ART | FOOD & BEV | MUSIC | FAMILY FRIENDLY
May 4
From 12-5 p.m. on the first Sunday in May, Three Heads Brewery turns into a court of post-medieval delights. The Roc Spring Ren Fest, organized and hosted by Carnie Cat Con and Ren Rat Randy, brings axe throwing, a whimsical puppet show, the stringed musicmakers of Merry Mischief and food and craft vendors to Atlantic Avenue — and helps raise money for Mended Little Hearts of Greater Rochester. rocwinren.wixsite.com/2024
Rochester Lilac Festival
ART | FOOD & BEV | MUSIC | NATURE | FAMILY FRIENDLY
May 9 — 18
The Flower City lives up to its name every May, kicking off festival season with purple blooms and groovin’ tunes in Highland Park. Now in its 127th year, the Lilac Festival features music, food trucks, vendors and more. The 2025 edition features high-profile performances by a diverse crop, including: Afrobeat star Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (May 15), New Orleans royalty The Dirty Dozen Brass Brand (May 17), indie rockers The Aces (May 16) and Beach Weather (May 18) as well as Nashville’s Katie Pruitt (May 10), Austin’s Sir Woman (May 8) and more. There’s “Art in the Park,” the Lilac 5K & 10K, and, of course, more than 500 blossoming lilac shrubs. roclilacfest.com
A timely pruning
A timely pruning
Rochester Lilac Festival’s fresh music lineup spotlights regional talent alongside national headliners.
By Leah Stacy
Music Features
Geneva Music Festival
MUSIC | ROAD TRIP
May 15 — June 8
Violinist Geoffrey Herd founded this fest — which spans venues around Geneva — back in 2011, which makes this season its 15th anniversary. To celebrate, organizers have booked artists who transcend typical chamber-music signifiers (the electronic-savvy W4RP Trio) as well as a more traditional cohort who will bring German Romanticism selections to life. String group The Sebastians, jazzy Cecile McLorin Salvant & Sullivan Fortner Duo and bluegrassy Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper round out the lineup. Regional wineries will be at select shows for tastings. genevamusicfestival.com
Tree Peony Festival of Flowers
NATURE | ROAD TRIP | FAMILY FRIENDLY
Saturdays and Sundays, May 17 — June 1
Starting in mid-May, the private Linwood Gardens opens its grounds to the public every weekend for the blossoming of the tree peonies, which turn the already serene spot into a veritable paradise. The grounds are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and reservations are required. Admission is a $15 suggested donation per adult (kids get in free) or $20 per adult for the guided historical tour. The tour lasts an hour and includes information about the history of the summer house, family and gardens at 1912 York Road West, Linwood, Livingston County. Sweet Arts Bakery will be on site with light lunch and treats for purchase. linwoodgardens.org/festival
The Nitrate Picture Show
ART | FAMILY FRIENDLY
May 29 — June 1
The Nitrate Picture Show is the first and largest festival in the world devoted entirely to screening original nitrate prints, showcasing films made between the 1910s and the 1960s, from the silent era to Technicolor features, noir classics and experimental shorts. The George Eastman Museum’s Louis B. Mayer Conservation Center, is a state-of-the-art vault that houses more than 24,000 reels of nitrate film, meticulously preserved under strict temperature and humidity controls to maintain the medium. (The museum’s Dryden Theatre is the only institution on the East coast that is able to project nitrate prints — some of them more than 100 years old.) The full festival program will be announced on May 29; tickets range from $22-$225 for individual screenings and full passes. eastman.org/nitrate-picture-show
Reel Mind Mental Health Film Festival
ART | FAMILY FRIENDLY
May 20, 27, 29
Reel Mind Film Festival returns to The Little Theatre with three individual films centered around mental health and neurodiversity. The 2025 theme, “Speak Up, Speak Out,” encourages openness, breaking silence and building connection through shared stories. Each screening will be followed by a panel discussion with filmmakers, mental health professionals and individuals with lived experience. $10-$25. reelmindfilmfest.com
GlassFest
ART | FOOD & BEV | MUSIC | ROAD TRIP
May 23 — 25
Appropriately hosted in Corning, home of the Museum of Glass, GlassFest celebrates all things glassmaking. In addition to guided public art tours and live glassblowing on Main Street, GlassFest features food and drinks, crafting, local dancers, Native American storytelling and the Wineglass 8K Race. Free live music soundtracks each day, with headlining sets from alt-rock band Vertical Horizon (May 23) and country singer Tony Jackson (May 24). gafferdistrict.com/events/glassfest
Annunciation Rochester Greek Festival
ART | FOOD & BEV | MUSIC | FAMILY FRIENDLY
May 29 — June 1
Spanakopita, gyros, lamb shanks, flaming cheese, dancing, refreshing drinks, kids’ activities, and shopping at the Greek marketplace await at the Greek Orthodox Church, 962 East Ave. And for dessert, don’t forget Greek coffee and a baklava. From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, but closing at 9 p.m. on May 31. rochestergreekfestival.com
South By South Wedge
MUSIC | FAMILY FRIENDLY
May 31
SXSW in Austin doesn’t get to have all the fun, thanks to the Submarine School of Music. Founders Ben and Katie Morey stage this showcase of up-and-coming bands — student bands, to be precise — in the garden of Bookeater, 836 S Clinton Ave., along with performances from Morey’s band, The Eyes, as well as local indie-rock group Comfy and string band Clinton’s Folly. Proceeds will benefit the Submarine school’s scholarship fund. $10, and kids get in free all day. 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. thesubmarineschool.com
Hatch ‘n’ release
Hatch ‘n’ release
The Caledonia Trout Festival is a celebration of fish culture.
By Roberto Felipe Lagares
Culture
Caledonia Trout Festival
MUSIC | FOOD & BEV | NATURE | FAMILY FRIENDLY
May 31
For the third year in a row, Caledonia’s premier fishing fest brings demonstrations and plenty of vendors to Main Street and Pioneer Street in Caledonia in the spirit of both community and helping folks connect to the great outdoors. The fun runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. bigspringsmuseumcaledonia.org
