Rochester This Week – 5/12/26
Lilacs, open roads, and summer favorites reopening—plan this week’s day trips around Rochester.
A week at its peak
This is one of those fleeting weeks when everything feels aligned—blooms at their peak, days stretching longer, and just enough warmth to carry you outside without overthinking. You do not need a full plan. Just a place to start.
A landscape designed to be wandered
Highland Park is often described as a museum of trees—home to rare, towering specimens from around the world, many of them among the tallest of their kind in New York State. While visitors arrive this time of year for the lilacs and the energy of the Rochester Lilac Festival, there is just as much to notice beyond the blooms: winding paths, layered plantings, and quiet corners that reveal the park’s thoughtful design. This is the week to experience both the celebration and the landscape that inspired it.
The return of summer favorites
May quietly unlocks some of the region’s most anticipated destinations. Ice cream stands flip their signs to open, gorge trails become accessible again, and boat tours and amusement parks begin their season.
See what is opening this month →
An easy day at the lake
At the southern tip of Keuka Lake, Hammondsport offers an easy balance of scenery and pace. You will find lakeside views, small shops, and a strong sense of place shaped by its winemaking heritage. It is the kind of destination that works best without a tight itinerary—arrive, wander, and let the day unfold as you move through it.
Art of the Day Trip
The Air Between Us
On Walking in Silence Beside Someone You Love
Walking beside someone without talking feels different from walking alone. You notice small things—the sound of their footsteps on gravel, the way they stop (or don’t) when you do, and how it’s unnecessary to fill the quiet. Along the lake or through the woods, the silence starts to feel comfortable rather than empty. You keep moving together without needing to explain anything.
Featured Events
Ellwanger Garden Open Days
Sun, May 17, 24, and 31, noon–3 p.m.
625 Mt. Hope Ave., Rochester
Tucked behind one of Rochester’s historic homes, the Ellwanger Garden opens to the public on only a few Sundays each May. Established in the 19th century and still carefully maintained, the garden offers a quieter spring experience—layered perennial beds, flowering trees, and a sense of calm just beyond the city streets. A suggested donation supports preservation and ongoing care.
Genesee Valley QuiltFest
Fri, May 15–Sun, May 17
RIT, Henrietta
More than 60 vendors and countless handmade quilts fill RIT during this year’s Genesee Valley QuiltFest. Whether you sew yourself or simply appreciate craftsmanship, the show offers an opportunity to slow down and notice the details, textures, and colors on a remarkable scale. It is equal parts art show, community gathering, and creative inspiration.
Looking for even more ideas?
Browse the full events guide →
See you out there,
Debi