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Don't miss these attractions while in Rochester for the PGA Championship

marcia greenwood, rochester democrat and chronicle
·5 min read

Rochester is going to see a lot of visitors in May.

Most college graduation ceremonies happen the second weekend of the month.

From May 25 to 27, Pittsford’s St. John Fisher University will host the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Championship.

In between, two major events will be staged — the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, from May 15 to 21, and the Rochester Lilac Festival, from May 12 to 21 at Highland Park.

“We’re calling it May Madness,” said Visit Rochester spokesperson Rachel Laber. “It’s exciting. The community will be buzzing and brimming with visitors and residents alike.”

Nearly 88,000 non-locals are expected for the PGA, making it the biggest draw for out-of-towners.

Visit Rochester is hoping that while they’re here, at least a few will wander over to the Lilac Festival, which is turning 125.

“They’re going to draw different visitors,” Laber said of the events, but Visit Rochester volunteers will be at Oak Hill “working hard on cross-promotion.”

The fact that the fest — which prior to COVID attracted as many as 500,000 people annually — is free works in its favor, she said.

Following are Lilac Festival details, and a few other attractions and sites PGA guests might want to check out during their stay:

Rochester Lilac Festival, Highland Park, South and Highland avenues

The city’s signature festival is set against the backdrop of North America’s largest collection of lilacs: 1,800 fragrant bushes representing 500 varieties planted in Highland Park, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The fest features entertainment, wine tastings, a beer expo, food trucks, art shows, children’s activities and more. After a few years of pandemic-related disruptions, it’s back to its traditional 10-day format. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 12, to Sunday, May 21. Guests may park in lots on Elmwood Avenue and Goodman Street ($7 to $10), and free shuttle service will be available. Cars parked illegally on neighborhood side streets will be ticketed and/or towed. For details, go to rochesterevents.com/lilac-festival.

The Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square Drive

The Strong National Museum of Play, currently in the midst of a major expansion, is open daily, including until 8 p.m. on Fridays.
The Strong National Museum of Play, currently in the midst of a major expansion, is open daily, including until 8 p.m. on Fridays.

The Strong National Museum of Play, a renowned interactive museum that grew from a vast collection of dolls, toys and miniatures amassed by eccentric heiress Margaret Woodbury-Strong, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Fridays. Currently in the throes of a major expansion, it is home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video Game Hall of Fame, a Butterfly Garden, a high-ropes course called the Skyline Climb, a “Pinball Playfields” exhibit featuring 80 years’ worth of pioneering pinball games that visitors can play, and more. Museum admission for nonmembers is $19 (free for children younger than 2); $25 for museum and butterfly garden admission (free for children younger than 2). A $5 discount is available to members of the military, veterans and college students with ID. Parking in an attached garage is $5. For more, go to museumofplay.org.

Genesee Brew House, 25 Cataract St.

Rochester has something that few cities do: a 96-foot waterfall in the middle of its downtown. And there’s no better place to witness its sediment-laden fury than from the Genesee Brew House. A $3.9 million renovation of a former Genesee Brewery packaging plant, the Brew House opened in 2012 and has a gift shop, mini museum, microbrewery and restaurant/pub with balcony seating and a rooftop terrace overlooking the High Falls of the Genesee River. A range of Genny beers — from the classic Cream Ale to the year-old Tropical Pineapple Kolsch — are on tap. The food menu includes Bavarian pretzels, chicken wings, salads, burgers, sandwiches and such entrees as mahi-mahi fish tacos. Hours are 11 a.m.  to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Parking is free in a large lot. For more, go to geneseebeer.com/brewhouse.

House of Guitars, 645 Titus Ave., Irondequoit

More than a store, the House of Guitars is a museum of music history and a magnet for visiting rock stars.
More than a store, the House of Guitars is a museum of music history and a magnet for visiting rock stars.

Much more than a music store, the House of Guitars, which is north of Rochester in Irondequoit, is an institution that holds as much history as any museum. The maze-like, multilevel store is stuffed with guitars, keyboards, drums and other instruments — vintage, rare and new — along with amps, CDs, DVDs, LPs, tapes, T-shirts and so much rock and roll memorabilia it’s hard to know where to look. Every surface, including the ceiling, is covered. Among the mementos are a few true oddities, like a striped pair of pants that Jimi Hendrix left behind at a party thrown by the Moody Blues during the 1960s. The HOG, as it is called, may be a bit off the beaten path, but rock stars go out of their way to visit when they're in town. Among the famous shoppers: Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Peter Gabriel, Geddy Lee, REO Speedwagon, Sheryl Crow and Kevin Bacon, whose photos decorate the charmingly disheveled back room. An expansive white wall is filled with autographs by everyone from Marilyn Manson to “Weird Al” Yankovich. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free in lots outside and near the store.

Neighborhoods, shopping, etc.

Rochester has many distinctive neighborhoods, and one of the most popular and walkable is Park Avenue. Stretching from Alexander Street to East Avenue, it’s lined with stately homes and buildings, restaurants, cafés and shops. The most well-known retailer is Parkleigh, 215 Park Ave., which transformed from a pharmacy to an upscale boutique and has an adjacent MacKenzie-Childs store. The East Avenue Historic District, a 1.5-mile stretch between Alexander and Probert streets, includes more than 700 historical homes and mansions — including George Eastman’s at 900 East Ave. Schoen Place, an Erie Canal landing off Main Street in Pittsford offers shops, restaurants, a brewery and a chance to feed the ducks.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: PGA Championship in Rochester NY: Visitor's guide to the city