September 12-13

MemorialArtGallery

Renowned arts & crafts, live entertainment

276-8900, mag.rochester.edu

RochesterMarathon

September 13

Downtown Rochester

26.2-mile course through the city

rochestermarathon.com

Oktoberfest

September 18-20, 25-27

CampEastman, DurandEastmanPark

Echt Deutsch music, dancing, food, beer

irondequoit.org

Purple Foot Festival

September 20

Casa Larga Vineyards, Fairport

Grape stomping, live music, wine tasting, kids' activities

casalarga.com, 223-4210

Festival of Food

September 21

Public Market

Samples from area restaurants, wineries, farmers, specialty food sellers

festivaloffood.org

Harvest Festival

September 26

Springdale Farm, Spencerport

Oepn-hearth cooking, fishing, petting zoo

Springdalefarms.org, 349-2090

Naples Grape Festival

September 26-27

Naples, NY

Grape pie contest, arts & crafts, family entertainment, live music

naplesvalleyny.com

Harvest Jamboree & Country Fair

September 27

Rochester Public Market

Seasonal produce, hayrides, entertainment

428-6755, cityofrochester.gov

Hilton Apple Fest

October 3-4

Hilton

Arts & crafts, car show, apple wares, pie contest

hiltonapplefest.org, 392-7773

RochesterRiver Romance/Head of the Genesee Regatta

October 9-11

GeneseeRiver from the Erie Canal to LakeOntario

Entertainment, lighthouse and boat tours, hikes, largest regatta in the Northeast

cityofrochester.gov, 428-6767

ImageOut Film Festival

October 9-18

Dryden Theatre, Little Theatre

Gay & lesbian film festival

imageout.org

Jewish Book Festival

October 25-November 1

Jewish Community Center

Books by Jewish authors, books of Jewish interests.

JCCRochester.org, 461-2000

Liberty Pole Lighting Holiday Event

December 5

Liberty Pole

Holiday events for families

cityofrochester.gov, 428-6697

Rochester New Year's Eve Celebration

December 31

Main Street

Family-friendly events to count down to 20010; fireworks at midnight

cityofrochester.gov, 428-6697