The best things to do in Rochester, NY this weekend (October 30 - November 1, 2026) include Halloween at the Zoo at the Seneca Park Zoo, Tricks & Treats at the Rochester Museum & Science Center, an Amerks Halloween game, and Pumpkin Destruction at Wickham Farms in Penfield, NY. Free picks include a kids concert Saturday and a Sunday recital in Pittsford, NY.
By the NORCHAR Real Estate team, Rochester, NY - updated October 28, 2026
Weather outlook (as of October 28, 2026): Breezy Friday near 58 degrees, mostly sunny and dry for Halloween in the upper 50s to around 60, and partly sunny Sunday in the low to mid 60s, per the FingerLakes1.com forecast.
Key takeaways
- Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with daytime events at the Seneca Park Zoo (9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. programs) and the RMSC (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
- The RPO Piano Festival continues at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
- Clocks fall back one hour early Sunday, November 1, 2026.
What's happening Friday?
Toddler Trick-or-Treat at The Strong - Rochester, NY (One Manhattan Square). 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Included with museum admission ($). The Strong National Museum of Play sets up a trick-or-treat route designed for toddlers and their families. Details
Amerks Sweets in Suites Halloween Night - Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY. 7:05 p.m. vs. the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Tickets ($). Fans are encouraged to wear costumes, and kids can trick-or-treat around the arena suites during the game. Details
Spirits of the Past: A Walk in the Dark - Genesee Country Village & Museum, Mumford, NY. Tours between 5 and 9 p.m. (final night). Tickets online in advance only ($). A 75-minute lantern-lit history walk; the museum notes it is not recommended for young children. Details
What's happening Saturday?
Musical Storytime, a Pegasus Kids Concert - Historic German House, Gregory Street, Rochester, NY (South Wedge). Listed 10:15 to 11 a.m. (check the start time). Free. Pegasus Early Music and Quartet Novalis pair stories with live music for young listeners. Details
Halloween at the Zoo - Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY. Programs 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Included with zoo admission ($). The final day of Fall Fest brings Creepy Crawly animal meet-and-greets, a baboon chat, a red panda chat and the kiddie hay maze. Details
Family Fun Day: Tricks & Treats - Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. $5 event fee plus museum admission. An indoor Halloween family day at the museum. Details
RPO Piano Festival: Biss Plays Beethoven - Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY. 7:30 p.m. (pre-concert chat 6:30 p.m.). Tickets ($). Jonathan Biss plays the "Emperor" Concerto with conductor Andreas Delfs, paired with Symphony No. 8. Details
What's happening Sunday?
RPO Piano Festival: Hamelin Plays Brahms - Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY. 2 p.m. Tickets ($). Marc-Andre Hamelin is the soloist in Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, with the Variations on a Theme by Haydn. Details
Faculty Recital: Keyboard Epigraphes - Wilmot Recital Hall, Nazareth University, 4245 East Avenue, Pittsford, NY. 3 p.m. Free and open to the public. Nazareth's School of Music presents "Musical Poetry in Motion," a keyboard program exploring music as poetry. Details
What's on all weekend?
Pumpkin Destruction at Wickham Farms - 1315 Sweets Corners Road, Penfield, NY. Saturday and Sunday; farm open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Farm admission ($). Pumpkin Destruction caps the farm's outdoor Fall Festival, which wraps up November 1. Details
What can you do in Rochester this weekend if it rains?
Rain looks unlikely, but every indoor pick above works: The Strong and the Amerks on Friday, the RMSC on Saturday, both RPO concerts, and the free Nazareth recital on Sunday.
Homeowner tip: Clocks fall back early Sunday, November 1 - a good time to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and swap their batteries.
Frequently asked questions
What free things are there to do in Rochester this weekend?
The Pegasus Early Music "Musical Storytime" kids concert at the Historic German House on Saturday, October 31, 2026 is free. On Sunday, November 1, Nazareth University's faculty recital at 3 p.m. in Pittsford, NY is free and open to the public.
What's happening in Rochester this weekend if it rains?
Indoor options include Toddler Trick-or-Treat at The Strong on Friday, Tricks & Treats at the Rochester Museum & Science Center on Saturday, the Amerks game on Friday night, and RPO Piano Festival concerts on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.
What Halloween events are in Rochester on October 31, 2026?
On Saturday, October 31, the Seneca Park Zoo hosts Halloween at the Zoo from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the RMSC holds Family Fun Day: Tricks & Treats from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wickham Farms in Penfield, NY runs Pumpkin Destruction on October 31 and November 1.
When do the clocks change in Rochester, NY in 2026?
Daylight saving time ends early Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks fall back one hour.
Enjoy your weekend from all of us at NORCHAR Real Estate in Rochester, NY! Thinking about a move? Call 585.244.4444.
Event details can change - please check with organizers before you go.