About

Rochester is a festival city.* From the Lilac Festival in May through the Roc Holiday Village, there's no shortage of reasons to get out, gather, and celebrate what makes this region worth living in.

*But after New Year's, the city goes quiet. We don't think it has to.

winterROCs is a new winter festival launching in March 2027, built to fill that gap. The plan over time is a city-wide event that gives our community members somewhere to be during the months Rochester tends to go dark. We're starting with a fine art fair, because that's where our roots are. An even larger festival is where we're headed.

Our inaugural art fair brings together 30 to 50 artists working in painting, printmaking, ceramics, photography, and other media for a one-day exhibition and sale. Every artist is selected through a jury process. Every piece is original, made by hand, and available to purchase directly from the artist. No galleries, no commissions.

Buying art directly from the person who made it is one of the best ways to support small, local business and to bring something genuinely original into your home. It doesn't require a gallery budget or insider knowledge.

It’s still winter… but it’s still a festival city! Come be a part of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A friendly indoor fine art fair—A room full of original art for sale, made by hand, warmly shown by the people who made it. There are no commissions to galleries or brokers to raise costs for you, the buyer, and the artists take home 100% of their own profits.

  • You bet it is! Everything is for sale directly from the artist, clearly priced, no commissions. The money goes straight to the person who made the work.

  • There will be a cash bar on site with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages available. While there won’t be food served directly at the art fair, there are plenty of local restaurants nearby that we would love for you to visit.

  • General admission tickets are $5.
    Children 12 and under are free.

    VIP tickets are $35 and include admission to the First Friday opening of the show (March 5, from 7-9 pm) and admission to the fair on Saturday, March 6.

    Tickets go on sale in December 2026.

  • The art fair is on Saturday, March 6, 2027, from 10 am-4 pm. It will be taking place at an indoor venue in the Rochester community. We’ll be announcing the specific location in October! Click here to sign up to be among the first to know!

  • Yes! The venue is ADA-compliant and accessible for wheelchair users.

  • Sign up here and we’ll be in touch as details are confirmed—venue, artist lineup, and exclusive, VIP opportunities.

  • The artist application is live now through Friday, November 20, 2026. Click here to apply!