BeyondTheNest: Weekly e-newsletter for Rochester | |
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Save the Date
Sun, May 31: Season opens at the New York Museum of Transportation in Rush
Sun, May 31: ROS with the RPO: Carmina Burana
Sun, May 31: Sunday Narrated Afternoon Lock Cruise with Live Music - Colonial Belle Fri, Jun 5-Sun, Jun 7: Fairport Canal Days 2026 Sat, Jun 6: Rochester Flower Fest
Sat, Jun 6: GemFest 2026
Sat, Jun 13: ADK Outdoor Expo 2026
Sat, Jun 13: Freedom Festival: America 250 in the Bristol Hills
Sat, Jun 13: Second Saturday Dansville featuring Fairy Fest
Sun, Jun 14: East Avenue Music Festival
Thu, Jun 18: 40th Annual HARBORFEST Sat-Sun, Jul 11-12: Corn Hill Arts Fest |
Note from your publisher Hello, weekend! Late May is rolling out a lively mix of culture, music, food, and fresh-air adventures around Rochester, and it’s the perfect time to make plans that feel just a little bit special. Treat yourself to a night at Geva for Anastasia, take a nostalgic trip with Over the Rainbow: The Golden Girls Musical, or let the power of voices and orchestra sweep you away at the RPO’s season finale, Carmina
Burana. This weekend also brings plenty of reasons to get outside and savor the season: cruise the Erie Canal aboard the Sam Patch, cheer on the Rochester Red Wings, enjoy live music and cider
at Blue Barn Cidery, or wander through arbor beauty during a Trees “Walk & Talk” at Genesee Country Village & Museum. Food lovers can head to the Rochester Greek Festival for all the aromas, flavors, and traditions of Greece, while festival fans will find bounce houses, raffles, food, and family fun at St. Rita’s Fiesta. And for those craving a deeper breath of nature, the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage offers a whole weekend of outdoor learning, while Montezuma Audubon Center’s Hemlock Grove Meditation invites you to slow down and reconnect. However you like to spend your time—on stage, at the ballpark, by the water, in the woods, or around a table with great food—there’s a
wonderful weekend waiting!
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Treat yourself to a night at Geva Theatre this spring. Anastasia is at the Wilson Mainstage through June 28. 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? 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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All aboard! Trolley rides resume Sunday, May 31, as the New York Museum of Transportation kicks off its season. Open Sundays only, 11 am to 4 pm, the museum features historic road and rail vehicles, model railroads, and the iconic Midtown Plaza Monorail. Scenic 20-minute round trip trolley rides depart at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30. Admission including the ride: Adults: $12, Seniors (65+): $10, Youths (3-12): $6, Kids 2 and under: Free! Find this unique family adventure just 25 minutes south of Rochester at 6393 East River Road, Rush.
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World Premiere! The Golden Girls are back by popular demand, get ready to take an unforgettable trip "Over the Rainbow" in this uproarious brand-new musical parody!
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Deep Blue Sound is a funny, moving play about the connections we make—and long to make—to others, and to the world. On a picturesque island in Puget Sound, we find a town in a crisis: The whales have gone missing. While (unofficial) Mayor Annie searches for a solution, Chris tries to get back together with Mary; John reaches out to help Homeless Gary; Leslie longs for a faraway pen pal; Ali has come home to care for her mother; and Ella has a secret she only wants to share with local journalist Joy Mead, who she barely knows. But what about the whales? Is their absence just a seasonal glitch, or is it a sign of our collective failure to take care of the Earth?
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Step back in time as you cruise along the historic Erie Canal. Live narration brings to life the bold vision that transformed a hare-brained idea into an engineering marvel that opened the American West. Travel through a working lock, soak in the scenery, and relax as history unfolds around you.
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Join the Foundation of the Monroe County Bar at Flight Wine Bar on Thursday, May 28 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for a casual evening supporting the Foundation’s work in our community.
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Thursday, May 28, 1pm at Mendon Public Library: Learn more about the Finger Lakes Caregiver Institute at Lifespan and the wide range of free programs, support, and services available to caregivers of individuals living with dementia or memory loss. Register to save your seat.
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Our Summer Concert Series is back at Blue Barn Cidery! Starting May 21st, join us every Thursday night from 5:30pm–8:30pm for live music and cold cider. Admission is FREE, we are family friendly, and blankets + lawn chairs are welcome — so grab your crew and settle in for an evening of great local music and laid-back summer vibes.
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Join us on Friday, May 29 from 4-8 pm and Saturday, May 30 from 12-8 pm for games, bounce houses, music, food, gift basket raffles, book sale, plant sale, and so much more fun for the whole family! Free parking and admission. Everyone is welcome.
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Fri, May 29, 2026 to Sun, May 31, 2026: Always held the weekend after Memorial Day, the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage has been held at beautiful Allegany State Park annually since 1959. It is an epic outdoor learning experience. It combines fun with a variety of nature-oriented activities at the amazing Allegany State Park. This traditional weekend of natural history and outdoor education welcomes both the experienced naturalist as well as the inquisitive beginner. For more details and to register see: www.alleganynaturepilgrimage.com.
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Friday, May 29, 1:30pm at Charlotte Branch Library: Join the New York State Division of Consumer Protection for valuable information and tips to help you recognize and avoid scams. Scams, frauds, and hoaxes cost consumers and businesses time and billions of dollars each year. This presentation helps consumers recognize and avoid scams. It also presents tools and resources to utilize if you fall victim to a scam.
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Join us May 28th - 31st | 2026 from 11am - 11pm (closing 9pm on Sunday) as we continue our tradition of bringing the aromas, tastes, sounds, and traditions of Greece to Rochester on the grounds of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 962 East Avenue, near the George Eastman House. We will be serving your favorite Greek meals from pita sandwiches like Gyro, Souvlaki, and Loukaniko. Enjoy our latest appetizer additions of Saganaki (flaming cheese) and delicious fried kalamari. Try homemade Spanakopita, Greek Chicken, Pastichio, Moussaka and Lamb Shank dinners. The food line closes at 9 pm.
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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 Syracuse Mets! Game details for dates, times, and promotions are in the description.
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The season reaches a thrilling climax as Andreas Delfs leads the RPO, the Rochester Oratorio Society, a children’s choir, and powerhouse soloists in Carl Orff’s electrifying Carmina Burana—a choral spectacle of fate, fortune, and unrelenting rhythm. The program opens with Pacho Flores performing Roberto Sierra’s stunning trumpet concerto Salseando. Don’t miss this astonishing finale, where voices and orchestra unite in one of the most exhilarating masterpieces of all time!
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05/30/2026, 10am at Genesee Country Village: Join long-time historic gardener Jim Dell for an hour of arbor talk – from tree identification to pruning and care. (There will be more – Jim is tallying the number of tree species on site!)
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Saturday, May 30, 10am-2pm at Montezuma Audubon Center: Reconnect with nature and your senses in a quiet hemlock grove. In honor of National Meditation Day, this gentle, guided sylvotherapy experience invites you to slow down, listen intentionally, and explore what it feels like to calmly reflect on nature. Enjoy a mindful walk among the hemlocks, a place-inspired meditation, and a reflective circle around the fire. Perfect for beginners and experienced meditators alike, this program emphasizes presence, awareness, and connection to the forest.
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Lovely local experiences are in your future! |
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