From the Community

The Great New York State Flea continues at the City of Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, July 12, with ROC-Chella – a festival-inspired market capturing the creative, stylish, and music-driven energy of Rochester’s summer scene. After this festive celebration, there will be three additional Sunday fleas with different themes: Sunday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Back to School Sunday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – College Day S

Rochester, NY — July 2026 The sights, sounds, and flavors of summer are returning to downtown Rochester as Ribs & Rhythm comes back for its second year on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Parcel 5. Ribs & Rhythm is a celebration where great food, incredible music, and community come together for one unforgettable day. Designed to unite people from all walks of life, the festival features some of the region's best BBQ vendors, live entertainment, local businesses, and family-friendly

Rochester, NY — July 2026 The Black Culture Festival (BCF) is proud to announce the return of its 7th Annual Black Culture Festival, taking place Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Parcel 5 in Downtown Rochester. This year's theme, "Homecoming," celebrates the powerful connection between education, school pride, and Black culture. Attendees are encouraged to represent their alma mater—from Rochester City Schools and surrounding districts to HBCUs, colleges, universities, trade schoo

The City of Rochester is inviting residents to share their thoughts on improving traffic safety by participating in a new online survey on automated traffic enforcement. The survey is now available at www.cityofrochester.gov/ROCVisionZero, and will remain open for three weeks. The online survey builds on a successful series of public meetings held this spring as part of the City's ROC Vision Zero initiative. More than 200 residents attended meetings across Rochester and sha

Rochester, NY – Foodlink’s signature fundraiser, the Festival of Food, will return on Monday, Sept. 14 at the Rochester Public Market, bringing together the region’s top restaurants, wineries, breweries, bakeries, caterers and more for an unforgettable evening in support of Foodlink’s mission. Tickets are now on sale! As the largest independent tasting event in the region, the Festival of Food offers an all-you-can-eat-and-drink experience featuring dozens of local establishm

Rochester, NY — After yesterday’s severe thunderstorms caused downed trees, power lines, and other hazards, County Executive Adam Bello urges residents to use caution when traveling this morning as cleanup and restoration efforts are still ongoing. The Monroe County Emergency Operations Center (the EOC) is continuing to monitor power outages, traffic incidents, and 9-1-1 call volumes. The EOC is actively working with utilities, 9-1-1, and local law enforcement and fire agenci

Rochester City Hall, Neighborhood Service Centers, R-Centers, Rochester Public Libraries, the Rochester Traffic Violations Agency, and the Honorable Loretta C. Scott Center for Human Services administrative office building at 57 St. Paul St. will be closed beginning Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. Rochester Animal Services will be closed on Friday, July 3, and will reopen with regular business hours from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. The City

Rochester, NY — In response to forecasted excessive heat, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announced extended operating hours at Ontario Beach Park to provide residents with additional opportunities to stay cool and safe. On Tuesday, June 30, Wednesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 2, the following facilities will have extended hours: • Ontario Beach Park swimming – 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.* • Spray park at Ontario Beach Park – 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. *Swimming at Ontario Beach P

Rochester, NY- On Thursday, June 25, 2026, 37-year-old Terrance Wright pled guilty to Manslaughter in the 1st Degree for killing Richard Gollwitzer. At approximately 11:00 p.m. on May 8, 2025, Rochester Police Officers responded to an isolated area of Orchard Street for the report of an injured person. Upon arrival, first responders discovered Richard Gollwitzer deceased from a gunshot wound to the head. Following a thorough investigation, Rochester Police Department detectiv

The Pont de Rennes, spanning the Genesee River Gorge from Browns Race to Cataract Street, is now open to pedestrian traffic following a temporary closure to replace the bridge deck coating. This work is part of the Pont de Rennes and Browns Race Rehabilitation Project. Please visit www.cityofrochester.gov/StreetBeat/ for periodic updates.

The International Plaza, 828 North Clinton Ave, invites the community to the first of a monthly series of weekday evening Happy Hour events, on Thursday, June 25, from 5 to 9 p.m. Plaza Happy Hours will offer live music along with food and drink specials, with Frankie’s Latin Jazz Trio performing on June 25. After the June Happy Hour, the series will continue with additional events from 5 to 9 p.m. on the following dates: Thursday, July 30 Thursday, Aug. 27 Thursday, Sept

The Board will host a monthly Speaker Forum to receive comments from students, parents, community, and staff. Forums will be held at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise noted). Please go to www.rcsdk12.org/calendar for the most up to date schedule. Only District students, parents, staff, and City of Rochester residents may speak or submit comments. Non-residents may do so only with approval from the forum chair. For more information about Spe

Rochester, N.Y. - Deaf Refugee Advocacy (DRA) is now offering free, one-on-one digital literacy instruction for deaf community members in the Greater Rochester area, made possible by a $25,000 grant from the Deaf Organizations Fund (DOF). Delivered entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), the instruction covers the technology skills most needed in daily life, including navigating online banking safely, spotting scams, and sharing and backing up photos. Scheduling is flexibl

Rochester, NY - On June 16, 2026, Mayor Malik D. Evans, County Executive Adam J. Bello, and Rochester City School District (RCSD) Superintendent Dr. Eric Jay Rosser honored top scholars from the district by unveiling large window displays at the Central Library celebrating their achievements. Each large, banner-sized poster features a photo of an RCSD valedictorian or senior scholar and is accompanied by a secondary banner recognizing the school and all the top scholars in th

Who: Students, families, staff, and community leaders What: Juneteenth Celebration When: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 5:30 p.m. Where: RCSD Central Office131 West Broad Street, Rochester, NY 14614 Details: The District’s Juneteenth gathering is dedicated to honoring history and freedom, celebrating culture, and building strong community connections to ensure a brighter future for all students and families. Additionally, the celebration elevates the stories, contributio

Rochester, NY - Mayor Malik D. Evans invites the community to join in the City’s Juneteenth celebration 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, June 18, at Austin Steward Plaza, located along the Genesee Riverway Trail on State Street between E. Main and Andrews Streets. Representatives from the City of Rochester Black Heritage Committee, Monroe County, the Juneteenth Festival, and the Juneteenth 5K will join Mayor Evans at 11 a.m. to kick off the festivities with a ceremonial flag ra

Concerts held outside on July 1, July 15, and August 19 Rochester, N.Y., June 16, 2026—The George Eastman Museum is thrilled to announce the return of the beloved Garden Vibes Concert Series this summer, celebrating New York’s vibrant music scene with performances by bands from across the state. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Museum’s Schuyler C. Townson Terrace Garden and the historic mansion, this outdoor series invites music lovers to the East Lawn to enjoy three

Rochester, NY — Monroe County Executive Bello is pleased to announce the second STOP-DWI Media Contest. A partnership between Monroe County Clerk Jamie Romeo and the STOP-DWI and Office of Traffic Safety teams, the contest gives students the opportunity to positively impact traffic safety. The contest will coincide with the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” a period from Memorial Day through Labor Day that sees a sharp increase in fatal crashes involving teen drivers. Engaging

Rochester, NY – Action for a Better Community (ABC) will celebrate the accomplishments of Adult Education Services (AES) graduates during its Graduation Ceremony on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at 400 West Avenue in Rochester. ABC’s AES program helps adults earn a New York State High School Equivalency diploma through four pathways — GED, NEDP, Regents, or 24 hours of college credit — opening doors to higher education, industry certifications, and better employment.

The Rochester Children and Teens Book Festival (RCTBF) has been a treasured annual event for the Rochester community and beyond for 28 years, now renamed to reflect the growing audience. This year’s festival theme “Feed Your Imagination: Read!” encourages children of all ages to celebrate literacy, diversity, and the magic of reading with a day of family-friendly activities, presentations and programs. This year’s free festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov