ROCHESTER WEST INDIAN FESTIVAL ORGANIZATION Inc. ANNOUNCES THE DATE AND ARTISTS FOR CARIFEST 2025

Rochester, NY / July 2, 2025 – The Rochester West Indian Festival Organization, Inc. announces the return of Carifest for 2025. The 39th annual celebration of Caribbean culture in Rochester NY and the Greater Monroe County area. The parade takes place 11am to 1pm along Main Street followed by the annual festival at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square on Saturday August 9th 2025. The largest Caribbean festival in Western New York take place in the home to the second largest Caribbean population in the state and provides a day of live music, food, cultural events and much more.

The Rochester West Indian Festival Organization Inc. board is extremely proud of the rich heritage this festival brings to the community. We are excited to continue the festivals community focused roots by providing a great lineup of local and national acts this year. A highlight of the festival will be the presentation of this year’s RWIFO scholarships. We can’t wait to celebrate and educate others about our culture through food, music, and dance. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the City of Rochester, and many others that have been instrumental in supporting and championing the RWIFO for over 40 years.

Hours: 

• Parade: 11am to 1pm, starting at West Main St & Plymouth Ave heading east

• Festival: 1pm to 8pm at MLK Park at Manhattan Square, 353 Court St, Rochester, NY 14607

  
  
  
  

Headliners:

• Cham

• Motto

• The Generations Sound Clash

• Womba Africa Drumming and Dance

• iSteel The One-Man Steel Band

• more acts to be added…

  
  
  
  

Tickets:

• Limited Early Bird Tickets $15.00 (while supplies last)

• Advanced tickets $20.00 (Available online: https://rwifo.org/carifest2025)

• Purchased at Gate $25.00

• Senior (60+) & Children (6 -12 years old) – $10.00

• Children 5 and under – Free

• Note: Children 17 or under must be accompanied by an adult

  
  

About Carifest: The Rochester West Indian Festival Organization, Inc. is celebrating 42 years in the City of Rochester. Every year, the City of Rochester comes alive for RWIFO's annual Carifest Festival and Parade. The parade will make its way through downtown Rochester, NY followed by the festival at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. Now in its 39th year, CARIFEST is one of the largest and oldest Caribbean festivals in New York State, and the only event of its kind in the Western NY region. Each summer, more than 4,000 fans come from around town, across the state, and even across the country to enjoy great Caribbean music plus Rochester’s local shopping, restaurants, and hotels. The Carifest Festival and Parade is considered to be one of Rochester’s “signature events”. Please visit our website www.rwifo.org for more information on the parade and festival.