EVENTS: Fairport Canal Days, Greek Festival, Geneseo Airshow, and more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Here is your guide to events around Rochester. You can learn more about what’s happening around town on our Community Calendar.

WEEKEND EVENTS: Fairport Canal Days (June 2 – 4)

Fairport Canal Days is returning this weekend featuring 250 artists, 45 food vendors, 60 bands, and 100 merchants. The festival runs from Friday through Sunday at the historic canal district on South Main Street.

The first night of the festival runs from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. It features a chicken barbecue along with a performance from Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra at 6 p.m. and Northside Johnny at 7:30 p.m. for Canal Nights.

Saturday’s Canal Days run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. That’s followed by Canal Nights with a performance from The Beatles tribute Mr. Mustard at 7 p.m. and Barenaked Ladies tribute Hello City at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, the festival will hold its annual Duck Race for Charity at 3 p.m. on the Liftbridge to support the Fairport Public Art Committee. You can buy a duck and get a chance to win prizes. The final day runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can learn more about Canal Days here. Canal Days is one of the largest juried fine arts festivals in the northeast, drawing about 200,000 people a year. The nonprofit festival is put on by the Fairport Perinton Merchants Association.

Rochester Greek Festival (June 1 – 4)

Greek hospitality and culture will be on display for four days. The Rochester Greek Festival returns on Thursday and runs through Sunday.

The festival at the parking lot of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on 962 East Avenue celebrates Greek food, music, dancing, and culture. Volunteers will serve traditional Greek dishes including gyro, souvlaki, spanakopita, lamb shanks, pastichio, and moussaka. There will also be Greek coffee, wine, and desserts including baklava.

Attendees can listen to a live traditional band and watch groups of Greek dancers from kindergarteners to adults perform. There will also be tours of the historic orthodox church, shopping, and children’s activities at the festival. Some children’s activities include a rock wall, an inflatable slide, and carnival games.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Food lines closed at 9 p.m. every night. You can see music and dancing schedules, a menu, or sign up to volunteer here.

Funds raised from the festival help charities in the community. In the past, the festival has supported Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester, the House of Mercy, and 13thirty Cancer Connect.

Safe Harbors Summer Music Fest (June 3)

Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes, which helps people who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, or human trafficking, is hosting a music festival on Saturday. It’s at the Moose Lodge in Canandaigua.

Funds from the festival will support the work on Safe Harbors. The festival runs from 1 to 9 p.m. featuring live bands, vendors, food trucks, raffles, and a bar. There is an indoor and outdoor stage.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets for kids 12 and under are free and tickets for students are $15. You can get tickets or donate here. Here’s the lineup for the festival:

Geneseo Airshow (June 3 – 4)

The National Warplane Museum is holding its annual Geneseo Airshow on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4.

The air show will include performances from planes including the F-16 Viper Demo Team, Rob Holland, and Lou Horschel. Guests can also see planes up close and tour the museum. It’s at 3489 Big Tree Lane in Geneseo.

News10NBC’s Bekka Fifield will get a behind-the-scenes look at the Whiskey-7, a World War II plane. News10NBC rode on the same historic plane last year.

The airshow gates open at 8:15 a.m. and flying begins at 10:30 a.m. for both days. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the show. You can get tickets here.

19th Ward Square Fair (June 3)

The 19th Ward Association is holding its neighborhood festival on Saturday, June 3 to celebrate the community.

The Square Fair will be at Aberdeen Square and kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast. Then, the Square Fair parade starts at 11 a.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Thurston Road.

There will be food, games, activities for kids, local vendors, a book sale, and musical performances throughout the day. You can learn more here.

Jerry Seinfeld at RBTL (June 2)

The star of the world’s favorite “show about nothing” is coming to Rochester. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will perform two shows at the Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s Auditorium Theatre on Friday, June 2.

He will perform his newest stand-up routine about the little things in life that relate to audiences everywhere. The performances are at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

You can get your tickets here or at the Auditorium box office once they go on sale on Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m. Tickets have been steeply discounted, starting at just $9 before fees. You can purchase them here.

Seinfeld is considered the most successful TV comedy series in history. Since the show ended in 1998, Jerry has gone on to star in acclaimed series such as Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and Jerry Before Seinfeld.

OTHER EVENTS: Jazz at the Beach (May 9 to Oct. 10)

The first concert for the Jazz at the Beach series is on May 9. The radio station Jazz 90.1 and the Ontario Beach Park Committee are holding free concerts on Tuesdays from May 9 until October 10.

The family-friendly concerts take place at Tropix Nightclub on 4775 Lake Avenue in Rochester. All performances begin at 7 p.m. This season will feature acclaimed artists including Grammy-nominee Jimmie Highsmith Jr. of Rochester. Here is the schedule for this season:

• May 9: Cool Club & The Lipker Sisters, one of the Finger Lakes region’s most popular jazz acts, will open the series with a unique blend of new and old styles.

• June 13: The Daryl Parker Quartet will perform.

• July 11: Rochester’s own Grammy-nominated saxophonist Jimmie Highsmith, Jr. will perform. Highsmith has performed alongside music legends including Alicia Keys, Chris Botti, Grover Washington Jr., and Wynton Marsalis.

• August 8: The Bill Tiberio Band will perform. Saxophonist Bill Tiberio has been at Fairport High School since 1988 where he conducts the top concert band, two jazz ensembles, jazz combos, pit orchestras, and chamber ensembles.

• September 12: The Laura Dubin Trio, featuring Rochester native pianist and composer Laura Dubin, will perform. In 2007, she embarked on a seven year journey of study and performing that brought across U.S. and Latin America. Now, her path has come full circle to her hometown.

• October 10: The Bob Sneider Trio will close the series featuring Eastman faculty member Bob Sneider. He has performed in major festivals, concert halls, and jazz clubs throughout South America, Central America, North America, and Europe.

Community garage sales at Rochester Public Market (April 16 to Oct. 22)

The Rochester Public Market is holding its first community garage sale and superflea of the season on Sunday, April 16. Vendors can register for a table for $35 a day on Sundays throughout the year. They sell items including clothing, tools, home décor, sporting goods, vintage collectibles, artwork, and antiques.

The last community garage sale of the season will be on Oct. 22. Vendors who register to sell will also get a parking space. You can learn more about vending at the annual series here or at the Market Office on 280 North Union Street.

The community garage sales run from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Here is the schedule:

• April 16 and 30
• June 18
• July 2, 16 and 30
• Aug. 13 and 27
• Sept. 10 and 24
• Oct. 8 and 22

You can also see the full Rochester Public Market schedule here.

Food Truck Rodeo at Rochester Public Market (April 16 to Oct. 22)

Food trucks with a variety of dishes and live music will be on display at the Rochester Public Market on the last Wednesday of each month. It runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Here is the schedule for the Food Truck Rodeo this season:

• April 26 with Jumbo Shrimp (pop/rock)
• May 31 with FolkFaces (blues, rock)
• June 28 with Tommy Brunett Band (rock)
• July 26 with iGNiTE Band (reggae)
• August 30 with Junkyard Field Trip (indie)
• September 27 with Big Blue House (folk rock/blues)

Concerts by the Shore (June 7 to August 30)

The Concerts by the Shore series at Ontario Beach Park will kick off on Wednesday, June 7 with a performance from Nik and the Nice Guys.

The concert series, sponsored by Wegmans, offers free concerts every Wednesday from June 7 through August 30 at 50 Beach Avenue. This is the 37th season of the concert series.

The concerts start at 7 p.m. Parking is available in the beach parking lots and the park is accessible by RTS. The series is organized by the all-volunteer Ontario Beach Park Program Committee along with the City of Rochester and Monroe County.

“I can’t think of a better way to spend a summertime Wednesday evening than enjoying a free family-friendly concert in beautiful Ontario Beach Park,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.

Here is this season’s lineup:

• June 7, Nik and the Nice Guys (Nik Show Band)
• June 14, The Cool Club and the Lipker Sisters (swing, blues, R&B)
• June 21, Branded (Country)
• June 28, The Skycoasters (high energy party band)
• July 5, Time and Effect (Top 40 Dance
• July 12, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (classical, pop) Begins at 7:30 p.m.
• July 19, The Invictas (60s and 70s rock)
• July 26, 5 Con Swing (Latin)
• August 2, Ignite Reggae (Reggae)
• August 9, Atlas (funky dance music)
• August 16, Dukes (60s and 70s R&B)
• August 23, Allegro (premier party band)
• August 30, Ruby Shooz (50s and 60s rock)

You can learn more about the bands here.

Pittsford Recreation Center cooking classes (May 11, June 22, July 13)

The Cornell Cooperative Extension is holding three free cooking classes at the Pittsford Recreation Center at 35 Lincoln Ave. It’s to promote health and nutrition across Monroe County.

The classes will take place on May 11, June 22, and July 13. You can sign up for the cooking classes now and learn more by calling (585) 248-628.

Canandaigua pop-up food pantry (April 24, May 22, June 26)

Fighting food insecurity in Ontario County is the goal of three pop-up food pantry events happening in Canandaigua.

Foodlink, along with the Partnership for Ontario County, the United Way, and Canandaigua Churches in Action will partner up for the pantries. They will be held on April 24, May 22, and June 26 at the Town of Canandaigua’s Highway Department barn.

Rochester Pride Festival (July 15)

Tickets for the Rochester Pride Festival are on sale now. The festival on Saturday, July 15 celebrates the LBGTQ+ community in the area.

The festival at Cobbs Hill Park on Culver Road runs from 1 to 8 p.m. featuring live music, vendors, and food. You can get tickets here.

The celebration kicks off with the Pride Parade which begins at 1 p.m. at the corner of Alexander Street and Park Avenue. Headliner artists at the festival include American Idol contestant Ada Vox, a singer, songwriter, and drag queen. Thea Austin, a member of the pop/dance group SNAP, will also perform.

On Sunday, the ROC Pride Picnic will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at the Roundhouse Shelter at Genesee Valley Park. It’s hosted by Rainbow Seniors ROC.

Trillium Health, the area’s leading LBGTQ+ health care provider, is partnering with ESL Federal Credit Union to present the parade and festival. Last year’s Pride Parade was the largest in Rochester’s history.

“We look forward to coming together for celebration to honor the LGBTQ+ community and promote visibility, acceptance, and equality for all,” said Andrea DeMeo, President of Trillium Health.

You can learn more about the festival here.

Rochester International Jazz Festival (June 23 – July 1)

It’s a star-studded lineup for the 2023 CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival. Multi-instrumentalist Trombone Shorty is returning for another free show and jazz vocalist Samara Joy is performing at Kodak Hall after her recent Grammy win.

The festival runs from Friday, June 23 to Saturday, July 1. It features more than 300 acts across 19 venues. More than 100 of the shows are free, including the headliners who will take the stage at Parcel 5 behind the view of downtown. There will also be plenty of free all-star performances at the Chestnut Street Stage.

You can see the full lineup here and see our interview with producer and artistic director John Nugent here.

Lou Gramm will sign autographs and throw first pitch at Red Wings game (Sept 2)

Jukebox hero Lou Gramm is coming to Innovative Field on Saturday, September 2. The rock legend who sang for Foreigner will sign autographs ahead of the Rochester Red Wings game against the Scranton Railriders. He will also throw the first pitch and lead the crowd in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”.

Rochester-based Lou Gramm sang for Foreigner from 1977 to 2003 and embarked on a solo career. After the game, there will be fireworks set to hits from Foreigner and his solo career. The game will begin at 6:05 p.m.

Gramm’s visit to the baseball game comes before his October 7 show at Kodak Center with his band the Lou Gramm All Stars. You can get tickets for that show starting April 14 here.