BeyondTheNest: Weekly e-newsletter for Rochester | |
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Save the Date
Fri, May 8-Sun, May 17: 2026 Rochester Lilac Festival in Highland Park Fri, May 8-Sun, May 24: Blackfriars Theatre presents Parade
Fri, May 15: 2026 Genesee Valley QuiltFest
Sat, May 16: International Festival & Classic Euro Car Celebration
Sun, May 17: Flower City Days at the Market - Plant and Garden Sales Fri, May 22: GCV&M’s OFFICIAL 50th Anniversary!
Fri, May 22: RPO: Broadway in Hollywood! (May 22 & 23, 2026)
Sat, May 23: Soldiers
through the Ages at Old Fort Niagara Sat, May 23: Birding at Powder Mills Park and the Burroughs Sanctuary Wed, May 27: Geva Theatre Presents Anastasia: The Musical! Sun, May 24: Out of Pocket, Inc. presents Deep Blue Sound
Sun, May 24: Flower City Days at the Market - Plant and Garden Sales
Sun,
May 31: The 68th Annual Allegany Nature Pilgrimage
Sun, May 31: ROS with the RPO: Carmina Burana
Sun, May 31: Sunday Narrated Afternoon Lock Cruise with Live Music - Colonial Belle Fri, Jul 17-Sat, Jul 18: Make a Beautiful Lamp at Wendell Castle Workshop in Scottsville |
Note from your publisher Spring is giving Rochester plenty of reasons to get out and about this week, from the final stretch of the Rochester Lilac Festival in Highland Park to the Genesee Valley QuiltFest, Flower City Days at the Market, Ellwanger Garden Open Days, and a Red Wings homestand at ESL Ballpark. This weekend’s calendar also brings live music, local history, indie comics, international food and performances, classic European cars, and hands-on
art experiences like painting your own birdhouse gourd with Seneca artist Peter Jemison. Looking ahead, there’s even more to plan for: You can still catch The Sound at CenterStage at the JCC for one more weekend, Joe Avati brings comedy to Casa Larga on May 23, Geva Theatre’s Anastasia opens May 27, and active-duty military families can enjoy free admission to RMSC locations through the Blue Star Museums program starting Armed Forces Day, May 16. Whether you’re in the mood for gardens, theater, baseball, music, comedy, or a creative day out, this week’s BeyondTheNest newsletter has lots of local ideas to help you make the most of May. —Debra Ross, publisher
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Saturday, May 23 at Casa Larga: Experience the comedy of Joe Avati – an Australian-born comedian of Italian heritage! We are excited he's included Rochester on his packed US tour! Join us before the show with a delicious, chef-prepared Italian Buffet. Can purchase show tickets alone ($64) or with buffet dinner ($109). https://casalarga.com/events/joe-avati-dinner-show-may-23-2026
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Saturday, May 16th | 10 AM - 2 PM: Spend a morning at the White Corn Project Farmhouse painting your very own birdhouse gourd under the guidance of celebrated Seneca artist Peter Jemison! Birdhouse gourds make wonderful backyard habitat for cavity-nesting birds like house wrens, black-capped chickadees, and bluebirds. Or simply display your finished piece as one-of-a-kind natural decor. Register here: https://www.ganondagan.org/event-details/birdhouse-gourd-painting-with-peter-jemison
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Treat your family to a night at Geva Theatre this spring. Tickets to Anastasia are on sale now! This Tony Award-nominated musical inspired by the beloved films takes us on a journey to the past. Iconic songs like “Once Upon a December,” “Learn to Do It,” and “Journey to the Past” transport us from the darkness of Soviet Russia to the opulence of Paris in the ’20s. Could it be that Anya really is the long-lost Romanov? Anastasia runs from May 27th through June 28th. The show’s run time is approximately 2 hours, including a 15- minute intermission and is recommended for audiences ages 10 and older. Get tickets now by calling (585) 232-4382 or by purchasing online at GevaTheatre.org.
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CenterStage at the JCC, May 2-17: In 1943, deportation orders of over 7,000 Danish Jews inspired their friends and neighbors to help them escape to Sweden across The Sound, sending ripples far beyond the waters that transported them to safety. Set in both past and present, this magical and heroic story of one family’s race against the clock to elude capture may restore your faith in humanity.
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Opening Friday, May 8 and continuing Thursdays - Sundays through May 24: The acclaimed Tony-Award winning musical based on the real-life 1914 trial of Leo Frank. Alfred Uhry’s award-winning book and Jason Robert Brown’s rousing, colorful and haunting score illuminate a circus of conflicting accounts, false testimony and mishandled evidence in a country reeling with racial tension and sensationalized media.
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The Prozorov sisters - Olga, Masha, and Irina - yearn for a more fulfilling life beyond their provincial existence. Three Sisters is one of Anton Chekhov’s most celebrated plays, first performed in 1901. The story takes place over three and a half years in a family home and follows the lives of four siblings after the death of their father, a Colonel. The youngest sister, Irina, is hopeful and idealistic, while Masha, the middle sister, struggles in an unhappy marriage. Olga, the eldest, has accepted a life of responsibility and duty, and their brother Andrei’s poor choices lead to financial ruin for the family.
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The highly anticipated Genesee Valley Quilt Show will take place May 15–17, 2026 at the RIT Gordon Field House, located at 1 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY, 14623.
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Highland Park in Rochester hosts the 128th Rochester Lilac Festival from May 8-17, 2026. This beloved 10-day celebration of spring brings the community together for live music, blooming lilacs, Art in the Park, the Lilac Parade, walking tours, the farmers market, family fun, and the annual Lilac Run. With Highland Park in full color and a festival schedule packed with things to see and do, the Rochester Lilac Festival is one of the city’s most treasured spring traditions and a favorite annual outing for visitors of all ages.
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The Rochester Red Wings are family-friendly baseball at its finest! Join us at ESL Ballpark as your Red Wings take on the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs! Game details for dates, times, and promotions are in the description.
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The Genesee Valley is at war, and Genesee Country Village & Museum is on the frontline! Considered the second “War for Independence,” the War of 1812 spread like wildfire across young America, from the East Coast to the Mississippi River. Come be a part of the action as Genesee Country Village & Museum explores both sides of the conflict and the impact it had on the citizens of Western New York.
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Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7:30 pm: Born in Hamilton, Ontario to parents of Nova Scotian descent, Garnet Rogers spent many hours listening to Grand Ol’ Opry radio broadcasts and harmonizing with his brother, the late folk legend Stan Rogers. At 18, he was on the road as a full-time working musician with brother Stan, forming one of the most influential duos in the history of North American folk music. Since then, Garnet has courageously established himself as a formidable solo artist, performing across North America, everywhere from small town folk clubs to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
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Just us for the 7th year of the Rochester Indie Comics Expo (RICE)! RICE is a showcase of local and regional comics creators where they can sell their original work and connect with the community. This year we have over 70 exhibitors, as well as workshops and talks! It is intended to be a free event with something for all ages.
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The Classic Euro Car Show & International Festival features vintage European cars cruising Main Street, international food, live cultural performances, and family-friendly activities. Enjoy music, dancing, and hands-on fun for all ages throughout downtown.
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As part of Blue Star Museums, the RMSC is extending its gratitude to those currently serving in the United States Military and up to five of their family members, by offering free admission to all three of its locations from Armed Forces Day, May 16, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.
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Ellwanger Garden, a historic perennial garden brimming with peonies, is open to the public for self-guided tours from noon to 3:00 pm on Sundays, May 10, 17, 24 and 31. $5 suggested donation. Service animals only. Off-site parking.
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Lovely local experiences are in your future! |
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