Things to do this weekend in and around Rochester
Friendly fun in Rochester and the Finger Lakes for Friday, August 21, 2026 – Sunday, August 23, 2026
(Scroll down for full list of weekend activities.)
Friday, August 21, 2026
Kick off your weekend with wild family adventure on a countryside safari at Safari Tours At Hidden Valley Animal Adventure!, where kids can get up close to camels, zebras, and other exotic animals on an open-air tour before visiting the friendly creatures in the Small Animal Adventure. For a relaxed midday outing, climb aboard the canal boat for Lunch and Erie Canal Lock 32 Cruise Aboard Sam Patch - Pittsford, NY, where live narration and a working lock make history come alive as you sail through picturesque Pittsford. Music-loving families can head to the planetarium for dazzling lights and classic hits at Laser Elton John - Matinee at RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, a colorful laser celebration of the Rocket Man’s greatest songs. In the evening, soak up the summer breeze and local tunes on the water with Live Music Cruise Aboard Sam Patch, where a live band serenades you at sunset as you glide along the Erie Canal, or set sail from downtown Rochester for skyline views and river scenery on Live Music Cruise Aboard Riverie, a musical voyage that ends with a stunning look at the city lit up at night.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Saturday is packed with hands-on fun, starting with a special kids’ outing on the canal at Kids’ Cruise Aboard Sam Patch, where children enjoy themed puzzles, crafts, and onboard activities while the whole family takes in the scenic Erie Canal. Budding climbers can tackle new heights at Guided Climbing at RocVentures Climbing Gym, a one-hour, staff-led session designed to make first-time climbers feel confident, safe, and excited about reaching the top. Over at Genesee Country Village & Museum, creative teens and adults can explore historical fiber arts during the colorful Dyeing Yarn Workshop, learning how dyes and mordants turn simple wool into vibrant yarn in a charming 19th-century setting, while sports fans step back in time at the Men's Vintage Baseball Game at GCV&M, where wool uniforms, old-style bats, and traditional rules bring classic base ball to life on a replica 19th-century field. For a relaxing midday escape, families can pair a tasty lunch with river views on Lunch and Scenic River and Canal Cruise Aboard Riverie, gliding past parks and campuses while hearing the story of how Rochester’s waterways shaped the community.
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Close out the weekend with a gentle dose of nature and history on the water during Erie Canal Lock 32 Cruise Aboard Sam Patch, a narrated journey through a working lock where kids can watch the boat rise and fall as they learn about canal engineering and local stories. Families looking for a relaxing city escape can enjoy the leafy riverbanks and canal scenery on Scenic River and Canal Cruise Aboard Riverie, which glides past the University of Rochester and Genesee Valley Park and finishes with a spectacular view of Rochester’s skyline. History buffs of all ages will love wandering through the 19th century at General Admission to GCV&M's 2026 Season, where homes, farms, shops, and civic buildings are alive with interpreters demonstrating everyday life from the 1800s. Animal enthusiasts can spend a magical day at the zoo exploring the inspiring Tales of Conservation sculpture exhibit at the Seneca Park Zoo - Summer 2026, featuring towering sculptures that share the comeback stories of species saved from extinction, or travel a bit west to meet roaring animatronic dinosaurs at Destination Dinosaur at the Buffalo Zoo!, where kids can wander a dino trail, dig for fossils, and enjoy an educational show that makes prehistoric creatures feel thrillingly real.