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!
Music Busking at Thursdays
Want to perform as an acoustic busker (a street-corner musician) at Thursdays Downtown? We're offering signups during 1-3pm at the remaining Thursdays Downtown events. Busking is permitted only at official locations approved by Rochester Downtown Alliance and must be approved via the completion of the application. Artists must pre-register weekly by Tuesday at 5pm to secure a time slot.
Click here to review the guidelines before applying
Mayo Clinic Family Nook
Participate in fun family activities and yard games from 11am-7:30pm.
