WEEKEND GUIDE: Roc Summer Soul Fest, Ukrainian Festival, and Clarissa Street Reunion

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Here’s your guide to events happening this weekend in the Rochester area. You can learn more about what’s happening around town on our Community Calendar.

Roc Summer Soul Festival (Friday and Saturday)

The Roc Summer Soul Festival returns on Friday, Aug. 18 and Saturday, Aug. 19. featuring nationally and locally renowned artists.

The 27th annual festival takes place at Parcel 5 downtown. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the performances run from 5 to 11 p.m. for both days.

Friday’s performers include Big Daddy Kane, Troop, Adina Howard, and Anthony Dounte. In addition, Grammy-nominated saxophonist and Rochester-native Jimmie Highsmith Jr. & Friends will take the stage.

Saturday’s performers include Silk, Kid ‘N Play, Yo-Yo, Rod Bonner, NA$A featuring Amir Daze & Mikki LaDawn, and Mambo Kings.

The Roc Summer Soul Festival started in 1995 and this year, it’s dedicated to celebrating 50 years of hip hop. Tickets are $25 each day or $39 for both days. You can get tickets here.

Ukrainian Festival at St. Josaphat’s Church (Thursday through Sunday)

Ukrainian hospitality, food, and music will be on display through Sunday at the St. Josaphat’s Church in Irondequoit.

The 51st annual Ukrainian Festival runs from Thursday, Aug. 17 until Sunday, Aug. 20. There will be authentic food including pierogies, cabbage, and sausage. There will also be a Ukrainian Bazaar with embroideries, ceramics, amber, Easter eggs, paintings, icons, and jewelry.

As the War in Ukraine rages on, Ukrainians in Rochester are celebrating their culture through the festival.

“It’s basically a big party to showcase the Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian traditions, Ukrainian Food. There’s shopping. Whatever your heart desires,” said festival organizer Andrew Hanushevsky.

RocMaidan, the Rochester based nonprofit that has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the war, has a booth at the festival to raise funds.

The festival will also include folk dancing, live music, and tours of the church. On Sunday, there will be a prayer for peace in Ukraine at the church starting at 11 a.m.

You can see a full schedule, menu, and list of vendors here. The festival runs from 6 to 10:45 p.m. on Thursday and 6 to 11:45 p.m. on Friday. Then, it’s from 1 to 11:45 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The church is at 940 Ridge Road.

Clarissa Street Reunion (Saturday)

An event honoring National Black Business Month will take place on Clarissa Street in the Corn Hill neighborhood. The event is free.

The 25th Annual Clarissa Street Reunion will take place on Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It celebrates the enduring legacy of the street which was a thriving hub of Black-owned businesses in the 1950s.

The development of 490 as a highway in the 1970s uprooted the community on Clarissa Street but the Clarissa Street Legacy Planning Committee is working to celebrate the community’s legacy.

The event in August will feature a parade, exhibits, storytelling, food, vendors of Black-owned businesses, and live music. Here is the schedule of events at the main stage:

• Nate Rawls & The Swan Band at 11 a.m.
• Freddy Colon & The Latin Jazz Quarter at 12:30 p.m.
• Mitty & The Followers at 2 p.m.
• Eastman School Students at 3:30 p.m.
• Freelance at 4:30 p.m.
• Whitney Marcelle at 6 p.m.
• Positive Vibes f/ Therese Lott (headliner) at 7 p.m.

Spencerport American Legion concert (Saturday)

The Spencerport American Legion is holding a concert on Saturday to raise funding and awareness for preventing veteran suicides.

Bands will perform at the Spencerport American Legion Post 330 at 691 Trimmer Road. It runs from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The music lineup includes Shotgun Pauly, North of 40, Rich & Rebecca, Patrick Glantz, The Remakes, Mr. Monkey, Joey Allen, and John Akers. There will also be a craft fair and auction.

Tickets are $20 and VIP tickets with front row access, a t-shirt, and more are $45. Half of the proceeds will be donated to Pawsitive For Heroes, which provides service dogs for veterans. You can learn more about the concert here.

Penfield Wegmans celebrates Bills Little People set (Saturday)

The Penfield Wegmans is holding an event on Saturday to celebrate the sale of the Fisher-Price Buffalo Bills Little People figure set.

This is the third year that the Buffalo Bills have partnered with Fisher-Price to create the limited edition set.

The event at the Wegmans on 2157 Penfield Rd. runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. People can buy the set while supplies last, meet Buffalo Bills mascot Billy Buffalo, and play in a football toss game. Children can also enjoy a coloring station, face painting, tattoos, and games. There will also be autographed Bills merchandise to purchase.

The Bills’ Little People set went on sale last Friday at local Wegmans stores. This year’s set includes figures of all-star quarterback Josh Allen, tight end Dawson Knox, defensive end Von Miller, and a Bills fan.

For every set sold, $10 will go to the Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. In the first two years of the Bills and Fisher-Price partnership, the sets have raised more than $2 million for the hospital.