Festival Preview 2015

2 2015 FESTIVAL PREVIEW

A JURIED SHOW OF OVER 100 ARTISTS

Rated one of the top fine arts shows in New York State10 am-5pm- RAIN OR SHINE

$6 admission*children under 12 free

Includes access to gardens& mansion Food-wine & beer

tent - live music

Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion151 Charlotte St-Canandaigua NY

www.artsatthegardens.org

August 15 & 16

[ INTRODUCTION ] BY JAKE CLAPP

FESTIVALSABOUND

t’s been said that Rochester is a community of festivals. And that’s never truer than when the weather warms and

Highland Park’s lilacs start to bloom. The region’s summer festival season has its unofficial kick off with the massive Lilac Festival, but quickly spreads out to smaller town and neighborhood fairs, canal days, heritage and cultural celebrations, and arts festivals. And of course, there’s the popular Rochester International Jazz Festival in June, and September’s Rochester Fringe Festival, which bridges our transition into the fall. To keep track of everything and help readers plan their summer, City Newspaper has put together this Summer Festival Preview Guide. Inside you’ll find dates, prices, and details of the region’s festivals, a breakdown of Rochester’s many film festivals, and seven quirky things that you might not know about Highland Park. Also check out this guide online at rochestercitynewspaper.com. You’ll find more information on each of the festivals listed, new festivals added as dates and details become available, and three bonus facts about Highland Park.

I

ROCHESTERCITYNEWSPAPER.COM 3

Publishers: William and Mary Anna TowlerGeneral manager: Matt Walsh

Editorial department [email protected] & Entertainment editor: Jake Clapp Contributing writers: Jonathan Mead, Rebecca Rafferty, Adam Lubitow Art department [email protected] director/production manager: Ryan WilliamsonDesigners: Aubrey Berardini, Mark Chamberlin

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CITY NEWSPAPER 2015 FESTIVAL PREVIEWPAGE 4 - FESTIVAL FRENZYCity Newspaper’s 2015 Festival Preview Guide

PAGE 10 - BEYOND THE BLOOMS Seven things you may not know about Highland Park PAGE 14 - CUE MARKSA preview of Rochester’s many film festivals


fter one of the coldest winters on record, Rochesterians are finally beginning to stop shivering and rediscover the world

that exists outside of heated buildings and cars. While the summer months are endlessly beautiful, fall always seems to arrive too soon — right as soon as we get used to sunshine and shorts weather. But in that temperate sweet spot between May and September, Rochester comes alive with hundreds of festivals, events, and gatherings. To help keep track of all the goings-on, City collected information on many of the summer’s festivals — beginning with the Lilac Festival and capped by the Rochester Fringe Festival — so that you can spend time enjoying them, not trying to track down details. Full descriptions of all the festivals listed here can be found online at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

Rochester isn’t known as the “Flower City” for nothing. Named for the sea of lilacs in Highland Park (more than 1,200 plants and 500 varieties), the Lilac Festival is the kickoff of Rochester festival season. Drawing

more than 500,000 people over the course of a jam-packed two weeks, the festival is a beehive of summery activities revolving around the fragrant lilac beds. A parade will proceed down East Avenue and Highland Avenue on Saturday, May 9, with more than 2,500 participants in tow. Marching bands, dancers, costumed characters, and the quirky Damascus mini cars will be among the endless variety in the Lilac Parade, and Shuttle services and reservable viewing areas will be available on the morning of the parade, which begins at 10:30 a.m.

Art in the Park at the Lilac Festival features more than 160 crafts and specialty products, handmade by local artists. Open for both weekends of the festival, Art in the Park also provides an opportunity to buy lilac-themed soaps, perfumes, and other festival-specific merchandise like t-shirts, baseball caps, and puzzles. Art in the Park is open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Lilac Festival is heavy on music: 64 shows, all completely free, are scheduled throughout the week, with some big names like The Psychedelic Furs, Dr. Dog, Blues Traveler, Rusted Root, Mingo Fishtrap, Charlie Musselwhite, and Ana Popovic. Regional gems like Thunder Body and The Blind Spots will also put on performances. Following a week of food and libations, the Highland Hospital-sponsored Lilac Run will conclude the Lilac Festival. Both the 5k and 10k race routes begin and end among the fragrant blooms of Highland Park. The races will begin on Saturday at 8 a.m. (5K) and 9:15 a.m. (10K). The course is USA Track and Field certified, and cash prizes will be awarded to the top finishers (registration $30-$35). Admission to the Lilac Festival is free. For a complete lineup of bands and activities, and answers to any questions about the festival, go to rochesterevents.com/lilac-festival.

[ GUIDE ] BY JONATHAN MEAD

CITY NEWSPAPER’S 2015 FESTIVAL PREVIEW GUIDEFESTIVAL FRENZY

FRIDAY, MAY 8, THROUGH MONDAY, MAY 17

LILAC FESTIVAL


During the 14th annual Dachshund Parade, there will be dog health information available from Veterinary Specialists of Rochester, Animal Emergency Service, and TheraVet Acres. Dog-lovers can catch a variety of handcrafted dachshund-themed items being sold by various vendors, and Pet Saver Superstore will provide free treats. Embroidered parade T-shirts in different colors ($18 each) and embroidered parade towels ($15 each) will be on sale. Payment is asked to be cash only, and part of the proceeds benefit Rochester Hope for Pets and the Verona Street Animal Society. The Parade takes place on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Washington Square Park (181 Clinton Avenue South). Admission is $1 for each dachshund (other breeds should not be brought) and parade donations are accepted. For more information, visit Dachshundparade.com.

For the last three years, the Village of Brockport has hosted a weekend festival to celebrate the seasonal opening of the Erie Canal. The Low Bridge, High Water festival begins Thursday evening with a presentation on new Erie Canal development projects by Tom Grasso, the president of the Canal Society of New York State. The presentation will be at 7 p.m. at the Morgan-Manning House (151 Main Street). On Friday, a craft beer tasting event will be held canal-side, with more than a dozen Rochester-area beer, wine, and cider makers pouring samples. Food vendors and live music complete the night, with Big Eyed Fish (a Dave Matthews tribute band), The Mike Melito Quartet, and Ricky Richards and the Sound Organization. Proceeds from the tasting benefit Camp Good Days, Camp Abilities Brockport, and Bring Rowing to Rochester. Saturday will feature the “Barge Charge” 5K run, and a host of

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SATURDAY, MAY 9

DACHSHUND PARADE

THURSDAY, MAY 14, THROUGH SATURDAY, MAY 16

LOW BRIDGE, HIGH WATER


activities at the waterfront Barge Stage, including kayak rentals, a rowing demo, yoga on the barge, and Pizza Olympics (The day starts at 10 a.m.). The festival takes place Thursday, May 14, through Saturday, May 16. Admission to the festival is free. Tickets for Friday’s beer tasting are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and $5 for non-tasting admission. Paper registration for the 5K can be found at yellowjacketracing.com. See facebook.com/LowBridgeHighWater for additional details.

The Roc City Ribfest is a family-friendly event featuring competitive cooking for ribs, chicken wings, hot dogs, burgers, and meat in various other forms. Competitions include the Roc City Rib Cook Off, World Bacon Championship, Kids Q, and the People’s Choice Ribs, where you can vote for your favorite vendor of the festival. And the kids are welcome: a large playground, arts and crafts, face-painting, and other diversions will be available. Roc City Ribfest takes place Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25, at the Genesee Valley Park (952 East River Road). The festival officially opens to the public Friday evening at 5 p.m. and continues Saturday to Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday’s activities end at 7 p.m.) Entrance is $5 and free for those under 12. The cost includes parking, admission, music, and kids’ activities. The festival will donate $1 from each person to the Golisano Children’s Hospital, and all judging fees are donated to the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester. For more information, visit Roccityribfest.com or call 1-888-ROC-BBQ8.

Rochester’s annual Greek Festival brings the aromas, sounds, and customs of Greece to the area with dancing, food, church tours, and

shopping in a Greek marketplace. Traditional foods include Loukoumades, Saganaki, Gyros, and Fried Calamari. Baklava and Spanakopita cooking demonstrations are scheduled throughout the festival as well. Church tours will explain the interior iconography of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, which houses the most extensive collection of Byzantine-style mosaics in the area. Children can also enjoy their own mini festival, with activities including a climbing wall. The Greek Festival takes place Thursday, May 28, through Sunday, May 31, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and will be located on the grounds of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 962 East Ave. Admission to the festival is free. For more information, visit Rochestergreekfestival.org or call 244-3377.

Attracting more than 200,000 attendees each year, this Fairport volunteer-run festival includes live music, arts and crafts vendors, family activities, food, and more. Fairport Canal Days runs Friday, June 5, through Sunday, June 7, in the village of Fairport. Events begin Friday night from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and will continue Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No Pets. For more information, visit Fairportcanaldays.com or email [email protected].

Held the first Saturday in June, the 19th Ward Square Fair celebrates the cultural diversity of that neighborhood. This year,

the 19th Ward Community Association celebrates its 50th anniversary with a catered picnic in Genesee Valley Park for past 19th Ward neighbors who have moved away to reunite with current residents. The Friday picnic will involve food, beverages, and games. On Saturday, the usual Fair festivities will commence with a pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m., an 11 a.m. parade, various local vendors, and limited edition 50th Anniversary T-shirts available for purchase. The reunion picnic at Genesee Valley Park will begin at 5:30 p.m. The fair will be held on Saturday, June 7, at Aberdeen Square Park (330 Post Avenue). Admission to the fair is free. For more information, visit 19wca.org or call 328-6571.

If it wasn’t already obvious, Rochester is keen on craft beer. Nowhere is this more obvious than at the Rochester Real Beer Expo, a day-long craft beer tasting event that includes more than 80 craft beer offerings. Because of the popularity of the expo, in 2012 the Expo was expanded to include a whole week of craft-brew related gatherings at venues all over the city including food and beer pairings and dinners, socials, concerts, craft beer launches, clambakes, concerts, a home-brewing competition and classes, a “cooking with beer” class, a Keg Toss-Off, a 5K Race, and a disc golf tournament. The Friday (June 12) kick-off party will be held at Lovin’ Cup, followed by the afternoon-long Expo on Saturday, June 13. The next weekend, a 5K race at RIT and the 4th annual Old Toad Cask Festival will top off the week’s whirlwind of activities. Several brewers are tapping new beers made specifically for the festival, including Joe Bean and ROC Brewing, Swiftwater Brewing, Naked Dove, and Three Heads. The Rochester Real Beer Week takes place Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 21, at venues all over Rochester. Event prices vary, but Expo tickets are currently available online for $45 ($65 VIP). Event times and prices will be posted at rochesterrealbeer.com as they become available, and a complete guide will be inserted into City Newspaper on May 27. continues on page 8

FESTIVAL FRENZY continues from page 5

FRIDAY, MAY 22, THROUGH MONDAY, MAY 25

ROC CITY RIBFEST

THURSDAY, MAY 28, THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 31

GREEK FESTIVAL

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 7

FAIRPORT CANAL DAYS

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

19th WARD SQUARE FAIR


ROCHESTER REAL BEER WEEK


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The 25th annual Maplewood Rose Festival will celebrate the blooming roses at Maplewood Park over the second weekend in June. The Rose Garden is home to more than 3,000 rose bushes, including the classic “Malmaison” and more recent hybrid “Princess Diana.” Attendees can find free guided tours of the Genesee Gorge and the rose gardens; food, arts, and crafts vendors; a children’s storytelling tent; a gallery show of Maplewood-area artists; wine tasting in the garden; and the yearly Perennial swap. There will also be fireworks on Friday, visible over the Genesee from the Driving Park Bridge. The festival will be held Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14, at the Maplewood Park and Rose Garden (on the corner of Lake and Driving Park Avenues). Admission is free. For more information, visit maplewood.org/rose-festival or call 232-8420.

Now in its 13th season, the Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival will open on Saturday, June 13, with harpsichordist Yi-heng Yang performing music of Bach, Telemann, Handel, and Corelli. The music festival will feature periodic string ensemble performances throughout June and July at various venues in Branchport, Hammondsport, Keuka Park, and Penn Yan. There will also be an Americana Concert by the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra on Sunday, July 5. New this year is the “Art Inspires Music” program, on Saturday, July 11, which will premiere works by four local composers.

The Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival will take periodically from June 13 through August 1. Tickets are $25 per event (students get in free), with the exception of a free “Bach to Rock” performance on July 15 in Penn Yan. For a full schedule and more details, visit fingerlakes-music.org.

This year’s Rochester International Jazz Festival will be headlined by Jennifer Hudson, Gary Clark Jr., Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, Diana Krall, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Tedeschi Trucks Band with Sharon Jones Dap Kings. The festival’s Club Pass shows feature more than 230 artists at 19 different venues in Rochester’s East End, all within walking distance. These shows will be $20-$25 individually on a first-come-first-serve basis, or can be accessed with a festival-long Club Pass ($194). Additionally, there will be more than 80 shows performed for free throughout the city. For more information, including tickets and venue information, visit Rochesterjazz.com. City Newspaper will publish its annual Jazz Festival Preview Guide on June 10.

The Day of Remembrance, first held in 1999, is a time for honoring and reflecting on the lives lost in the Middle Passage of the slave trade. Hosted by the Maafa Celebration Committee, the annual gathering is an opportunity for contemplation, but also for celebration of the heritage, history, and accomplishments of people of African descent. As in previous years, 10 local residents will be honored as “Warriors” for their contributions to making the community more humane and vibrant. This year marks the 17th annual Day of Remembrance in Rochester.

The Day of Remembrance takes place on Friday, July 3, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Durand Eastman Park (located on Lake Shore Boulevard). Admission is free and open to the public and attendees are asked to wear white, bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit, and flowers for the libation ceremony. For more information, visit maafacc.webs.com or email [email protected].

Rochester Pride 2015’s theme is “Sci-Fi Pride: May the Pride be With You” and takes place Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19, with an assortment of activities for everyone. On Friday, the festival kicks off with a flag ceremony



MAPLEWOOD ROSE CELEBRATION

SATURDAY, JUNE 13, THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

FINGER LAKES CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL FRIDAY, JUNE 19,

THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 21

FESTIVAL ON THE GREEN

FRIDAY, JULY 3

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, THROUGHSATURDAY JUNE 27

ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS,JULY 4 THROUGH AUGUST 16

STERLING RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

FRIDAY, JULY 10, THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 12

FINGER LAKES WINE FESTIVAL

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, AND SATURDAY, JUNE 6

SULPHUR SPRINGS FESTIVAL


ROCHESTER PRIDE 2015SATURDAY, JULY 11, AND SUNDAY, JULY 12

CORN HILL ARTS FESTIVAL


MAY 30FUN BEGINS

AT NOON#THESHOWONMONROE

FROMCULVERTO THEINNERLOOP

Waterfront Art Festival42ND Annual

July 25 & 26 Lakeshore Drive | Canandaigua, NY

WWW.WaterfrontArtFestival.Com

involving local speakers, pride poem readings, and an appearance of the color guard “Pride Performance Ensemble.” On Saturday, the annual parade will begin at 1 p.m. winding its way down Park Avenue, Alexander Street, and Monroe Avenue, to MLK Park, the festival site. This year, International Housewife Mrs. Kasha Davis will headline the festival, which will include dancing, musical groups, drag, and many more attractions. On Sunday, July 19, the Pride Picnic at Genesee Valley park will be held from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. This year, the Picnic will be free for all community members. Pride weekend takes place Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July 19, throughout the city of Rochester. Tickets for the festival are $10 advance ($15 at the gate), and can be purchased at retail locations or from the Gay Alliance website. For more information and a complete list of events and locations, visit gayalliance.org.

The Canandaigua Lake Music Festival features 13 classical artists playing the

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THURSDAY, JULY 16, THROUGH, SUNDAY JULY 16

CANANDAIGUA LAKE MUSIC FESTIVAL


1. HIGHLAND…CEMETERY? Long before it was a designated park, the area where the Lilac Festival is now held was, in the 19th century, home to the Monroe County Almshouse, Insane Asylum, and Penitentiary. Though no formal records of burials exist, there were periodic but little-known uncoverings of bones in the park, which were typically returned unceremoniously to the ground. On July 25, 1984, six skeletons were disinterred by a bulldozer landscaping the park, and six more were uncovered by following rainstorms. An archaeological excavation by the Rochester Museum and Science Center began to relocate the bodies and determine the perimeters of the cemetery, which turned up scores more skeletons. In less than a month,

more than 300 graves were excavated, but since 19 of the skeletons were too deep to be disturbed by landscaping, only 296 skeletons of men, women, and children were relocated to Mt. Hope Cemetery. So, 19 skeletons were left in the park, right? Well, it turns out that the excavation was far from complete. Test holes and soil analysis indicate the burial ground was much larger than previously thought. It’s estimated that 600 to 700 people remain buried in Highland Park to this day.

2. ONE OF THE BEST SLEDDING HILLS IN THE CITY IS MANMADE. The hills that make up Highland Park (and Pinnacle Hill, Cobbs Hill, and Mount Hope

Cemetery) are part of the Pinnacle Range, formed by debris deposited during the late stages of the last glacial retreat, about 12,000 years ago. A large portion of the terrain is made up of layers of gravel and sand deposits. The terrain is broken up by natural valleys created by kettles (depressions left on the landscape from large, slow-melting blocks of glacial ice), as well as numerous gullies formed by old gravel quarries. Quarrying created the valley behind Highland Park’s Lamberton Conservatory, which is the site of some excellent sledding in winter and is carpeted with flowers in the springtime.

3. HIGHLAND IS THE DOUGLASS STATUE’S SECOND SITE.Highland Bowl is home to a bronze monument to abolitionist, journalist, orator, and longtime Rochester resident, Frederick Douglass. This statue was the first monument to an African-American citizen in the country. When the sculpture, created by Sidney W. Edwards, was dedicated in 1899, it originally stood at the New York Central Train Station at Central Avenue and St. Paul Street. It was moved to Highland Park on September

ochester’s Highland Park may be known best as the site of the annual Lilac Festival in May, but the 150-acre park offers lots of year-round interest, including a ramble through Lamberton Conservatory and the arboretum, a variety of memorials and monuments,

a castle with Sunken Gardens, free summertime performances of Shakespearean theater, free movie screenings, sports and recreation, and stunning views of the city. Read on to learn seven pieces of arcane history and bits of surprising trivia about the floral forest on the hill. For three bonus facts about Highland Park, check out this article online at rochestercitynewspaper.com. Highland Park Neighborhood resident Michael Tomb enthusiastically helped with the research of this piece, particularly regarding George Ellwanger and Patrick Barry’s contributions to Rochester.

SEVEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT HIGHLAND PARK[ THE DIRT ] BY REBECCA RAFFERTY

R

BEYOND THE BLOOMS


piano, violin, cello, viola, lute, and brass instruments. In combinations of varying sizes, these musicians present professional-quality classical in a personal, chamber-size setting. The festival’s 11th season starts Thursday, July 16, with a festival kick-off preview concert, and continues on Friday with “An Evening in Madrid,” which will feature guitarist Petar Kodzas presenting Luigi Boccherini’s Fandango Quintet. The festival will conclude with a live performance of Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14, Op. 131 on Sunday, July 26. The 2012 film “The Late Quartet,” which features the same score, will be screened on Saturday, July 25. A free family concert will be held at the Wood Library on Thursday, but all other concerts will be ticketed. The festival begins Thursday, July 16, and continues through Sunday, July 26. For more information on times, lineups, and performance prices, visit lakemusicfestival.org or call 412-6353.

Held annually at the Ganondagan Historic Site, the Native American Dance and Music Festival is a cultural celebration of Native heritage. This year’s festivities include performances from award-winning Native folk and blues rocker

Keith Secola and traditional Iroquois Social Dancers. Guided tours of Ganondagan’s trails and of a bark-sided longhouse will be held daily, in addition to traditional storytelling, a Native arts market, and raffles. This year, the festival will coincide with the grand opening of the

4, 1941, after it was decided that the statue deserved a more peaceful setting. Because the statue was sculpted after his death, the eight-foot-tall monument was modeled after the likeness of Douglass’ son, Charles.

4. THE PARK THAT ALMOST WASN’T. Highland Park is part of a greater, city-wide park system, and only one of four systems in the nation designed by internationally renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The first 20 acres of Highland Park were gifted to the city by pioneer horticultur-alists and entrepreneurs George Ellwanger and Patrick Barry in 1887, but two early attempts by Ellwanger and Barry to donate the land were rejected by the Rochester City Council. Reasons for the rejection included that it would be a tax drain on the city, and that no one but those neighboring the park would use the space — tell that to the half a million an-nual visitors who visit the Lilac Festival. The next roadblock was Olmsted’s initial reluctance to take the design commission.

The land lacked a free flowing water element, which he believed to be essential to good park design. He expressed his desire to develop two parks along the Genesee River, connected by a series of tree-lined boulevards, but the Commission responded that he could design all of the parks or none. In the end, Olmstead relented and got to work.

5. HIGHLAND PARK WAS FOR THE CHILDREN.When the park was dedicated in the autumn of 1890, the Ellwanger & Barry Memorial Pavilion was dedicated to the children of Rochester. Ellwanger’s presentation address, read by his son to an audience of 10,000 people (one half of which were kiddos, released from school for the occasion), stated that though the unplanted grounds were currently rough, they would soon be planted with trees, shrubs, and flowers, “affording to all, more especially to the children of the city, a healthful and agreeable place of recreation.”

6. SO…WHERE’S THAT PAVILION TODAY? The three-story, wooden, circular structure became known as the Children’s Pavilion, and stood until the 1960’s, when it seemed to be en vogue to rip down Rochester’s historic buildings. Many structures original to the park were lost over time, including a refectory at the pinnacle, an herbarium building in the pinetum, and propagation greenhouses along the Goodman Street extension. Today, the Highland Park Conservancy group is dedicated to the preservation of Highland Park’s heritage, the promotion of its resources, and have formed a committee to rebuild the lost Children’s Pavilion as the centerpiece of the park.

7. OKAY, HERE’S SOME LILAC TRIVIA. The oldest still-growing lilac bush in Highland Park is a double lilac of the President Grevy variety, planted in 1897. It replaced one of the same variety that was planted in 1892 but removed. Because these plants are historic and special, there is a fine of $25 for picking lilacs in Highland Park.

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CANANDAIGUA ART AND MUSIC FESTIVAL


MACEDONIAN FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, JULY 18, AND SUNDAY, JULY 19

HOPSFEST


NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL


Seneca Art and Culture Center, a year-round facility that will provide interpretive history of the Haudenosaunee and Seneca through their contributions to art, culture, and society. The festival runs Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Ganondagan Historic Site (1488 State Route 444 in Victor). Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for students with ID, $5 for children 3 to 18 years old, and free for children 2 and under and Friends of Ganondagan members (with a membership card). For more information, visit ganondagan.org.

For the 8th year, Achieving and Bringing Our Vision to Excellence, or A.B.O.V.E., will present its African-American Festival, which includes an assortment of vendors selling food, arts and crafts, literature, and wearable items. It will also include live music, poetry, Gospel and choir performance, traditional dancing, African art, and activities for children. The festival will be held on Saturday, August 1, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Highland Bowl, located on South Avenue. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit aboveny.org or email [email protected].

The N.Y.S.E.A. is putting on its 55th Pageant of Steam, a convergence of steam-powered machinery owners and enthusiasts. Display and demonstrations of steam-powered saw mills, tractors, and grain threshers will be complemented by tractor pull competitions (daily) and live music (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Visitors can also peruse the extensive flea market held in conjunction with the Pageant, and concessions will be available throughout. This year, the Pageant of Steam will host the Ford/Fordson Collectors Association National Show. The Pageant of Steam takes place Wednesday, August 5, through Saturday, August 8 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at N.Y.S.E.A. (3349 Gehan Road, Canandaigua). Admission is $6 for adults and free for children under 12. For more information, visit pageantofsteam.org.

For the 31st year, the Rochester West Indian Festival Organization will host Carifest, a Caribbean festival celebrating Rochester’s Caribbean heritage by curating authentic Caribbean food, music, and arts and crafts. The festival will take place on Saturday, August 8, and will begin with a parade highlighting the carnival spirit of the Caribbean with traditional costumes and music. The parade will take place at 11 a.m. and will start on Liberty Pole Way and make its way down Main Street. The festival runs from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Brown Square Park (251 Verona Street) and will feature Caribbean music, arts and crafts celebrating the culture, a variety of foods, fun for children and family members of all ages, and more. Carifest is free to attend. For more information, visit rwifo.com or call 234-0909.

Opened in 2000, the Lock 32 Whitewater Park in Pittsford repurposed a portion of the Erie Canal spillway into a man-made whitewater playground. The facilities are used in the summertime for classes introducing whitewater kayaking to beginners, and also to provide a gym of sorts to more experienced paddlers. Since 2005, Lock 32 and the Finger Lakes Ontario Watershed (F.L.O.W.) Paddlers have put on a one-day whitewater festival and competition at the facility to gather local enthusiasts and untried greenhorns for a variety of competitions. The 11th annual Lockpalooza is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, at the Lock 32 Whitewater Center, 2797 Clover Street, Pittsford. For more information, visit geneseewaterways.org



SPENCERPORT CANAL DAYS


WATERFRONT ART FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

LIMA CROSSROADS FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 2

PARK AVE SUMMER ART FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

A.B.O.V.E. AFRICAN AMERICANFESTIVAL

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5,THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

PAGEANT OF STEAM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

CARIFEST

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

AVON ROTARY CORN FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

FINGER LAKES RIESLING FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15

LOCKAPALOOZA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, THROUGH SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

PUERTO RICAN FESTIVAL

THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY,AUGUST 27-29 AND SEPTEMBER 3-5

SANKOFA THEATER FESTIVAL


The Sankofa Theatre Festival, in its 8th iteration, will showcase the talents of local African-American playwrights, performers, poets, and musicians, with performances of several one-act plays interspersed with jazz classics. The festival takes place Thursday, August 27, through Saturday, August 29, and Thursday, September 3, through Saturday, September 5, at MuCCC, located at 142 Atlantic Avenue. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. each day. Advance tickets can be bought at Mood Makers Books (274 North Goodman Street) for $12.50 or you can purchase tickets at the door for $16. Three-night and six-night pass will be available as well. For more information, visit moodmakersbooks.com or call Curtis Rivers at 271-7010.

After only three years, Rochester Fringe Festival has become one of the most successful fringe festivals in the nation. Last year, more than 60,000 attendees crowded Rochester’s downtown streets to see performers of all stripes, from the conventional to the most fringe-y performances imaginable. This year’s Fringe promises to be even bigger, so be sure to pick up City Newspaper’s Rochester Fringe Festival Preview Guide, on stands September 9. The Fringe Festival runs Thursday, September 17, through Saturday, September 26, and features hundreds of performances. Check rochesterfringe.com for specifics as they develop.

SpencerportCanal Days

SpencerportCanal Days

FREEDaily Shuttle Service

JULY 25-26 10am to 5pmFRIDAY NIGHT STREET CONCERT july 24th 7-10pm

Crafts • Food • Entertainment • MoreCrafts • Food • Entertainment • MoreDAILY APPEARANCE FROM OUR OWN

“CANALIGATOR”mini food truck rodeo

Saturday July 25th | Car ShowFerris Goodridge American Legion Post 330

691 Trimmer Rd., Spencerport

Sunday July 26th 4:30 pmThe Famous Canaligator Race on the canal

www.spencerportcanaldays.com

WineTastingWineTasting

ENTERTAINMENT ALL DAYSATURDAY AND SUNDAY

SATURDAY& SUNDAY11AM – 4:30PM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4,

THROUGH MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

NEW YORK STATE FESTIVAL OF BALLOONS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, AND SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13

MACEDON LUMBERJACK FESTIVAL

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, AND SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

CLOTHESLINE ARTS FESTIVAL

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, THROUGH SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

ROCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL


REEL MIND FILM SERIESTUESDAY, MAY 5,THROUGH TUESDAY, JUNE 30

Now in its seventh year, this series seeks to remove the stigma of mental illness through a lineup of short and feature-length films paired

he late, great film critic Roger Ebert often described movies as “empathy machines,” allowing us to understand different hopes, aspirations, dreams, and fears. I can’t think of a better explanation of the film medium’s unique ability to

make us identify with another human being, putting us completely in their shoes. But that machine only works if you consistently seek out new film-going experiences; ones that tell the stories of cultures, lifestyles, and people that might not be familiar to you. Typically, this requires that you look outside of the standard multiplex fare, and I think that’s why I love film festivals so much. They provide their audiences a snapshot of what life is like for a specific group of people, as diverse and wide-ranging as their lives are. What better way to learn about an individual than to immerse yourself in their experiences? With enough film festivals to take you through the entire summer, this list should give you a decent (though not complete) grasp of Rochester’s film landscape. Note that whenever possible, the festival’s website has been provided, though keep in mind that with some still a year away, the listed schedules may not yet be updated. And you can keep up with our latest reporting on many of these festivals online at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

CUE MARKS[ FILM ] BY ADAM LUBITOW

A PREVIEW OF ROCHESTER’S MANY FILM FESTIVALS


with discussions with mental health professionals and visiting filmmakers. This year’s series kicked off on May 5 and continues on a biweekly basis, culminating Tuesday, June 30, with a free screening of the Oscar-winning documentary short film “Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1.” Individual film tickets are $8, and screenings take place at the Cinema Theatre (957 South Clinton Avenue). For more information visit reelmindfilmfest.com.

ROCHESTER BICYCLE FILM FESTIVALTUESDAY, MAY 12, AND WEDNESDAY, MAY 13

With Rochester’s burgeoning bike scene, it only makes sense that our city’s growing number of bicyclists get their very own film festival representation. Scheduled to occur annually during Rochester Bike Week, the Rochester Bike Festival programs feature-length and short films that celebrate bicycle culture in its many forms. This year’s festival is set for May 12 and 13 and will feature screenings of “Breaking Away” and “The Triplets of Belleville.” Screenings will take place at the Cinema Theatre (957 South Clinton Avenue) and The Little (240 East Avenue). Tickets will be $7 advance and $8 at the door. Anyone arriving by bike will get $1 off their admission. facebook.com/rochesterbikefilm. RIT STUDENT FILM MARATHONFRIDAY MAY 15, THROUGH WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

Every year, RIT’s School of Film and Animation (SOFA) holds a marathon screening of every single film made by students that semester, with each of the filmmakers on hand to answer questions from the audience. This semester the screenings will begin in Carlson Auditorium in the Imaging Science building at 10 a.m., Friday, May 15, and end at 6 p.m. It will continue on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and then on Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hundreds of films will be screened, making this event something of

an endurance test for audience members. Luckily admission is free, so feel free to come and go as you please. cias.rit.edu/schools/film-animation.

CARIBBEAN FILM SERIES THROUGHOUT JUNE

Held by the Rochester Jamaican Organization and the Baobab Center as part of Caribbean American Heritage Month, this series of films shines a spotlight on Caribbean culture with a schedule of documentary and narrative feature films on Friday evenings throughout the month of June. thebaobab.org.

ROCHESTER JEWISH FILM FESTIVALSUNDAY, JULY 12, THROUGH MONDAY, JULY 20

Established in 2001 by the JCC of Greater Rochester, this festival focuses on films that celebrate the diversity of the Jewish people through their identity, history, and culture. Past screenings include last year’s Foreign Language Oscar-winner, “Ida,” and the acclaimed stop-motion film, “Mary and Max.” rjff.org.

ROCHESTER TEEN FILM FESTIVALWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5

Presented in collaboration between Nazareth College, WXXI, and the Little Theatre, this juried festival provides a

forum for aspiring young filmmakers, ages 13 to 18, to stretch their movie-making abilities by creating a short film (10 minutes or less) on any subject of their choosing. Last year’s festival saw the presentation of the first annual Hoffman Award to the winning filmmaker. A screening of the finalists’ films will be held on Wednesday, August 5, at 5:30 p.m. on the main screen at The Little (240 East Avenue). www2.naz.edu/teen-film-festival.

WITNESS PALESTINE FILM SERIESSUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, THROUGH MONDAY, OCTOBER 5

Focusing on the complex issues surrounding the Middle East conflict, this annual film series seeks to bring attention to the oppression faced by the Palestinian people as a result of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. witnesspalestinerochester.org.

ROCHESTER RECOVERY FILM FESTIVALSEPTEMBER

A new addition to Rochester’s festival landscape, this event was first in 2014, presenting a diverse selection of narrative features, documentary films, and shorts, all with a focus on educating and raising awareness about the disease of addiction. Weekend passes and individual day passes can be purchased through the festival’s website, rochesterrecoveryfilmfestival.org.

Festival Preview 2015

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Transcript of Festival Preview 2015