If you’re heading to the Rochester International Jazz Festival, which starts June 19, you might want to take your appetite.
Food and beverage options will be found throughout the festival, including in Club Pass venues as well as near many of the free shows.
New this year will be a new setup for the lot at East Main Street and Gibbs Street. The site of the former Big Tent has been transformed into Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square, an open-air venue featuring three free performances by local artists each night on the stage called Wegmans Pavilion. East Main Street remains home to food trucks and tables, but guests can also enjoy additional seating, food vendors, a bar and festival merchandise under and around the tent.
The festival will also have a new bar setup on Jazz Street (Gibbs Street). In place of the double-decker tent in front of the Eastman Theatre, the Jazz Street Seltzer Bar will serve flavored NUTRL Vodka Seltzers and Bubly Sparkling Waters. Lounge seating will be set up under a clear-top tent.
Here’s the lineup of food vendors at the festival and a heads-up on some promising pop-ups nearby.
Friday, June 19
East Main Street: 546 Chicken & Waffles, Chef’s Catering, Dar’s Delight Homemade Ice Cream, Macarollin, Melt, Rob’s Al Dente, Sammies N Sweets, Vasko’s
Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square on East Main Street: Tony Pepperoni, Artichoke French, Livie’s Jamaican
Notable nearby: The Normal BBQ, an excellent barbecue restaurant and bar in Lima, will pop up with barbecue plates at Farmhouse Table Midtown, 90 S. Clinton Ave., from 4 to 8 p.m. Farmhouse Table Midtown, housed in the glass-and-steel structure next to Innovation Square, will also run drink specials.
Saturday, June 20
Near the East & Chestnut Stage: Big Papa Taco, Cookie Coma, Melt, Smoothies Plus
East Main Street: Agatina’s Restaurant, Dar’s Delight Homemade Ice Cream, Eat Greek, Macarollin, Mr. Squeeze Lemonade, Rob’s Kabobs, Roc Dilla, Wraps on Wheels
Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square on East Main Street: Tony Pepperoni, Artichoke French, Livie’s Jamaican
Notable nearby: The Little Theatre will be serving Little BBQ at 8 Winthrop St. in the parking lot behind its Theatre 1 building from 4 to 8 p.m. or until food runs out. Dates will be June 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27. The menu will include BBQ ribs and chicken, honey butter corn bread, butter chicken mac-n-cheese, banana pudding, plus vegan options and more. The Little Café will be closed during Jazz Festival week bit seating will be available in the space during barbecue hours.
Sunday, June 21
East Main Street: Agatina’s Restaurant, Dar’s Delight Homemade Ice Cream, Eat Greek, Macarollin, Roc Bowl, Roc Dilla, Wraps on Wheels
Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square on East Main Street: Tony Pepperoni, Artichoke French, Livie’s Jamaican
Notable nearby: The Little Theatre will be serving Little BBQ at 8 Winthrop St. in the parking lot behind its Theatre 1 building from 4 to 8 p.m. or until food runs out. Dates will be June 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27. The menu will include BBQ ribs and chicken, honey butter corn bread, butter chicken mac-n-cheese, banana pudding, plus vegan options and more. The Little Café will be closed during Jazz Festival week bit seating will be available in the space during barbecue hours.
Monday, June 22
East Main Street: Dar’s Delight Homemade Ice Cream, Macarollin, Melt, Rob’s Al Dente, Roll’n Deep ROC, Vasko’s, Wraps on Wheels
Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square on East Main Street: Tony Pepperoni, Artichoke French, Livie’s Jamaican
Tuesday, June 23
East Main Street: Chef’s Catering, Dar’s Delight Homemade Ice Cream, Macarollin, Rob’s Al Dente, Rob’s Kabobs, Vasko’s, Wraps on Wheels
Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square on East Main Street: Tony Pepperoni, Artichoke French, Livie’s Jamaican
Wednesday, June 24
East Main Street: KO-BQ, Marty’s Meats, Rob’s Al Dente, Roc Bowlevard, Sammies N Sweets, Vasko’s, Wraps on Wheels
Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square on East Main Street: Tony Pepperoni, Artichoke French, Livie’s Jamaican
Parcel 5: Dar’s Delight Homemade Ice Cream, Duke’s Donuts, Macarollin, Rob’s Kabobs, Smoothies Plus, Sonny’s Landing
Thursday, June 25
East Main Street: 546 Chicken & Waffles, Chef’s Catering, KO-BQ, Marty’s Meats, Sammies N Sweets, Scoop’n Twist, Vasko’s, Wraps on Wheels
Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square on East Main Street: Tony Pepperoni, Artichoke French, Livie’s Jamaican
Parcel 5: Dar’s Delight Homemade Ice Cream, Duke’s Donuts, Macarollin, Rob’s Kabobs, Roll’n Deep ROC, Smoothies Plus
Friday, June 26
East Main Street: 546 Chicken & Waffles, Chef’s Catering, Eat Greek, Marty’s Meats, Roc Dilla, Sammies N Sweets, Smoothies Plus, Sweet Treats
Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square on East Main Street: Tony Pepperoni, Artichoke French, Livie’s Jamaican
Parcel 5: Big Papa Taco, Dar’s Delight Homemade Ice Cream, Duke’s Donuts, Macarollin, Rob’s Kabobs, Roll’n Deep ROC.
Notable nearby: The Rochester Commissary, a food business incubator housed within Sibley Square, will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Enjoy sample bites from some of the newest small food businesses in Rochester. Admission is free. Sibley Square is at 260 E. Main St., across the street from Parcel 5.
Saturday, June 27
East Main Street: Chef’s Catering, KO-BQ, Marty’s Meats, Rob’s Al Dente, Roc Bowlevard, Roll’n Deep ROC, Scoop’n Twist, Sweet Treats
Rochester Regional Health Rhythm Square on East Main Street: Tony Pepperoni, Artichoke French, Livie’s Jamaican
Parcel 5: 546 Chicken & Waffles, Dar’s Delight Homemade Ice Cream, Duke’s Donuts, Macarollin, Rob’s Kabobs, Sammies N Sweets
Notable nearby: The Little Theatre will be serving Little BBQ at 8 Winthrop St. in the parking lot behind its Theatre 1 building from 4 to 8 p.m. or until food runs out. Dates will be June 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27. The menu will include BBQ ribs and chicken, honey butter corn bread, butter chicken mac-n-cheese, banana pudding, plus vegan options and more. The Little Café will be closed during Jazz Festival week bit seating will be available in the space during barbecue hours.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester Jazz Festival food vendors: 2026 lineup, food trucks
Reporting by Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
