
Spring and summer are packed with festivals and events that people in the Rochester area look forward to every year.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced some to postpone and others to cancel completely.
Here is a list of some of the major events and their status as of April 9.
Rochester Lilac Festival
The 2020 festival was scheduled for May 8 – 17 but is currently postponed.
Organizers say they are optimistic about being able to reschedule, but that isn’t certain.
Rochester International Jazz Festival
The Jazz Festival was scheduled for June 19 – 27 but has now been rescheduled for early October.
It will be held October 2 – 10.
Each year it attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world.
Rochester International Jazz Festival website
Corn Hill Arts Festival
Organizers say the annual Corn Hill Arts Festival is not happening at all in 2020.
It would have been held on July 11 and 12.
A resurgence of the festival for 2021 is currently being discussed.
Corn Hill Arts Festival Website
Park Avenue Summer Art Festival
The Park Ave. Fest website says it’s postponed — but it will not be held in 2020.
Instead, organizers say the festival has been rescheduled for August 7 and 8 of 2021.
Park Avenue Summer Art Festival website
Fairport Canal Days
Another event that draws a big crowd, Fairport Canal Days announced its cancellation on Wednesday.
It was scheduled for June 5, 6 and 7. It has been rescheduled for June 4, 5 and 6 of 2021.
Organizers say in lieu of the festival, a $10,000 donation is being made to the Perinton Food Shelf.
Canal Days cancellation notice
Rochester Puerto Rican Festival
Organizers of the festival have decided to postpone the event until 2021.
It was originally scheduled to take place August 13 – 15 at Frontier Field.
Out Alliance Summer Pride Parade and Festival
The Out Alliance website states that all events are canceled until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A news release sent out on Wednesday says the alliance is in talks with the City of Rochester to secure postponement dates for 2020.
The celebrations usually stretches over a week to 10 days in mid-July.
Food Truck Rodeos at Rochester Public Market
Held on the last Wednesday of June, July, August, and September, these events have become a summer staple.
Right now, all Food Truck Rodeos are postponed.
All special events at the Rochester Public Market have been placed on hold.
Irondequoit Memorial Day Parade
The town says the annual Memorial Day parade scheduled for Sunday, May 24 has been canceled.
Town of Irondequoit events website
Greece Memorial Day Parade
This year’s parade has been canceled over fears of inadequate social distancing and the large crowd that typically gathers for the event.
Town of Chili Chil-E Festival
The town announced on Thursday, April 9 that the 2020 Chil-E Festival scheduled for July 4 has been canceled.
Rochester Twilight Criterium
The MVP Health Care Twilight Criterium has been canceled for 2020.
The high-paced cycle race was scheduled for Saturday, June 6.
Wayne County Fair
Organizers of the 165th Wayne County Fair have decided to officially cancel the event for 2020 because of the pandemic.
It was scheduled to take place August 10-15. Instead, it has been rescheduled for August 9-14, 2021.
Webster Fireman’s Carnival & Parade
For the first time in more than 80 years the Webster Fire Department has made the decision to cancel the annual Fireman’s Carnival & Parade to protect the health of the community.
The event was scheduled to take place on July 15 through 18.
Webster Fireman’s Carnival Facebook Page
Palmyra Canaltown Days
For the health and safety of the community, organizers of the 2020 Palmyra Canaltown Days festival have decided to cancel the event.
The festival is being rescheduled for September 25 and 26, 2021.
Palmyra Canaltown Days website
Ontario County Fair
The 177th annual Ontario County Fair scheduled for July 21-25, 2020 is now canceled due to COVID-19 safety concerns.
The fair averages 15,000 attendees annually and is run solely by volunteers.
The event is now scheduled for July 27 to July 31, 2021.
This article will be updated as new information is released.
— SPECTRUM NEWS ROCHESTER