Join the fun OCTOBER 6-8, 2023!
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, visit this page.
FRIDAY,
October 6
2:30 - 5 p.m.: Genesee River to Canal
Lock 33 Boat Cruise.
Join Corn Hill Navigation for a two- and half-hour cruise from Corn Hill
Landing on the Genesee River to Lock 33 on the Erie Canal! While aboard you
will learn about the historical significance of the Genesee River, the Erie
Canal and how a lock works with live guided narration. Relax and experience the
natural beauty of our waterways. Visit www.cornhillnav.org/riverie
to learn more and register.
5:30 - 7 p.m.: Genesee River and Erie Canal
Boat Cruise.
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. Visit www.cornhillnav.org/riverie
to learn more and register.
SATURDAY,
October 7
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.: 34th Annual Head of the
Genesee Regatta. The Head of the Genesee is part of the Roc the
Riverway Weekend series of activities promoting our great city and venue for
rowing. It is one of the largest
regattas in New York State west of the Hudson River hosting over 50
organizations annually. Viewing is along the footbridge over the Genesee River
and along the east river bank, under the 390 Flyover Bridge accessed from
Genesee Valley Park and at the Genesee Waterways Center, 149 Elmwood Avenue.
Visit HEAD
OF THE GENESEE | geneseerowingclub to learn more.
9-11
a.m.: Clean Up at Seth Green Park. Get outside, get
active and get involved in making Rochester a greener, cleaner City! The City
of Rochester’s Department of Recreation and Human Services is collaborating
with the Seneca Park Zoo Society to sponsor a series of ‘park clean-up events’
along the Genesee Riverway Trail. Tools and gloves provided. Please dress for the
weather and bring water to stay hydrated. Meet at the Seth Green parking lot.
Visit Community
Cleanup - Seth Green Park 10/7 | Seneca Park Zoo to register.
10 a.m.-12
p.m.: Sturgeon Release in the Genesee River. Join the United States
Geological Survey for a Sturgeon release at Seth Green Park by Lower Falls.
Learn about the near 20 years of successful sturgeon reintroduction, spray
paint stenciled sturgeon awareness signage in multiple languages, be joined by
“Seth” our 6-foot fiberglass sturgeon mascot, observe staff measure weight,
length, girth, and tag data. Attendees
may participate in release of hatchery-reared sturgeon into the lower Genesee
River.
10 a.m. –
12 p.m.: Genesee River Bike Ride with Reconnect Rochester. Experience all the progress on ROC
the Riverway projects up close and on two wheels! Meet on the High Falls
Terrace and travel roughly 12 miles along the Genesee Riverway Trail and by
street to explore the recent and future enhancements to the riverfront. Helmets
required. Intermediate skill level as we will be biking in traffic.
Registration not required.
10 a.m. - 4
p.m.: Tours of the Lower Falls and Gorge. Join docents from the
Maplewood Neighborhood Association and learn about the five bridges over the
gorge, the rivalry between Carthage and Rochester and the river’s
transformation from a place of industry to recreation. Tours are about 45
minutes long with the last tour starting around 3 p.m. Meet in the Maplewood
Rose Garden Parking Lot.
10 – 11:30
a.m. Birding Boat Cruise on the Genesee River. See and
hear the amazing variety of birds that make their home along the Genesee River
near downtown Rochester, New York. Local expert Randi Minetor will join the
crew of Corn Hill Navigation’s Riverie to lead this unique cruise for all types
of birders – experienced, novice, and just curious. Participants are encouraged
to bring their own binoculars, though some will be available to borrow. Visit www.cornhillnav.org/riverie
to learn more and register.
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Undertakers,
Wakes, & Tears: Mourning Rituals in 19th Century America. Learn
about the Victorians’ complex relationship with death, and the socially
accepted, but somewhat curious, rituals and customs used to express their grief
with Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery. Meet
at the North Gate House: 791 Mount Hope Avenue (opposite Robinson Dr). Undertakers,
Wakes, & Tears: Mourning Rituals in 19th Century America (fomh.org)
12
- 3 p.m.: Family High Falls Terrace Celebration. Walk or Bike-in with the whole family to the
newly renovated High Falls Terrace Park and adjoining riverfront for a fun-filled
celebration of the revitalization of Rochester’s Genesee River Corridor and the
impending High Falls State Park! Enjoy
spectacular views of Rochester’s High Falls while listening to the Story of Sam
Patch by master storyteller Nate DiMeo.
The celebration will include musical entertainment, activities and games
for kids, food and beverages at the Genesee Brew House Beer Garden, public
input sessions for the State Park, displays from community groups, self- guided
audio tours, and guided bike tours. Parking is available in the High Falls
Terrace Garage, as well as along adjacent streets.
12:30 - 3 p.m. Genesee River to Canal Lock 33 Boat
Cruise. Join Corn Hill
Navigation for a two- and half-hour cruise from Corn Hill Landing on the
Genesee River to Lock 33 on the Erie Canal! While aboard you will learn about
the historical significance of the Genesee River, the Erie Canal and how a lock
works with live guided narration. Relax and experience the natural beauty of
our waterways. Visit
www.cornhillnav.org/riverie
to learn more and register.
1 - 2 p.m.: Historic High Falls Walking Tour. Join Dan Cody for a 1-mile
walking tour of the historic High Falls/Brown's Race district. Explore one of
the city's oldest areas and learn how early settlers harnessed the power of the
mighty Genesee River to run the mills and factories that created The Flour City
and put Rochester on the map as an American boomtown. Meet at the corner of
State St. and Commercial St. Presented by the Rochester Public Library's
Local History & Genealogy Division. Historic High Falls
Walking Tour - MCLS Events & Programs - Monroe County Library System Home
(libraryweb.org)
1 - 5 p.m.: Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse
Tours. Tour the oldest
surviving aid to navigation lighthouse on Lake Ontario (1822); climb the
Octagonal Tower to see the new fourth-order Fresnel lens and a great panorama
view of Lake Ontario and the surrounding area. In the Keeper’s House, view the
history of Lighthouses in the area, and display of Ontario Beach Park from the
1870s to 1920s. Several new displays, one is the 1905 Dentzel Carousel. Also added new displays featuring the 1916 Annexation
of Charlotte, Charlotte High School, Port of Rochester, & Along the
Genesee. Outside, take a walk through the War of 1812 International Peace
Garden. Admission is $5.00 (18 years & older); $2.00 (5-17 years old), and
FREE (4 and under). Open Fri., Sat., & Sun. For further information call
585-621-6179 or visit www.geneseelighthouse.org.
2 p.m. High
Falls Ecoloop Bike Ride with Tour Blend.
This two-mile guided bike tour takes you on a loop from High
Falls Terrace Park around the Genesee River Gorge, to view both the top and
bottom of High Falls from two different bridges spanning the Genesee
River. Explore some sites of Rochester's
early industrial development, including Brown’s Race and Rochester Marshmallow
Works, the first company in America to make and distribute marshmallows. Helmets required.
3-6 p.m.:
Guided Paddle to Corn Hill from the Genesee Waterways Center. Join Genesee RiverWatch and the
Genesee Waterways Center in celebrating ROC the Riverway Weekend with an
educational paddle along the Genesee River. This all-levels paddle offers
participants incredible views of our City skyline and opportunities to see the
Genesee riverfront development projects up close and on the water. An adult
must accompany all children under 18. No prior experience necessary. Pre-registration required. Call 328-3960 or
visit https://www.geneseewaterways.org/events-registration to
register.
City residents: Single kayak: $15, Tandem kayak: $25 or
Family of 4 Special -2 tandems for $40
3:30 - 5
p.m.: Genesee River and Erie Canal Boat Cruise. 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. Visit www.cornhillnav.org/riverie to learn
more and register.
SUNDAY,
October 8
11 a.m. - 3
p.m.: Autumn at the Lake. Spend a Sunday at the beach. Come enjoy the beauty of
the Lake and the Port in the fall. Take
a horse drawn hayride around Ontario Beach Park, decorate and take home
pumpkins (fee), ride the carousel or enjoy fresh made donuts, cider and other
treats, have fun with face painting and balloon art by the Grease
Paint Alley Clowns and musical entertainment by Dave Turner. This event will
also feature a guided historical walking tour, which will start at the
Lighthouse and include the Charlotte cemetery and River Street, tours of the
historic Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse, a talk on the reintroduction of sturgeon
in the Rochester Basin and more. Event presented by the City of Rochester, the
Ontario Beach Park Program Committee and the Charlotte neighborhood Association.
12:30 - 3
p.m. Genesee River to Canal
Lock 33 Boat Cruise. - Starting from the Staybridge Suites at 1000 Genesee
Street, Join Corn Hill Navigation for a two- and half-hour cruise from Corn
Hill Landing on the Genesee River to Lock 33 on the Erie Canal! While aboard
you will learn about the historical significance of the Genesee River, the Erie
Canal and how a lock works with live guided narration. Relax and experience the
natural beauty of our waterways. Visit www.cornhillnav.org/riverie to learn
more and register.
1 - 5 p.m.: Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse
Tours. Tour the oldest
surviving aid to navigation lighthouse on Lake Ontario (1822); climb the
Octagonal Tower to see the new fourth-order Fresnel lens and a great panorama
view of Lake Ontario and the surrounding area. In the Keeper’s House, view the
history of Lighthouses in the area, and display of Ontario Beach Park from the
1870s to 1920s. Several new displays, one is the 1905 Dentzel Carousel. Also added new displays featuring the 1916 Annexation
of Charlotte, Charlotte High School, Port of Rochester, & Along the
Genesee. Outside, take a walk through the War of 1812 International Peace
Garden. Admission is $5.00 (18 years & older); $2.00 (5-17 years old), and
FREE (4 and under). Open Fri., Sat., & Sun. For further information call
585-621-6179 or visit www.geneseelighthouse.org.
2-3:30 p.m.: The Old Third Ward and the Impact
of the Genesee River- from Rattlesnake Hill to Today’s Urban Community. Take a guided walking tour through the Historic Corn
Hill neighborhood and learn about the importance of the Genesee River to the
community’s history and development. Using the Wegmans Passport to Wellness
Trail as the route, you will hear past and present tales of the Underground
Railroad, memories of the Clarissa Street Community, clairvoyants and the lore
surrounding them, and many more. The
event is free and appropriate for the entire family. Meet at the Water Spirit
sculpture on Exchange Blvd. at South Plymouth.
2-3:30
p.m.: Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour. 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 $12 per person at the door, free for members, SNAP recipients,
and children under 16 accompanied by a paying adult. Meet at the North
Gatehouse at 791 Mount Hope Ave, opposite Robinson Drive. Comfortable walking
shoes recommended. Public Tours:
North Section (fomh.org)
3:30 – 5 p.m.
Genesee River and Erie Canal Cruise. Starting from the Staybridge
Suites at 1000 Genesee Street, 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. Visit www.cornhillnav.org/riverie to learn
more and register.
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
6
a.m. - 7 p.m.: Fall Salmon Run
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.
Self-Guided
Mobile Tours: The Genesee River Alliance and Tour Blend have
created many free audio-guided mobile tours along the Genesee River Trail. You can enjoy these walking / biking tours
any time, using your smartphone. Start
by downloading the free Tour Blend app
or use one of the links below in any web browser:
• Walk on the Old
Erie Canal: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/15390
• Downtown Riverfront Tour: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/2493
• High Falls Historic District: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/7994
• Lower Falls and Maplewood Park: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/2495
• Lower Genesee and Seneca Park: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/2475
• Charlotte and the Port of Rochester: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/2489
• Genesee River South Loop: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/2478
BOATING TOURS Enjoy these
free audio-guided tours as you paddle or motor up the Genesee River, starting
from the Port of Rochester Boat Launch or the Petten Street Boat Launch:
• Genesee River Boating Tour: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/2479
• Sturgeon Story: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/7993
High Falls Ecoloop Reimagined Tour - While the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge at High Falls is
undergoing an upgrade, use the newly updated High Falls Ecoloop tour to walk or
bike between High Falls Terrace Park and the High Falls Historic District. Follow
the map and you will hear geo-located audio stories at 22 different locations
along the route. The tour features stories describing Rochester's early
industrial development, including Brown’s Race and Rochester Marshmallow Works,
the first company in America to make and distribute marshmallows. See plans for
the High Falls State Park in the Genesee River Gorge below you, as you stand on
the Smith Street Bridge. Hear about
recycling in Rochester more than a century ago, and learn about the importance
of biodiversity and pollinators today. To begin, download the Tour Blend app, or use
this link in any web browser: https://tourblend.stqry.app/1/tour/2473
