Entertaining your family in Rochester doesn’t need to cost you anything. This city has plenty of fun activities to delight you and your kids that don’t cost a cent. Leave your wallet behind while enjoying these free, entertaining, family-friendly activities in Rochester.
Enjoy Free Live Music
Taking the whole family to a concert can be an expensive prospect. However, Rochester hosts many free outdoor concerts throughout the year. Catch the Sidewalk Sessions at Peace Plaza from mid-May to mid-September. Local parks host forWARD neighborhood park concerts on Wednesday evenings in summer. The Down by the Riverside concerts are another great summer tradition, held every July and August in Mayo Park. Rochester Symphony also holds free family previews a couple of times a year. These short shows, designed to introduce children to the wonder of the orchestra, have a more relaxed vibe than other musical events.
Location: Various locations.
Hours: Hours and dates vary. Check the websites for the programs you’re interested in.
Attend a Community Festival
Olmsted county fair 2012 by Nate Davis is licensed with CC BY 2.0
While you might spend money on lunch and attractions, admission to Rochester’s community festivals is usually free. These events provide a full day of entertainment, including cultural displays, competitions, and arts and crafts workshops for the kids. Rochester Fest , held over nine days in June, celebrates everything that makes the city great. Rochester also hosts the Olmsted County Fair every July. This classic county fair features farm animals, carnival rides, and entertainment on the free stage. Fall brings Ridgefest , an event that includes free activities such as a Trunk or Treat, a petting zoo, and bounce houses for the kids.
Location: Various locations.
Hours: Hours and dates vary.
Bike the Art4Trails Network
The Rochester Arts and Culture Collaborative established the Art4Trails network to bring art into the open for everyone to appreciate. See the striking public art installations at key points on Rochester’s cycleways, including Slatterly Park, Silver Lake, and River Landing. Plan your bike route to admire as many works as you can. Seasonal sculptures complement the permanent fixtures on the Art4Trails path.
Location: Parks across Rochester. Check out the Art4Trails map .
Hours: All year round at any time.
Meet the Animals at Quarry Hill Park
The eight miles of trails at Quarry Hill Park are more appealing than most outdoor paths. This outdoor area is rich in wildlife, including permanent and migrating bird species, marked turtles, frogs, and dragonflies. Looking out for these creatures makes hiking Quarry Hill Park involving and fun. You can also bring your leashed dog, making a day here a great way to bond with the whole family. Stop by the nature center to see fossils and live animals, including Fredricka the snapping turtle, snakes, raptors, and honeybees. Along with the park, entry to the Nature Center is always free.
Location: 701 Silver Creek Road NE.
Hours: Dawn to dusk daily. The Nature Center opens 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Have a Picnic at Cascade Lake Park
Rochester has more than 140 parks, but there are plenty of good reasons to choose Cascade Lake Park for your next picnic. It opened in 2019 after nearly 15 years of development. The amount of thought that went into the project shows because Cascade Lake Park has everything families want in a park and more. Table sets throughout the park are perfect for picnic lunches. The play area has equipment for young children and older kids. For quieter play, grab a checker table. When the weather’s warm, beat the heat with a swim at the beach.
Location: 88 23rd Ave SW.
Hours: 6 a.m. to dusk daily.
Go Fishing in Foster-Arend Park
If your family enjoys fishing, drop a line at Foster-Arend Park. Its lake gets stocked with rainbow trout during winter, spring, and fall, so there are usually plenty of fish to catch. You might also be lucky enough to snag a largemouth bass or bluegill. Launch your own boat or fish directly from the pier. Bring your bathing suits to swim at the nearby beach during the summer.
Location: 37th Street NE and E River Road NE.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Enjoy Tabletop Activities at Rochester Public Library
A trip to the library doesn’t sound like family fun on paper, but Rochester Public Library goes the extra mile to make its facility entertaining for people of all ages. Its Sunday tabletop activities, which encourage kids and their parents to bond over games, arts, and crafts, are a great way to reconnect in the modern age. While you’re there, ask about the library’s other activities, including story time for young children and their parents, murder mystery parties, and more.
Location: 101 2nd St SE.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Go Sledding at Judd Park
When the mercury falls, Rochester families head to Judd Park, home to one of two local designated sledding hills. The large open hill is a popular spot for the young and young at heart. There are no tow ropes or warming facilities, but most families appreciate the simple charm of this back-to-basics sledding hill.
Location: 3812 3rd St NW.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Explore SPARK, Children’s Museum
SPARK offers free admission for the whole family on the first Sunday of every month. This promotion lets you explore the entire museum, including the three-dimensional Helix maze, the H2O zone, and the Little Sparks play area designed for children under three. The interactive displays are so much fun that your children probably won’t realize they’re learning. Visit SPARK’s website to register and reserve your place.
Location: Apache Mall, 1201 12th St SW, Ste 632.
Hours: Free sessions run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month.
These are some of the fun, free, family-friendly activities our team at Tom Kadlec Kia enjoys sharing with our loved ones, but we’d love to hear from you. Did we miss any of your favorite ways to enjoy the city with your brood on a budget? Contact us or visit our Rochester dealership to share any free family activities we’ve missed.
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