As the third largest city in the state, there are a lot of things to do and places to go in Rochester, Minnesota.
Rochester attractions and events are the focus of topics in this category. These may include concerts, festivals, and fairs, as well as sports programs, sporting or recreational facilities, or teams. Other appropriate topics for this category include local parks and zoos, museums, historical places, libraries, theaters, opera houses, art galleries, and entertainment venues, such as arcades. Theater and performing arts groups, orchestras, and bands in Rochester may also be submitted to this category.
Rochester has a history of appreciation for the theater and other types of early entertainment.
Throughout the country, people gathered in theaters during the early 20th century, and Rochester was no exception. The city was home to several ornate theaters. One of the most popular of its theaters was the Chateau Dodge Theatre, built in 1927. Featuring an interior decorated like a medieval village, the Chateau Theatre was originally a vaudeville house. The building still exists, although the original mezzanine and inner lobby are gone, and its front doors now face a green space rather than 1st Street Southwest. Now owned by the city, the intentions are to turn it into a multi-use performing arts center.
From 1885 to 1889, the Palace Opera House served as an entertainment center. After its early demise, the Metropolitan opened in 1902, hosting national vaudeville troupes and performing artists. Highly successful, the Met converted to motion pictures in 1915, as silent movies were all the rage. By the 1930s, the enthusiasm had faded, and the building was demolished in 1937, to be replaced by a Montgomery Ward store.
The Majestic opened in 1908. It was a comparatively small theater, with only two hundred seats, as compared to the Metropolitan's thousand seats. The Majestic was originally housed in a remodeled store building but moved to a new location on South Broadway in 1909. The Majestic was active for quite a while, but eventually, it closed its doors and faded into memory.
The Empress opened in 1914 and was heralded as being exceedingly modern and comfortable. The Saxe Theatre, which later became the Strand Theatre, had opened a month earlier than the Empress and had a seating capacity of 1,600. In the 1940s, people were filling the Empress on Saturday afternoons to view serials, each of which enticed viewers to return the following week for a continuation of the story. The serials ran before the full-length film, so attending the theater took up the entire afternoon. The Empress closed in 1956 and was razed in 1965 to make room for a parking lot.
The Lawler first opened in 1916 as B.B. Theatre. The three-story building seated a thousand, and the movie screen was centered beneath an arch framed by columns on each side. Sometime after the 1940s, the original marquee was replaced with a new one. Eventually, age took its toll, and by the time that it closed in 1985, it was a shadow of its former self. It was demolished in 1988.
The Time Theater opened in 1937, and included air conditioning and a fountain. Seating 420, it would be the last single-screen theater built in Rochester. After changing hands a couple of time, it became known for X-rated films during the 1960s. In 1982, it was converted into a restaurant.
The Starlite Drive-In opened in 1948 and averaged three new movies a week. When the Starlite North opened in 1971, the Starlite became the Starlite South. Starlite South closed in 1977, while Starlite North continued until 1988.
Rochester has a large park and trail system, with more than a hundred sites covering five square miles of parkland, as well as eighty-five miles of paved trails.
Additionally, the city includes several recreational facilities, such as the Quarry Hill Nature Center, Nordic ski trails, and four public golf courses: Eastwood Golf Club, Hadley Creek, Northern Hills, and Soldiers Field Golf Course.
The Rochester Art Center is situated downtown, and the oldest cultural arts institution in the city is the Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, founded in 1919. Originally, the Orchestra performed background music for silent movies shown at the Chateau Theatre.
Rochester also has several museums and historical buildings, many of which are open for tours. Although officially established in 1895, the Rochester Public Library has its roots in the Rochester Library Association, organized in 1865, and the Free Library and Reading Room Association of 1883.
Websites representing any of a variety of things to do and places to see in Rochester, Minnesota may be appropriate for this category.
 
 
Recommended Resources
The independent, locally owned micro-cinema is located on 6th Avenue NW in Rochester, Minnesota. The owner/operator and projectionist are introduced, and contact data is included. The cinema hosts a variety of films and film events, such as questions and answers with film-makers, after-film discussions, movie trivia nights, marathons and binges, non-profit spotlights, and others, including live music and comedy venues. Its financial supporters are acknowledged.
https://grayducktheater.com/
Created as the Rochester Amateur Sports Commission in 1991, the organization hosts major state, regional, and national events in Rochester, Minnesota or for Rochester teams. Its board of directors are acknowledged, along with its grant programs, and a list of local sports teams and organizations. Volunteer opportunities and downloadable forms are available. Links to sponsors and local facilities are included.
https://www.rochestermnsports.org/
Featuring four climate-controlled batting cages, suitable for either baseball or softball, the facility also offers a training program and baseball camp, with the player, coach, parent, and team in mind. The membership-only facility offers card-access doors, flat screen televisions, Internet access, a game room and waiting area, beverages, and other amenities. Policy information, prices, and classified advertising are included.
https://www.rochesterbattingcages.com/
Rochester Blackhawks Youth Hockey
Focusing on player development, the RYH strives to prepare participants to be proficient in the skills necessary to be competitive in the leagues and divisions they play in. Program highlights, tuition and payment options are discussed, along with policy information, the tryout process, coach selection process, and bylaws. Coaching applications may be downloaded from the site, and announcements are posted.
https://www.rochesterblackhawks.com/
Rochester Chamber Music Society
The mission of the RCMS, formed in 2003, is to offer personal and accessible chamber music experiences, giving talented musicians the opportunity to perform ensemble music to an audience, and to enrich the community by offering this music for their enjoyment. Its mission, artistic goals, and history are posted to the site, volunteer opportunities are put forth, and a season schedule is published to the site.
http://www.rochesterchambermusic.org/
Rochester Civic Theatre Company
The non-profit organization produces and presents live theater, music, and dance in Rochester, Minnesota. Organized in 1951, the Civic's performances feature local, national, and international artists, and provides classes, advanced training, and performance opportunities in the performing arts. Performance schedules, season tickets, and online ticket sales are available, along with its history, auditions schedules, and box office information.
https://www.rochestercivictheatre.org/
Based in Rochester, Minnesota, the RFC is in the United Premier Soccer League. Its mission statement, development teams, and sponsors are acknowledged, and sponsorship opportunities are highlighted. Coaches and coaching opportunities are presented, along with game and other schedules, a calendar of events, team tryout schedules, and contacts. Announcements are posted to the site.
https://rochester-fc.com/
Formerly known as the Rochester Ice Hawks, the Grizzlies are a Tier III Junior Ice Hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League, with the Rochester Recreation Center as their home field. News reports featuring the Grizzlies are featured on its website, along with team rosters, alumni, and a history of the team. Game schedules, skater, goalie, and player statistics, team standings, and online ticket sales are presented. A prospective player questionnaire is included.
https://www.rochestergrizz.com/
Part of the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league, the Rochester Honkers is an amateur baseball team whose home field is Mayo Field in Rochester, Minnesota. Team rosters, alumni, and a list of former players who made it to the Major Leagues are put forth, along with game results, scores, statistics, game schedules, promotions, and online ticket sales. Game video, audio, and photographs are included.
https://northwoodsleague.com/rochester-honkers/
Rochester International Film Group
The RIFG is a non-profit organization of film enthusiasts, based in Rochester, Minnesota, which presents an international film festival each spring at a local movie theater, in conjunction with the Minneapolis Saint Paul Film Society, and cosponsors the Film Movement video series at the Rochester Public Library. Supported by individual and business contributions and grants, it is a 501c3 organization. Schedules, upcoming festivals, online ticket sales, and locations are specified.
http://www.rifg.org/
Opened in 1908, the historic Opera House is operated as a not-for-profit organization, featuring an annual performance season of shows for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Its history is told, and parking information, rental policies, audition schedules and appointments, and technical specifications are presented, its board of directors is acknowledged, and tickets may be purchased online. Its theater camps, classes, lessons, and private events are discussed.
http://www.rochesteroperahouse.com/
Formed in 2014, its music includes golden oldies, country, easy listening, jazz, big band, and contemporary hits from the stage and screen. Its concert season is highlighted, and information about ticket sales are put forth. Membership information, rehearsal schedules, and special performances are published to the site. Also featured is a choral library and orchestra library, with pieces that may be purchased online.
https://www.rochesterpops.com/
Serving the Rochester, Minnesota community, the library's history, strategic plans, action plans, and policies are outlined on its site, along with a calendar of events, operating hours, policy information, and job opportunities. A guideline to using the catalog and library are put forward, and its catalog is sorted into new fiction, new non-fiction, other new books, new movies on DVD, new DVDs by month, new TV on DVD, and others. A keyword search is also available.
https://www.rplmn.org/
Associated with the International League, the Rochester Red Wings is a professional Minor League baseball team affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, playing at Frontier Field in downtown Rochester, Minnesota. Team rosters and statistics are presented, along with coaches and managers, game schedules, game-by-game results, alumni information, online ticket sales and promotional offers, news, and announcements.
https://www.milb.com/rochester/
Founded in 1984 as a 90-seat black box venue, the theatre occupied a space on South Broadway Avenue until 2007, when it was forced to move to 7th Street NE, the former site of the Studio Academy Arts Charter School. Its history, board of directors, audition schedules, partnerships and volunteer opportunities, and contacts are posted, and a season schedule is published to the site, as well as announcements.
http://www.rochesterrep.org/
Founded in 1919, the Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale is a professional performing arts organization generally known simply as the Rochester Symphony. Its season schedule and special events are featured, including free family previews, are highlighted. Audition schedules, a roster of players, its board of directors, and employment opportunities are posted and sponsorship opportunities are acknowledged.
https://www.rochestersymphony.org/
Rochester Youth Baseball Association
The RYBA is the Rochester, Minnesota affiliate of USA Baseball, the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States. Its site features its registration policies and schedules, information of its house and travel team programs, game and tournament schedules, teams, and statistics. Sponsors are acknowledged, and sponsorship opportunities are highlighted, along with contacts and announcements.
https://www.rybamn.com/
Rochester Youth Hockey Association
Designed for youth of all ages, the RYHA promotes, organizes, and facilitates a program of recreation and sportsmanship in Rochester, Minnesota. Registration schedules and policies are posted to the site, along with game schedules, meeting schedules, and a calendar of events. Other resources include an equipment exchange program, its coaching requirements, tryout schedules, and arena information. Sponsors are acknowledged and sponsorship opportunities are posted.
https://ryha.pucksystems2.com/
The multi-day summer festival includes a parade, games, music, dancing, a carnival, movies in the park, events for the children, and several other events in Rochester, Minnesota. Schedules of the upcoming event are published to the site, along with photos of previous events, sponsors and sponsorship opportunities, parade applications and policies, vendor information, a map showing the locations of food vendors, and a trolley shuttle service.
http://www.rochesterfest.com/
The official website of the Rochester Community and Technical College sports program features announcements, a schedule of events, sponsors, scoreboards, and athlete spotlights. Its men's and women's sports teams and athletic programs are spotlighted, along with schedules, a directory of coaches and staff, eligibility data and participation forms, and an overview of its facilities and programs.
http://www.rctcyellowjackets.com/