Free Events in Rochester, NY

Concerts by the Shore. Concerts by the Shore, sponsored by Wegmans, are held Wednesday evenings from 7-9 pm at Ontario Beach Park (Charlotte). The Concerts by the Shore season usually runs from the Wednesday after Memorial Day to the Wednesday before Labor Day. Season schedules are announced mid-May and can be found on the Wegmans website or printed on their plastic grocery bags.

Concerts are free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Bring your own chair and blanket. You may bring your own food and drink to Charlotte, but don't bring glass bottles or alcohol. Grills and picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are several restaurants within walking distance of the beach, or grab a hot dog or hamburg from the Wegmans stand by the gazebo.

While at Charlotte you can take a walk on the pier, play in the sand, and swim in the lake (if the water tests safe). Charlotte has an awesome playground where kids can enjoy the swings, slides, and climbing equipment.

Ontario Beach Park (Charlotte) is located at 4799 Lake Ave. Parking is free in the municipal lot on the corner of Lake and Beach Avenues, or take the #1 bus to the beach.

Party in the Park. Party in the Park is a free concert series held on Thursdays from mid-June to mid-August. The concerts start at 5 pm and are open to the public. Carrying in food and drink is prohibited, and no chairs are allowed. There's a small set of bleachers for those who need to sit, and there are vendors selling festival foods, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks. Minors are admitted with a responsible adult, but it's generally not a family-friendly event. It's important to note that Party in the Park is not held in a park, it's literally on the asphalt parking lot, and should probably be called Party in the Parking Lot. That being said, it's arguably the best free concert series in Rochester.

Party in the Park is held in the parking lot on the corner of Exchange and Court Streets (near the War Memorial). Paid parking is available on-street, in the adjacent municipal lot, or in the Court Street parking garage. Party in the Park is within walking distance of the bus hub on Main & Clinton.

Bands on the Bricks. Bands on the Bricks is a free concert series at the Public Market on Friday nights from 5-10 pm during the summer. Bring a chair and sit back and listen to the music, or bring your dancing shoes and boogie on the bricks. The Public Market extends its hours on Fridays for Bands on the Bricks, so you can browse the many booths, pick up some produce, and eat an empanada. (Who can go to The Public Market without going to The Empanada Stop?)

The Public Market is located at 280 North Union Street. Parking is free, but limited. Walking, cycling, or taking the #9 bus is encouraged.

First Fridays/Wide Open Mic at Writer's and Books, 7-9 pm on the first Friday of each month. Norm Davis hosts an Open Mic Night as part of Rochester's First Friday Events, and welcomes "poets, performers and writers of all kinds".

Writers and Books is located at 740 University Avenue. Parking is extremely limited. Buses #18 and #19 serve University Avenue.

Schedules and more information:
https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/IngredientGuideDetailView?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=1&productId=566173
http://www.rochesterevents.com/festivals-events/party-in-the-park
http://www.wab.org/events/2011_02.shtml
http://www.cityofrochester.gov/nightmarkets/