Spring can feel like a welcomed hug after a long, cold, and dark winter season. Once we can start ditching the snow boots and layers of winter gear, we crave the fresh air and beauty hunting for blooming flowers. Many of the best family activities around Rochester this Spring are completely free or budget-friendly.
Here are 10 free or cheap things to do in Rochester this Spring with kids:
1. Visit the Rochester Lilac Festival
Rochester has no shortage of annual festivals, but the Spring season wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Rochester Lilac Festival at Highland Park.
Every May, Highland Park is filled with hundreds of blooming lilacs. Stop and smell the roses? Try stop and smelling that beautiful aroma of lilacs blooming all around you. This annual tradition is filled with activities for the whole family, including live music, art vendors, and a lot of different spaces for kids to explore.
Admission is completely free. Plan your visit to the festival early in the day or on a weekday if you’re looking for a smaller crowd and an easier time finding parking.
2. Playgrounds
Rochester is always upgrading and building new playgrounds to explore. Springtime is the perfect time to check out a new or new-to-you playground.
Some playgrounds are within a park with hiking trails, ponds, close to the Erie Canal, or have tables that make it easy to bring an easy picnic lunch or dinner.
Check out our Guide To Playgrounds In Rochester for some playgrounds to visit.
3. Rochester Public Market
A Saturday morning visit to the Rochester Public Market is a fun family experience all on its own.
With fresh produce from local vendors and farmers, have your kids pick out a new vegetable to include in your dinner dish for that evening that they want to try.
Do you have a teacher, a friend, or neighbor you want to surprise with a gift of fresh flowers? The Rochester Public Market is brimming with flowers once Spring hits.
Have you been thinking about starting a family garden? Pick out some seedlings with your kids and plan out what you want to start growing together.
There are also plenty of delicious food, baked goods, and beverages to buy if you just want to make it a walking tour while you snack on some treats.
4. Bike or Walk the Erie Canal
The Erie Canal path is a great way to get out after a long winter to get fresh air. Whether your family likes to bike or take a walk with views, Rochester as charming canal towns along the Erie Canal to explore, with several budget-friendly activities.
Pittsford
Stroll Schoen Place, which has a variety of shops, dining, and outdoor seating right on the canal. You can grab a beverage from a local coffee shop, walk the canal, and stop for a delicious treat at Pittsford Dairy. Visit the Pittsford library (which shares a building with a Starbucks coffee shop), which has a children’s play area and story time you can join.
Fairport
Known for its iconic lift bridge, Fairport is another town along the Erie Canal where there is plenty of shopping, dining, divine ice cream at Moonlight Creamery, and the Fairport library that has a robust schedule of free activities for children.
Spencerport
This quaint canal town provides an easy-to-navigate path along the water, perfect for a leisurely walk with several local restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance.
5. City Art Walk
Rochester has public art and murals all around the city. Take a self-guided city tour and challenge your kids to find their favorite mural.
Some spots you might want to explore might be:
Check out WALL\THERAPY for a map that identifies all murals that exist in Rochester to check out. WALL\THERAPY is an art and community intervention project that uses public murals to transform an urban landscape, inspire, and build community.
6. Spring Picnic Adventure
After being cooped up inside, planning a picnic at one of your favorite parks is the perfect way to welcome Spring as a family. It can be as simple or as elaborate as your family wants.
Here are some ideas to make your picnic special:
- Pick a local restaurant and get take-out with an assortment of food everyone can share
- Pack a basket or cooler and have a family picnic charcuterie style, with your favorite cheeses, berries, olives, bread or crackers, carrots and hummus, and special drinks for everyone in the family
- Grab your portable Bluetooth speaker or just use your phone and put together a playlist together to enjoy while you’re having your picnic
- Put together a bag of activities to do after you eat, like bubbles, chalk, or a soccer ball
Here are some local parks to picnic at:
- Durand Eastman Park: Durand is very versatile with having a trail through wooded hills, a beach on Lake Ontario, and several picnic tables and benches
- Genesee Valley Park: Genessee Valley has a small playground, riverside spots, and views of the Erie Canal
- Highland Park: A perfect scenic spot that has a playground, walking trails, the Lamberton Conservatory, and trees that are in full bloom
- Ontario Beach Park: This park has it all with multiple access points to Ontario Beach, a large pier, a 1905 carousel, playground, and a lot of tables and picnic benches
7. Spring Storytime at the Library
Many Monroe County Library System branches move their year-round storytimes outdoors. Some libraries host StoryWalks once the warmer weather arrives for a change of scenery. Check out our Guide To Library Storytimes to see the regularly-scheduled activities you can join.
8. Chase Waterfalls
Once all the snow and ice melt, check out one of these roaring Rochester waterfalls:
Turn this into a mini adventure by having your kids rate each waterfall or have them bring binoculars to find different birds along the way. Check out our list of 12 Waterfalls Near Rochester.
9. Visit Seneca Park Zoo
Although Seneca Park Zoo is open all year-round, Seneca Park Zoo comes alive in the Spring with extended hours, more extensive special programming, and seasonal events.
Seneca Park Zoo has free entry for children ages 3 and under, and you can receive $2 off each ticket when you purchase them online. You can also pack your own snacks and lunch to help make this all day outing as budget-friendly as possible.
10. Maple Sugar Adventure
Spring means maple sugar season, which is a fun way to get hand-on experience that involves a sweet reward. Many activities are free or low-cost for families. During March, local sugarhouses and nature centers open their doors for maple weekends featuring free tours, sap-boiling demonstrations, tastings, and outdoor learning experiences where kids can see how maple syrup is made right from a tree.
Check out our full Guide To Maple Sugar Activities For Families.
Spring in Rochester can be the reset we all need after a long winter. It is a chance to get outside, explore different parts that make up our community, and make memories that don’t cost a lot. So go chase the waterfall, stroll the Public Market with a treat in hand, make up a list of murals to check out together, or pack up a fancy picnic at your favorite park. The best family moments don’t require a big budget.
