The Lilac Festival (lilacfestival.com) is held each May at Rochester's Highland Park, home to the world's largest lilac collection. Horticulturist John Dunbar planted the park's first lilacs in 1892. The free event includes a parade, art, and musical performances. It also features children's entertainment and a family fun run.
Held in June, the Rochester International Jazz Festival (rochesterjazz.com) features free and ticketed concerts around the city. In 2011, the event showcased performances by k.d. Lang, Elvis Costello, and Natalie Cole.
The Strong National Museum of Play (museumofplay.org) ensures families can enjoy hands-on exhibits while exploring artifacts on display by combining collections-based exhibits of history museums with interactive learning and entertainment featured in children's museums. It includes the National Toy Hall of Fame, a working carousel from 1918, an a butterfly garden.
Tracing its roots to 1912, the Rochester Museum and Science Center (rmsc.org) features interactive exhibits on science, technology, natural science, and regional cultural heritage. Visitors can also participate in simulated space missions and watch astronomy shows at the museum's planetarium.
Rochester's Seabreeze Amusement Park (seabreeze.com) offers fun and entertainment for families and children of all ages. The theme park has approximately 70 attractions, including family and children's rides, and a waterpark. Classic family rides include a hand-carved carousel and a scenic railroad. In operation since 1879, the park is open between mid-May and mid-September near the shores of Lake Ontario.
The 56-acre Roseland Waterpark (roselandwaterpark.com), southeast of Rochester, features a wave pool, slides, and rides. The family-oriented park is smoke- and alcohol-free.
The highest mountain between the Rocky Mountains and the Adirondack/Laurentian Mountains is Bristol Mountain (bristolmountain.com), approximately 40 miles south of downtown Rochester. The mountain has 34 ski and snowboard trails and boasts a dedicated children's learning center.
Opened in 2007, Frontier Field in downtown Rochester is the home of Minor League Baseball's Rochester Red Wings (redwingsbaseball.com). With tickets for the 2010-11 season costing between $6.50 and $11.50, catching a game is affordable and accessible entertainment for families.
