Southern Minnesota's largest art, food and music street festival!
Dates: Every Thursday from June 11 – August 13, 2026 (Except July 2)
Time: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: 1st Ave SW (from W Center St to Historic 3rd St SW) & Peace Plaza
A weekly summer staple of downtown Rochester, Thursdays Downtown combines arts, music, food, and a vendor market into one free community-uniting, block-party-style event. Join your friends and neighbors at Thursdays Downtown to eat, drink, dance, and shop the day away!
NEW THIS YEAR!
Youth Booth Vendors will be present every week at Thursdays Downtown. See 'Special Events' below for the season schedule.
T-shirts for sale! Get your own t-shirt at Thursdays Downtown this year! For sale every Thursdays, you can purchase a t-shirt for $20 in sizes: S, M, L, XL or 2XL. Get one before they're all gone at the blue Rochester Downtown Alliance booth on Peace Plaza.
Band Lineup 2026
Thursdays Band Lineup 2026
June 11
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza - Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo (11:30am), Austin Simpson (5pm), VeeGees (7pm)
Altra Federal Credit Union Stage on 1st Ave – Bruce Burniece (11:30am), Sing Along Beer Choir by MPR (5pm), Shabby Road Orchestra (7pm)
June 18
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza – Ryan Sullivan (11:30am), Colin Bracewell (5pm), Unicorn (7pm)
Altra Federal Credit Union Stage on 1st Ave – Hannah Hammond (11:30am), Mark Cameron & Blues Factory (5pm), Incognito (7pm)
June 25
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza – Steve Solkela (11:30am), Loud Mouth Brass (5pm), Los Rebeldes (7pm)
Altra Federal Credit Union Stage on 1st Ave – D’Sievers (11:30am), Pretty Pretty Please (5pm), Six Mile Grove (7pm)
July 9
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza – Jeremy Jewell (11:30am), Cole Allen Band (5pm), Rochester Public Music (7pm)
Altra Federal Credit Union Stage on 1st Ave – Clay Fulton (11:30am), Femmelectric (5pm), Dred I Dread (7pm)
July 16
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza – Chris Lawrence (11:30am), Mississippi Hot Club (5pm), Electric Blue: A Cranberries Tribute Band (7pm)
Altra Federal Credit Union Stage on 1st Ave – Sothea Lam (11:30am), Thomas and the Shakes (5pm), Teeth (7pm)
July 23
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza – Eleanor Sievers (11:30am), Hollow Doubts (5pm), Pitch-A-Friend Singles Event (7pm)
Altra Federal Credit Union Stage on 1st Ave – Mark Stary (11:30am), Amateur (5pm), County Line Drive (7pm)
July 30
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza – Dan Israel (11:30am), Sister Luv (5pm), La Manga (7pm)
Altra Federal Credit Union Stage on 1st Ave – Ali Gray (11:30am), Hair of the Dog (5pm), Junk FM (7pm)
August 6
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza – James Gray (11:30am), Alexander Natalie (5pm), Chubs (7pm)
Altra Federal Credit Union Stage on 1st Ave – Lojo Russo (11:30am), Neon Arrival (5pm), Annie Mack (7pm)
August 13
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza – Paul Atkins (11:30am), Horse Tornado (5pm), True North (7pm)
Altra Federal Credit Union Stage on 1st Ave – Pure Rock Studios (11:30am), Revved Up (5pm), Soul Train (7pm)
Special Events at Thursdays
June 11, 5-6pm: Bring the Sing Rochester with The Twin Cities Beer Choir
1st Ave Stage
Join in for a delightful, free, evening community sing-along! YourClassical Minnesota Public Radio's Bring the Sing returns to Thursdays Downtown, featuring the Twin Cities Beer Choir. The Beer Choirs mission is to bring people together by singing while drinking great beer in community-building sing-along events. If you love beer and singing, Beer Choir is for you! No rehearsal, talent or experience required. All you need to do is show up and be ready to have a great time! There are also numerous non-alcoholic options at Thursday’s Downtown.
Register: Registration requested, but not required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bring-the-sing-with-the-twin-cities-beer-choir-tickets-1981584957952?aff=MPREvents
June 18, 12:20pm: Special Olympics 2026 Torch Run
The torch runners made up of cops and athletes from around the country will bus into Rochester to Central Park and run down 1st Ave. through the Peace Plaza, turn right on 2ndSt. SW over to 2nd Ave SW and down to Soldiers Field Park where there will be about a 45 minute program at the Peace Officers Memorial. Once the program is over the torch runners and athletes will leave on the run to another location nearby, hop on their buses and head for other locations, and eventually the Mall of America for the final ceremony of the day.
Youth Booth Vendors
Youth ages 12-18 will be selling their art, unique crafted items, handmade products and baked goods at the Youth Booth at specific times during this summer's Thursdays Downtown festivities! The Youth Booth is located at the Peace Plaza entry next to A Not So Private Sky art.
June 11, 4-8pm: RMN-Fishing Baits
June 18, 11am-3pm: Night Owls Jewelry Shop
June 18, 4-8pm: Custom Tumblers
June 25, 11am-3pm: Emily's Animals
June 25, 4-8pm: Kinny's Cookies
July 9, 4-8pm: The Salty Grip
July 16, 11am-3pm: Artsy Fartsy
July 16, 4-8pm: Lotus Retreat
July 23, 11am-3pm: Addy B's Creations
July 23, 4-8pm: Paige Abrahamson
July 30, 11am-3pm: Avie Cakes
July 30, 4-8pm: ARTaholic
August 6, 11am-3pm: Sister Slimez
August 6, 4-8pm: Weston Apples
August 13, 4-8pm: Squarakeet Crafts
July 23, 7-8:30pm: Pitch-A-Friend Singles Event
Peace Plaza Stage
Tired of dating apps? Meet other singles in Rochester at Pitch-A-Friend on the Peace Plaza stage at Thursdays Downtown! If you’re single, get your friends to sign up to pitch you to the crowd with a fun 3-5 minute slide presentation. If you’re not single, come out and pitch your single friends. You don’t need to pitch or be pitched to attend the event. It will be a night filled with laughter, great vibes, conversations, community and connection! FREE to attend, $5 to pitch your friend.
Map of Vendors
Visit one of the two RDA Thrusdays Info booths if you need help finding your favorite booth!
Mayo Clinic Family Nook
Participate in fun family activities and yard games from 11am-7:30pm.
Where to Park
Special thanks to all our Thursdays Downtown partners who
help make the best summer festival in southeastern MN possible!
Thank them and show them your support!
Altra Federal Credit Union
Kahler Hospitality Group
Mayo Clinic
Olmsted Medical Center
Gillette Pepsi Companies
Rochester Public Music
Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Wings Credit Union
Winona State University
Townsquare Media Rochester
KAAL ABC 6 News
KIMT 3 News
KTTC
KSMQ
Minnesota 97.5 Greatest Hits
Minnesota Public Radio
Get involved in Thursdays Downtown as a partner or sponsor.
