Discover Downtown Rochester
Update as of March 12, 2020: For the safety and health of downtown business employees and attendees, the Rochester Downtown Alliance is postponing Ladies’ Night Out amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) concern. We make decisions like this with the utmost care and consider local, state, and national updates. We look forward to bringing you community events you love soon.
It's not just girls who wanna have fun: Ladies' Night Out March 26 presented by the Rochester Downtown Alliance is a good time for everyone! With more activities and experiences for every age and gender, plan your night out with this essential guide to the upcoming Ladies' Night Out in downtown Rochester.
Update as of March 12, 2020: For the safety and health of downtown business employees and attendees, the Rochester Downtown Alliance is postponing Ladies’ Night Out amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) concern. We make decisions like this with the utmost care and consider local, state, and national updates. We look forward to bringing you community events you love soon.
Extra, extra: read all about investing in yourself and enjoying being with friends at Ladies' Night Out March 26 in downtown Rochester. Here are the newest Ladies' Night Out additions!
Update as of March 12, 2020: For the safety and health of downtown business employees and attendees, the Rochester Downtown Alliance is postponing Ladies’ Night Out amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) concern. We make decisions like this with the utmost care and consider local, state, and national updates. We look forward to bringing you community events you love soon.
Recharge in March with Ladies' Night Out March 26, whether that's through relaxation, empowerment, dining, or some retail therapy. These downtown Rochester businesses are ready to offer a fun time for all Ladies' Night Out attendees.
"Let's Go Crazy" leading up to Prince's former band The Revolution's Riverside Concert performance August 18! Grab your "Raspberry Beret," get in your "Little Red Corvette," and party like it's "1999" in downtown Rochester! Here are the Prince-inspired specials, events, and promotions to celebrate the Summer of Purple!
How does the common saying go: “So much time and so little to do”? Strike that and reverse it! In downtown Rochester, there is plenty to do and we’ll help you with the time factor, too! Here is a list of Rochester events worth traveling for in every season and year-round! Find more Events in downtown Rochester while attending the following!
Welcome to downtown Rochester, Minnesota! Whether you are visiting for the first time or are a life-long resident, here you will find plenty of places to go in your spare time. Within a 44-block district, downtown Rochester has everything from arts and culture to live action to quiet nature. Find your free-time fit with the following See & Do ideas in downtown Rochester!
SocialICE returned to the Peace Plaza on February 7, 8 & 9 for an event that was a perfect example of a Minnesota winter. We started the weekend with a snowstorm, went into freezing temperatures on the second night, but ended with perfect temps! Although the weather was a bit all over the place, Rochester residents were right in the heart of Downtown.
We are one week away from our brand new event SocialICE FAM JAM and we can’t wait for you to experience it! SocialICE FAM JAM will be happening on February 9 from 1PM-4PM on the Peace Plaza. Gather your friends and family and get ready for a day of arctic adventure.
It’s almost February, which means something big in Downtown Rochester is on its way- SocialICE! Join 50,000 of your closest friends and head to the Peace Plaza February 7, 8, & 9 for an icy experience fit for true Minnesotans. This year, we have seven uniquely themed ice bars serving signature drinks while nightly DJs and activities help to keep you on your toes. To view the participating bars and restaurants and their unique themes, click here.
SocialICE FAM JAM is bringing the cool vibes of SocialICE to the day time with a lineup of family-friendly activities and entertainment. One of these specialties is that several of our participating ice bars will be offering kiddy versions of their SocialICE signature drinks as well as themed activities.
Grab your girl gang and get ready to treat yourself! Downtown Rochester’s Ladies Night Out is returning on March 7 from 5PM-9PM. The Rochester Downtown Alliance is helping to put together a night of wining and dining, shopping, and more. This is the perfect excuse to get the girls together and checkout some of Downtown’s best shops and restaurants. Let the pampering begin!
SocialICE 2019 is on it’s way and this year we’re pulling out all the stops! From a giant igloo to all-new ice bar themes and LIVE painting on 1st Avenue, this year is bigger and better than ever. Need more convincing? We have listed our top eight reasons why we think you should attend...
SocialICE wouldn't be possible without our great community partners that make it come to life. By injecting their own brand of creativity into ice sculptures and providing all-new experiences (or both!), our many partners are setting you up for the ultimate winter weekend. We hear they're as excited as you are! Let's get to know who's making SocialICE happen.
Take a trip into a real life snow globe when you visit SocialICE FAM JAM! You’ll see the coolest elements of SocialICE, but during the day, such as our life-sized ice sculptures and giant SocialICE letters; word on the street is that they make the best selfie spots! SocialICE FAM JAM will be held on February 9 from 1PM-4PM on the Peace Plaza. This brand new event will be the perfect opportunity to bring the whole family out & about to enjoy everything SocialICE has to offer.
It may be cold outside, but the good times and great memories bring warmth to SocialICE. We want to help you make those special memories by creating the best night ever. On February 7, 8, & 9, the Rochester Downtown Alliance (along with our awesome partners) is throwing the biggest winter whiteout in town. Join us Downtown and look below to get a glimpse of what SocialICE 2019 has to offer.
If you didn’t think SocialICE could get any better, think again! We are excited to introduce SocialICE FAM JAM, a brand new event set to bring the community together to positively embrace our wintry months. SocialICE FAM JAM will be on Saturday, February 9, before SocialICE, from 1PM–4PM on the Peace Plaza. Use this as the perfect time to check out the sculptures, engage with Downtown businesses, and enjoy SocialICE with the whole family.
Pop by on National Popcorn Day! The Rochester Downtown Alliance is celebrating National Popcorn day early this year by handing out complimentary popcorn bags at select Downtown Rochester locations on Friday, January 18 from 11AM-1PM. Can't wait? Let's sneak a peek at these crazy flavors you might find on the shelves.
Silent night… yeah, right! Downtown Rochester will be anything but silent on November 23 as we celebrate the start of the holiday season at Here Comes Santa Claus. The beloved tradition is back for its 44th year and it wouldn’t be possible without our activities partner, Olmsted Medical Center, our warming house partner, Castle Community, or our event partner, Shops at University Square. Running from 4-8PM, Here Comes Santa Claus has a multitude of activities to keep everyone filled with cheer.
As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, it’s only right that we take time to celebrate all things jolly in Downtown Rochester. Celebrate what makes the winter season so special on November 23 from 4:00PM - 8:00PM at Here Comes Santa Claus. The Rochester Downtown Alliance is proud to partner with multiple organizations to put on the jolliest celebration of the year.
The holiday season is almost upon us and what better way to celebrate than with a beloved tradition in Downtown Rochester. Here Comes Santa Claus is celebrating its 44th Anniversary on Friday, November 23 in Downtown Rochester, and the holiday spirit will be bigger and brighter than ever. Our warming house partner, Castle Community, events partner, Shops at University Square, and our activities partner, Olmsted Medical Center, have helped us to create a day of festivity for Rochester residents and visitors of all ages.
Movies in the Park is a four-part outdoor movie experience presented by the Rochester Downtown Alliance and Premier Bank Rochester featuring activities, film-inspired food and drink, and a movie nestled in string-lit Historic Central Park. This time, it's "Date Night" inspired by the romantic favorite, Safe Haven. Play, dine, and watch a movie under the stars with us!
Movies in the Park is a four-part outdoor movie experience presented by the Rochester Downtown Alliance and Premier Bank Rochester featuring activities, film-inspired food and drink, and a movie nestled in string-lit Historic Central Park. This time, we will feature a night inspired by the award-winning favorite, Coco. Play, dine, and watch a movie under the stars with us!
Dogs Downtown, presented by the Rochester Downtown Alliance and Subaru of Rochester, is just two days away and everyone’s tails are wagging in anticipation! We’ve got all paws on deck making sure this year is the best one yet, so make sure to stop down on the Peace Plaza, this Saturday, August 4th for a day worth barking about. Read on for a sneak peek of what you can find at this year’s event.
Subaru of Rochester (Subaru) has been a part of the Rochester community since 1986. Since then they’ve proven to be active community members— and furry-friend lovers. “There are always dogs on leashes in our show room and on the lot trying out our vehicles, and we even have a dog park to let them run around!” For the last couple of years, Subaru has played a huge part in making Dogs Downtown possible. This year, we got to know their organization better, and found out which dogs their staff members wanted to be!
Movies in the Park is a four-part outdoor movie experience presented by the Rochester Downtown Alliance and Premier Bank Rochester featuring activities, film-inspired food and drink, and a movie nestled in string-lit Historic Central Park. This time, we will feature a night inspired by the reimagined hit, Jumanji. Play, dine, and watch a movie under the stars with us!
SocialICE 2018 Insider's Guide: All Things SocialICE
Meet the Ice Bars
This year, SocialICE will feature nine uniquely themed ice bars all serving signature, one-of-a-kind specialty drinks, live DJ entertainment nightly, life-sized ice sculptures, and much more.
To view the participating bars and restaurants and their unique themes, and to watch the SocialICE 2018 Specialty Drink Teaser video, click here.
P.S. Check out the official event map to see the specific ice bar locations. Plus, the SocialICE letters are now on the Peace Plaza! Have you seen them?
Want to learn how to transform an idea into a viable business concept? Participate in Rochester’s inaugural Startup Weekend. This event will take place from Friday November 3rd through Sunday November 5th at Collider Coworking in downtown Rochester.
Startup Weekend is an opportunity to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, create an idea, and build the beginnings of a viable startup in fifty-four hours. The event is powered by Techstars, a global network that supports and encourages entrepreneurship. Techstars’ Startup Weekends take place in over 150 countries; 2.9K Startup Weekends have occurred to date.
This year we celebrate the 10th year of STYLE! The show is quickly approaching, but we wanted to do things a little different this year, we want to give you a backstage pass to the life of one of our STYLE Models, Melissa McNallan. Melissa McNallan is a writer, marketer, and actor based in Rochester, Minnesota. Her big obsessions are fashion, fitness, and delicious (healthy) food. She is the publisher, editor, and creator of 40fitnstylish.com and today is our guest blog writer for STYLE. Below is her story and why she models every year for this fashion forward event.
Each time I do STYLE, it’s like a reunion. Unlike a class reunion there’s no anxiety about my accomplishments, my weight, or my relationship status. Instead, it’s about great clothes, accessories, and the best mirrors around - those involved with STYLE.
National Popcorn Day locations announced
Get your free bag of Carroll's Corn popcorn at:
Location 1: Subway Level, outside Associate Bank (101 1st Ave SW)
Location 2: Shops at University Square (111 S Broadway), first floor, by escalator
Thursday, January 19 is National Popcorn Day and what better way to celebrate the day than giving away free popcorn?
2017 SocialICE participating ice bars and themes announced
SocialICE draws big crowds and one reason is the amazing uniquely themed ice bars that make up Rochester, MN's Ice Bar. Click here to see which bars will be at SocialICE 2017 and what theme to expect.
Next Week: 42nd Annual Here Comes Santa Claus
When: Friday, November 25, from 6 - 8:30 pm
Where: Old City Hall, Peace Plaza, Shops at University Square (111 S Broadway)
“Here Comes Santa Claus,” downtown Rochester’s cherished holiday tradition, features appearances by Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, local celebrities, live entertainment, and Peace Plaza tree lighting ceremony.
Rochester Women's Fall Expo 2016
When: Saturday, Oct 29 from 9 am-4 pm
Where: Mayo Civic Center - 30 Civic Center Drive SE
Gather your girlfriends for a day of shopping, entertainment and FUN! The Rochester Women’s Fall Expo is back for its 20th year on Saturday, October 29th at the Mayo Civic Center. Enjoy over 100 exhibitors, a fashion show, cooking demonstration, guest speakers, and much more. Click here for more information.
Family-Friendly "Fall Fest" is this Saturday, and this is your guide
"Fall Fest," downtown Rochester's newest family-focused event, is this Saturday, October 15 from 10 am - 2 pm on the Peace Plaza.
Like getting instant Fall Fest updates? RSVP on our Facebook Event Page.