Event Details
Roc the Riverway Weekend is a celebration of the Genesee River and the ambitious initiative to transform the river corridor that began in 2018. From the farms lining its banks along the Genesee Valley, to its industrial heritage, the mighty Genesee is at the heart of who we are and how our community developed.
Roc the Riverway is a series of projects that will transform this former industrial waterway into a community recreational corridor that provides opportunities for all to interact with water. Celebrate this transformation with us! Come out, experience a weekend of activities, and learn more about our community’s vision for the future.
This year’s Roc the Riverway Weekend will feature activities up and down the Genesee River from Lake Ontario to Genesee Valley Park. Hikes, bike rides, paddles, tours and more all focused on introducing folks to the beauty and history of our City and its waterways. The weekend will also highlight progress on the myriad of Roc the Riverway capital improvements and the efforts towards establishing a new State Park at High Falls.
To learn more about the Roc the Riverway program and it’s many transformational projects along the Genesee River, click the button below:
List of Roc the Riverway Weekend events for Sunday, October 6, 2024
Fall Salmon Run
6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Daily until November for anglers and spectators. Seth Green Dr. and Norton St. off St. Paul Blvd. This section of the Genesee River offers some of the most exciting fishing in New York State- right in the city.
Fishing allowed from the St. Rte. 104 Bridge upstream to the lower falls on the Genesee River, from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.
Autumn at the Lake
12 - 3 p.m.
- Interactive kids entertainment with The Happy Pirates
- Horse-drawn hayrides
- Pumpkin decorating
- Historic Denzel Carousel rides
- Donuts, cider and other treats
- Face painting and balloon art
- Live local music
- Guided history walking tour including the 200-year-old lighthouse, Charlotte Cemetery, and River Street
- Presentation on the awesome successful reintroduction of sturgeon into the river and lakeTour of Historic Charlotte
1 - 2 p.m.
Join us at the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse, 70 Lighthouse St., for a walking tour of historic Charlotte.
From the Lighthouse, we will make our way along the Genesee River and south to the Charlotte Cemetery, resting place of ship captains, soldiers, and early settlers of Charlotte.
Walk is approximately 1.5 miles. Rain or shine. For more information, call 585-285-1747.
Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour
1 - 2:30 p.m.
This foundational tour is a 90-minute walk of approximately a mile on both paved roads and uneven terrain.
This includes the graves of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, topics of local history, horticulture, geology, architecture, monument symbolism, and more.
Tickets are $15 for non-members and free for members and children under 18 accompanied by a paying adult. Meet at the North Gatehouse at 791 Mount Hope Ave, opposite Robinson Drive. Comfortable walking shoes recommended.
The Genesee River and the Third Ward Walking Tour
2 - 4 p.m.
Join the Corn Hill Neighbors for a 1.5-mile walk along the Genesee River and through the Historic Third Ward.
This educational walk will highlight the impact of the Genesee River on indigenous Haudenosaunee, early European settlers, the Underground Railroad and the historical uses of our local waterways as well as a glimpse into the architectural styles of the neighborhoods mansions and cottages.
Participants will come to appreciate the diversity and resilience of today's community that has created an urban village of residents working together to produce the July Corn Hill Arts Festival and Holiday Tour of Homes. Meet at the Waterspirit Sculpture on Exchange at South Plymouth.
Genesee River and Erie Canal Boat Cruises
1:30 - 3 p.m. and 3:30 - 5 p.m.
Enjoy a scenic roundtrip cruise on the Genesee River to Genesee Valley Park on the Erie Canal with Corn Hill Navigation. Included with this 90-minute voyage is a live guided narration about how the river and canal made Rochester the Young Lion of the West as well as interesting sites along the way.
A highlight of this cruise will be a stunning view of downtown Rochester on the way back to port.