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!
See Youth Booth Vendors every week at Thursdays Downtown.
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), Collin 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), Rochester Civic Music (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 Civic 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 – Amanda Grace (11:30am), Mississippi Hot Club (5pm), Jayko (7pm)
Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza – 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), Rochester Civic Music (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
Youth Booth Vendors: Check back later for specific weeks
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! Check back for specific times and location of the Youth Booth.
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.
Mayo Clinic Family Nook
Participate in fun family activities and yard games from 11am-7:30pm.
