Rochester
Morning News
Tuesday, May 5th, 2026
Good morning, Rochester. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 5th of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Today, Rochester holds a final council meeting at City Hall at 6 p.m. on selling School No. 20; later this week, local leaders gather for prayer on Thursday and the 128th Lilac Festival begins Friday in Highland Park with live music and food. News 10
- ➤ Rochester Rotary selected Dan Meyers as its 87th award recipient for over 50 years of community service (the award is the oldest and most prestigious civic honor in the city). He will receive the honor on June 10 at the George Eastman Museum. WXXI News
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Aldi is testing a new store format with updated signage and visuals to create a consistent global look. The discount chain began trials in Aventura, Florida in September 2025 and plans further testing this year as New York locations may see the redesign soon (exact timing is not confirmed). Democrat & Chronicle
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The Rochester Subway Gala will mark 70 years since the subway stopped running and is set for Sunday, June 21 at George Eastman Museum. Otto Vondrak of ARC Rochester shared details on Monday, May 4. ABC 13
- ➤ Rochester will host a three-day National Day of Prayer festival to mark its 75th anniversary — starting Thursday, May 7 with a Human Prayer Chain at City Hall, featuring youth events on Friday, May 8 and a prayer motorcade and community celebration at Innovative Field on Saturday, May 9. ABC 13
- ➤ Foundation president Kim Kowalke joined ARC Rochester Monday to preview the finals of the 2026 Lotte Lenya Competition. The finals will be held Saturday, May 9 at Kilbourn Hall. FOX Rochester
- ➤ Rochester will host its annual Juneteenth Festival & Parade Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20 at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park; the two-day celebration will feature live music, local food vendors, and family activities to honor African American heritage led by city officials and event organizers. ABC 13
- ➤ Foundation president Kim Kowalke said the finals of the Lotte Lenya Competition will be held on Saturday, May 9 at Kilbourn Hall — the event will showcase local musical talent to the community. ABC 13
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ A RE/MAX hot air balloon toured six Rochester city schools to teach over 3,000 students about flight and weather. The lesson took place at Austin Steward Elementary School No. 46 on Monday, May 4. ABC 13
- ➤ Nearly 300 University of Rochester Engineering and Applied Science students showcased 85 capstone projects on Monday, May 4 in Rochester — including projects that calculated baseball bat properties for the Astros and built custom microphones for a Grammy-winning engineer — during their Design Day event. ABC 13
- ➤ RIT will award a record 76 Ph.D.s at its commencement weekend as doctoral enrollment surpasses 500 and federal research funding and grant applications hit new highs. A new research building opened in December and supports programs in cybersecurity & quantum theory. WXXI News
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Hannah Farley, program director for the Finger Lakes Cancer Services Program, joined ARC Rochester on Monday to honor former colleague Liz Bonis and explain the importance of colon cancer screening. ABC 13
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Voting for the Faber Builders Girls Sports Athlete of the Week is open until 8 p.m. Wednesday; local reporters have highlighted standout players from Section V, with the winner to be announced on Instagram Thursday morning. Democrat & Chronicle
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Estate Planning Basics with Nathan VanBrunt
3-4 p.m. — Penfield Public Library — Free entry — Gain essential knowledge on wills, trusts, and common estate planning errors in this informative session.
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Pretty in Pink 80s Party featuring Belious Some
6:30-8:30 p.m. — Photo City Music Hall — Tickets available online — Experience 80s nostalgia with live music, iconic hits, and vibrant party vibes.
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Big Jay Oakerson Concert
9:00 PM — Comedy @ The Carlson — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening of laughs with comedian Big Jay Oakerson.
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Step Off Competition Reunion
2-5 p.m. — East High School — Kids 2 and Under Free, Kids 3-12 $15 — Celebrate the reunion of step competition participants with performances and community spirit.
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Mother Goose by Rochester City Ballet
2-3 p.m. — The Hochstein School — Ticketed event — Experience classic fairytales come to life through Ravel’s whimsical music and ballet performance.
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Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra: Broadway In Hollywood
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Eastman Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience a musical journey from Broadway to Hollywood with your RPO featuring hits from iconic stage-to-screen sensations.
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Don McLean Concert
7:30-11:30 p.m. — West Herr Auditorium Theatre / RBTL — Ticket prices vary — Experience the timeless music of a GRAMMY Award-winning legend known for 'American Pie'.
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Toddler Time at Winton Library
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Winton Branch Library — Free entry — An engaging hour of songs, rhymes, and stories to boost early literacy for toddlers.
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Cupid's Boomerang: Infrared Radiation Orchestra
8:00 p.m. — Bug Jar — Tickets starting at $12.30 — Experience an electrifying night of music with Cupid's Boomerang and Infrared Radiation Orchestra.
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Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra: Spring Concert
7:30-9 p.m. — Eastman Theatre — Pay-what-you-want — Experience the RPYO's final concert of the season featuring young talent and community support.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
There are always two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason.
~ J.P. Morgan
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