From the Community

Rochester, N.Y. — October 16, 2026 — Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) is partnering with the Father Tracy Advocacy Center to help eligible customers enroll in affordability programs on Monday, October 19 from 1 – 4 p.m. These programs include the Energy Affordability Program (EAP) and the Enhanced Energy Affordability Program (EEAP). Company representatives will be on hand to provide additional resources to help customers manage their energy use ahead of the winter heating s

The Rochester Public Library’s Lyell Branch hosted local artists today for an unveiling of a mural on the building’s western wall. This mural is one of four new community murals installed across Rochester and the surrounding region, funded by a New York State Council on the Arts grant through its Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals (CHARM) initiative.   The grant was administered through WALL\THERAPY, where Roc Paint Division alumna and lead staff membe

The City of Rochester is inviting members of the public to participate in a Person in Crisis Team (PIC) Community Engagement Session from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the Stardust Ballroom, 41 Backus St. The session will provide residents, crisis service advocates, human-service organizations, and other stakeholders with an opportunity to share thoughts about the first five years of PIC Team services and learn about plans to add peer navigators to the team under

The City of Rochester, MVP Health Care, and National Fitness Campaign (NFC), today unveiled a new Fitness Court®, located in Genesee Valley Park, nearby the playground at 1316 Genesee St. The Fitness Court is an outdoor gym that lets users leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations. Created for adults of all abilities aged 14+, the Fitness Court workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels and allow participants to move at their

Fairport, N.Y. – It’s often said that the best things in life are free and on Thursday, October 15, Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, is giving community members the purrrfect opportunity to experience love, comfort, and companionship during Free Cat Day. Potential adopters are asked to bring their own cat carrier for transportation. For one day only, adoption fees for cats will be completely waived at both Lollypop Farm’s main campus in Fairport and its

Rochester, N.Y.- The new RIJF Innovation Jazz Series, a seven-concert series presented by the Rochester Regional Health Rochester International Jazz Festival and M&T Bank, starts this Thursday, October 13, with New York Voices, the Final Tour. The series will be held at The Theater at Innovation Square, 131 Chestnut Street in downtown Rochester, a popular Rochester International Jazz Festival venue, bringing the energy, artistry, and excitement of the annual June Festival to

Rochester, NY - Vendor spaces are still available for Holidays at the Market. This seasonal favorite returns to the City of Rochester Public Market Sunday, Nov. 29 and Sunday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a special evening Market on Thursday, Dec. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. Vendors can apply for stalls in the covered outdoor sheds online at www.cityofrochester.gov/holidaysatmarket, or in person at the Market Office, located in the center of the Rochester Public Market at 2

Members of the City of Rochester’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will host its final in-person budget outreach activity from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St. The City also encourages residents to participate in other community-input opportunities embedded in the City’s annual budget process: an online survey and a Telephone Town Hall community forum. The online survey, available at www.cityofrochester.gov/budget

Rochester, NY - The Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester (MAG) will begin welcoming visitors free of charge on May 1, 2027, marking the official launch of its Free For All, Forever initiative. This landmark commitment to eliminating the cost of general admission will broaden access to art and cultural education throughout Rochester, signaling a return to MAG’s founding vision: a space for everyone in the community to enjoy. “May 1 will be a remarkable day for

The Great New York State Flea ends its 2026 season at Rochester’s Public Market, 280 N. Union St., on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a Halloween-themed event, a festive fall market filled with spooky-season spirit, creative costumes, autumn vibes, and playful Halloween energy. Attendees of the Great New York State Flea will also find a diverse array of vendors selling new and used clothing, tools, toys, home décor, sporting goods, collectibles, art, antiques,

Rochester, NY – Another year, another record crowd at the 5th annual ROC With Your Hands career exploration event. Students and educators from more than 55 schools across the city of Rochester, Monroe County and Finger Lakes region attended the event at the Rochester Community Sports Complex today to learn about in- demand careers that do not require a college education. ROC With Your Hands is the region’s largest single day career exploration event. The Rochester Technology

Rochester, N.Y. — Monroe Community Hospital (MCH) will host its a Boo Centennial Spooktacular from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, welcoming residents, families, staff and community members to a free, family friendly Halloween celebration. The event, held as part of MCH’s yearlong celebration of its 200th anniversary, will feature candy, games, costumes, music and Halloween-themed activities at the 435 East Henrietta Road facility. “Boo-Centennial Spooktacular is a wonderful

The City of Rochester, in collaboration with the Monroe County Board of Elections, will host a series of voter registration and education events at five City R-Centers during National Voter Education Week, Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. 9. Board of Elections staff and volunteers will be available to provide educational information on such topics as the democratic process, voter registration, polling site locations, reading a ballot, making an action plan to vote, and

Rochester, N.Y. — Walking For Rochester (WFR) has officially completed its 2026 Community Cleanup season, closing out the organization’s largest and most impactful year to date. In total, WFR completed 153 cleanup events across the entire City of Rochester, welcomed 1,126 attendees, and removed exactly 12,522.3 pounds of litter. WFR removed more litter in 2026 than its previous cleanup seasons combined since its founding in 2020. “Our growth is proof that there is a movement

Members of the City of Rochester’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will continue the in-person budget outreach activity series from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Westside Farmers Market, St. Monica’s Church parking lot, 831 Genesee St. The series of in-person budget input sessions will continue through Oct. 10 at several upcoming public events where community members can provide feedback on budget priorities. Following Wednesday’s in-person budget outreach event,

Families and community members are invited Saturday to celebrate the season at the Foodlink Community Farm Rochester, NY – The Foodlink Community Farm will host its 5th annual Fall Festival this Saturday. Families and community members are invited to enjoy free food and beverages, including cider and donuts, as well as games, pumpkins, giveaways, and opportunities to learn more about the farm. This year’s festival will celebrate the first full year of growing at the Foodlink

Seneca Park Zoo will celebrate its fourth annual Deaf Culture Awareness Day this Saturday, with a full day of programming including American Sign Language (ASL)- interpreted programs and activities. In collaboration with the Rochester School for the Deaf, and Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID), the Zoo will be offering inclusive programming including American Sign Language (ASL)-interpreted programs, interactive exhibits,

Rochester, NY- Monroe County and the Office of Traffic Safety are recognizing October as National Pedestrian Safety Month by hosting a Safe Streets Together event from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, outside the Genesee Valley Field House Lodge in Genesee Valley Park. The Monroe County Office of Traffic Safety is inviting residents to join community partners, pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and other community members at the event where they will have the opportun

Rochester, N.Y. - The holidays will arrive early in downtown Rochester this year as the eighth annual City of Rochester Roc Holiday Village, presented by ESL Federal Credit Union, opens on Black Friday, Nov. 27, for the first time, kicking off 16 days of holiday festivities. Co-owners Jenna Manetta-Knauf, Kelli Marsh and Sean McCarthy announced details of the 2026 season at a news conference today. The free, family-friendly winter festival returns to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

The International Plaza, 828 North Clinton Ave., will bring its 2026 Events season to a close with two exciting celebrations in October. The Latin American Festival: Tribute to Selena, on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 5 p.m., will showcase music, dance, cuisine, and art from across Latin America, featuring Alma de Mexico. The Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration will close the season on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 1 to 5 p.m., with performances, recognition of community partners, and a