BeyondTheNest: Weekly e-newsletter for Rochester | |
Note from your publisher Sorry today's newsletter is later than usual... I was busy writing my Hamilton review, after having seen it
last night at the RBTL. I've seen Hamilton whenever it has come through Rochester; each time, I find it every bit as electrifying, insightful, and culturally seismic as the last. My review explores why Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece still feels revolutionary—not just for its musical brilliance, but for the way it reframes history as something alive, relevant, and deeply personal. Sitting in a room full of devoted returners, you feel the show’s power to gather people across generations
into a community of story-lovers, and to remind us that each of us holds the pen to our own legacy. Hamilton runs through November 30, and if you haven’t grabbed tickets yet, now is the time to be in the room where it happens. This weekend's calendar offers so much more across the region for those who love the arts, the holidays, and the spirit of gathering. From the Harley
Handmade Holiday Market and the RMSC Holiday Bazaar to immersive productions like A Christmas Carol at Geva, The Nutcracker with the RPO and Rochester City Ballet, and Miracle on 34th Street at Roberts Wesleyan, Rochester is brimming with creative energy. Stokoe Farms opens its Christmas Tree Experience, Roc Holiday Village returns with sixteen days of festivities, and Casa Larga’s Thanksgiving Eve Party offers a spirited adults-only kickoff to the season. Whether you’re
looking for concerts, theatre, handmade gifts, family adventures, or a bit of Yuletide magic, this week’s BeyondTheNest roundup is filled with ways to connect, discover, and celebrate. Next week's
newsletter will be sent Wednesday because of Thanksgiving. —Debra Ross,
publisher
|
|
|
|
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical is back at RBTL’s West Herr Auditorium Theatre through Sunday, November 30, and our new BeyondTheNest.com review explores why Hamilton continues to captivate audiences a decade after its debut. This production reminds us how art can shape culture, connect generations, and inspire each of us to write our own story. Whether you’ve seen it before or are ready to experience it for the first time, this run is not to be missed. Performances are selling quickly; reserve your tickets now at https://rbtl.org/events/hamilton/ to be in the room where it happens!!
|
|
|
|
Join us this Saturday, November 22, from 10 am to 3 pm, to browse and buy unique gifts from talented local artists and crafters. We're featuring a selection of handmade treasures—perfect for finding thoughtful, one-of-a-kind presents for everyone on your list. Support local, shop small, and kick off the holiday season with us! Plenty of free parking! Event Details: What: Harley Homemade Holiday Market When: This Saturday, November 22nd, 10 am-3 pm at The Harley School, 1981 Clover Street Featuring: Local artists, crafters, and makers!
|
|
|
|
Celebrate the 53rd Annual Holiday Bazaar Arts & Crafts Sale at the RMSC this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! The Holiday Bazaar is a juried show with five floors of displays across the RMSC campus. A spectacular variety is available with more than 150 exhibitors showcasing creative fine arts and unique crafts: ceramics, jewelry, glass, woodwork, paintings, photography, fiber arts, floral crafts, and more!
|
|
|
|
19th Annual Alternative Gift Market - your best opportunity to gift twice...when you purchase from a nonprofit vendor at our market AND when you present your gift to your family or friends.
|
|
|
|
Stokoe Farms is the ultimate destination for creating cherished holiday traditions, offering the largest selection of REAL Christmas Trees in the area. Opening on November 22nd, the farm provides a magical experience for families, complete with tractor-drawn wagon rides, festive activities, a charming Country Gift Shop, and a variety of freshly cut and pre-cut trees. This year, visitors can enjoy the new Cocoa & Cookie Corner, serving deluxe hot chocolates, cider, and freshly baked cookies. Beyond trees, the farm features giant slides, a straw fort, a Live Nativity, and the popular Hillbilly Hen House Chicken Show. Unique attractions include a mob of kangaroos, a Nature Trail, and Christmas Animal Encounters, where guests can meet joeys, armadillos, and more.
|
|
|
|
Weekends Nov 28 - Dec 21, 2025: Another Magical Christmas Adventure awaits at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg! The Lodge, in full holiday splendor, will host Santa’s Wonderland where you’ll decorate cookies, write letters to the North Pole, take holiday photos, and more before boarding your trolley for a journey through Hidden Valley’s Mystical Forest. There you’ll see herds of bison and elk, Randy the camel, llamas, and blackbelly sheep roaming the wintery terrain. Upon your return, pet and feed a variety of live animals in open-air stalls. Four consecutive weekends starting Black Friday, November 28 – December 21, 9am-4:30pm. Reservations Required. Book online at hiddenvalleyadventure.com. Allow 3 hours for the full experience.
|
|
|
|
This holiday season, The Summit is delighted to sponsor two signature events right here in Rochester! At the RMSC, visit “Astronaut” and learn the reality of a space explorer’s experience. It’s an interactive exhibit for kids and adults alike. Visit Rochester Museum & Science Center for tickets and opening times. Then, head a few blocks down East Ave to the George Eastman Museum for “Sweet Creations,” where the historic mansion is filled with gingerbread creations from local organizations and companies. Visit the George Eastman Museum homepage for more information. Be sure to check out the Summit's Sweet Spaceship Creation for your chance to win a family membership to the Museum. The Summit is thrilled to give back to the community and make events such as these possible! For these and more events, visit summitfcu.org!
|
|
|
|
November 22 - December 27, 2025: A Tale of Hope, Humor, and Heart. Rochester’s favorite holiday tradition returns with an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story that begins with a wish made by young Tim Cratchit. Over the course of one night, notorious grump Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts. But will their intervention prompt him to change his “humbug” ways? A Christmas Carol reminds us that it is never too late to have a change of heart. Geva welcomes patrons ages 5 and up to A Christmas Carol. Click here for tickets.
|
|
|
|
November 26, 28, 29, and 30, 2025: Your Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Rochester City Ballet celebrate 26 years of a holiday tradition: The Nutcracker at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre! Be whisked away to a magical land of sparkling snow and delectable sweets as Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score pairs with beautiful ballet. This story of a young girl’s Christmas Eve dream never fails to touch the heart! Click here for tickets.
|
|
|
|
Kick off the holiday weekend with a night of wine, music, and celebration at Casa Larga’s Thanksgiving Eve Party on Wednesday, November 26! Gather your friends and head to the winery for an unforgettable evening featuring live music by Northside Johnny, delicious wine, craft beers, and light bites available for purchase. Whether you're starting a new tradition or continuing a favorite one, this is the perfect adults-only way to relax and enjoy the festive spirit before the big feast. Don’t miss out—get your tickets now and toast to a fabulous holiday season at Casa Larga! Get your tickets and check out all of their events here: https://www.casalarga.com/winery-events/
|
|
|
|
Load up the car, grab some cocoa, and get ready for the most festive tour in town, The RG&E Holiday Lights Tour! Your Holiday Lights Tour Kit is your all-access pass to a sparkling lineup of homes decked out in dazzling displays of holiday cheer. Follow your tour map, check out the NEW activity book, and share your bright moments on social media using #HLT2025 to spread the sparkle. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season—fun, family, and giving all wrapped up in one unforgettable experience!
|
|
|
|
The seventh annual City of Rochester Roc Holiday Village, presented by ESL Federal Credit Union, returns December 5–28 at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park with sixteen days of free holiday fun. Enjoy free ice skating and skate rentals, visits and photos with Santa, kids’ crafts, and festive holiday celebrations. Take on the I Spy Scavenger Hunt and Adventure Map, or catch special ice rink events like sled hockey, curling lessons, and figure skating performances. Warm up by the fire pits, sip hot cocoa for a cause at The Giving Cup, and soak in the lights, music, and cheer of Rochester’s favorite winter festival.
|
|
|
|
Thursday, Dec 4, 7pm at Kodak Center: This critically acclaimed holiday celebration that the whole family can enjoy brings Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang together live on stage as they uncover the true meaning of Christmas and perform songs from the unforgettable musical score of legendary composer Vince Guaraldi. The Broadway-style production complete with immersive sets, lighting, choreography, and colorful costumes has sold more than 300,000 tickets over the prior holiday seasons. Get your tickets at https://www.kodakcenter.com/events/2025/charlie-brown.
|
|
|
|
Looking for high-energy family fun? Head to the Blue Cross Arena to cheer on the Rochester Americans as they hit the ice for another thrilling hockey matchup! With fast-paced action, fan giveaways, and an electric atmosphere, an Amerks game is the perfect way to make unforgettable memories with your kids. Don your red, white, and blue, grab some popcorn, and get ready to shout “Go Amerks!” Check out the full schedule and grab your tickets at https://amerks.com.
|
|
|
|
Get ready for rhythm as the Mambo Kings and soprano Camille Zamora take you on a pulsating musical journey through Spain and the Americas.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, November 22 at 7pm at Kodak Center: Step into a one-of-a-kind movie experience that’s as sweet as it sounds! Watch the beloved childhood classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory while snacking on taste-along bites of candy perfectly timed to the film.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, November 22 3pm at Writers & Books: Be part of the development process for a new play in progress! “When the Moon Blocks the Sun” is a tragi-comic road trip play about grief, faith, and how loving one person can make us better neighbors to all people. This is an informal staged reading, designed to help the playwright gather information about the play to help with future rewrites.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, Dec 2: Kick off the holidays with joy, lights, and giving at the Holiday Spectacular at Blue Barn’s Campus on Giving Tuesday! Enjoy a dazzling light show, sweet holiday treats, and festive fun for the whole family. At the heart of the evening is the Pomona Express—free with a donation to the Hilton Parma Emergency Food Shelf—where kids can meet Santa, decorate cookies, and enter to win prizes! Don’t miss the first night of the West Wind Farm Light Show, plus a cozy “Breakfast for Dinner” at Blue Barn Cidery, transformed into Santa’s Workshop for the night. It’s a magical way to celebrate the season and support your community!
|
|
|
|
Impressionist art is anything but tame and stagnant. Frontiers of Impressionism explores the evolution of the radical artistic movement that changed the course of art history. The audience will see fifty-three stellar paintings from the Worcester Art Museum’s collection through the lens of more than thirty artists—American and European—including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, and John Singer Sargent.
|
|
|
|
Roberts Wesleyan is kicking off a historic first Miracle on 34th Street, the Musical National Tour. Featuring world-renowned and award-winning actors, directors, and set designers, the opening night of the tour is here November 21-23 at Wesleyan's Hale Auditorium. This is a show sure to delight the children and the old alike with a simple message of Believe. Believe in the magic that holds our traditional values of family and childlike curiosity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Tis the season in Rochester! This is KidsOutAndAbout.com's annual 101 Holiday Events list of ways to make the holidays special in our area for 2025. Activities for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
|
|
|
Wishing you and yours good health and happiness! |
|
|
|
