Rochester to come alive with the sound of music as Party in the Park Concert Series returns

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — If you are a music lover, this is going to be music to your ears. After a nearly two-year hiatus, Rochester is hosting the 25th anniversary of Party in the Park, the well-known concert series right in the heart of downtown.

“Party in the Park is a Rochester institution, it’s in its 25th year,” said Justin Roj, communications director with the City of Rochester. “We’re so excited to have it back especially after not having it last year with COVID.”

For eight straight weeks, downtown will be alive with the sound of music from nearly two dozen bands

“It’s been really challenging because the whole country opened up about the same time so everybody started doing live music at full capacity,” said Jeff Springut, President of the Rochester Events and Springut Productions.

Springut and his team typically spend eight to 10 months planning the longtime Rochester tradition, but when the state guidelines recently lifted, it was crunch time.

“It’s been challenging we’re still filling in a couple of slots,” Springut said.

Reflecting on what was a very tough decision last year, city officials say they are excited to bring back the party.

“Honestly it was depressing and heart-wrenching. You want to be with people. Many people in the city for years have enjoyed party in the park. Not having it last year kind of led to that kind of feeling we all had of isolation, and it’s so nice to bring it back this year and be able to see friends and family and get together and have a good time the way we haven’t had the ability to do for quite some time,” Roj said.

Party in the Park will kick off with a doubleheader on Wednesday and Thursday, July 14 and 15, and will go every Thursday through Sept. 2. General admission tickets are $7 and VIP tickets are available for more. For more ticket information and a full list of the weekly concert series lineup, click here.

Tickets and passes will go on sale on the website at 10 a.m. on July 6.