Rochester Queer Arts Festival

03/12/2026

🎨✨ Sponsorship Opportunities Are Now Open for the 2026 Rochester Q***r Arts Festival! ✨🌈

We’re excited to announce that sponsorships are now available for the 2026 Rochester Q***r Arts Festival at Village Gate Square!

Each year, the festival brings together LGBTQIA+ artists, performers, vendors, and thousands of attendees for a vibrant celebration of q***r creativity, culture, and community. From live performances and visual art to local vendors, food, and interactive experiences, the festival continues to grow as one of Western New York’s most dynamic cultural events.

By partnering with us as a sponsor, you help:
🌈 Support LGBTQIA+ artists and creators
🎭 Expand performances and cultural programming
🛍️ Grow opportunities for local vendors and small businesses
🎉 Create a welcoming, inclusive celebration for the entire community

Visit q***rartsfest.com/sponsor to view our sponsorship levels and see what we have in store for 2026.

📩 Businesses and organizations interested in partnering with the festival can email [email protected] to start the conversation.

Let’s make 2026 the biggest Rochester Q***r Arts Festival yet!

***rArtsFestival ***rArts ***rArtists FestivalSeason

02/11/2026

Thank you, , !

01/31/2026

🌈✨ IT’S OFFICIAL! ✨🌈

Applications are now OPEN for Vendors and Performers for the 3rd Annual Rochester Q***r Arts Festival — and we are so excited to welcome the next wave of q***r brilliance to the festival.

We’re going bigger and better in 2026, with an expanded footprint, more opportunities for artists and performers, and a whole lot of intentional growth. The Rochester Q***r Arts Festival has become a joyful gathering space for q***r creativity, community, and connection — and this next chapter is all about leveling up while keeping that heart firmly intact.

Expect more art, more performance, more visibility, and more ways for audiences to engage with the incredible talent in our community. We’re also rolling out some fabulous upgrades and surprises that we can’t wait to share very soon… trust us, they’re worth the wait.

If you’re a q***r artist, maker, performer, or community organization looking to be part of something vibrant, affirming, and proudly unapologetic — this is your sign. Applications are open now, and we cannot wait to see what you bring to the table (and the stage).

✨ 2026 is coming in hot — and it’s going to be unforgettable.

01/13/2026

10/11/2025

A beautiful full rainbow right above mean a FABULOUS Q***r Arts Festival! Won’t you join us? 10-6 today!

10/04/2025

🗺️✨ The Rochester Q***r Arts Festival Map is HERE! ✨🗺️

Want to know where to park, eat, enter, and explore? We’ve got you covered! 🌈

✅ Plan your visit: Use the festival map to see entrances, parking areas, and all the festival zones — the Atrium, Tent, Courtyard, and Loft.
🍴 Where to eat: Grab a bite from our amazing food vendors stationed throughout the festival grounds.
🛍️ Shop & support: Head to our Vendor Directory at q***rartsfest.com/vendors to find your favorite artists and makers — then use the map to see where they’ll be!

Know exactly where you’re going before you arrive — and make the most of your day celebrating art, community, and pride! 🩷💜💙

***rArtsFestival ***rArt ***rFest2025

10/04/2025

✨ ONE WEEK AWAY ✨
The countdown is ON! The Rochester Q***r Arts Festival takes over Village Gate Square next Saturday, October 11, from 10 AM – 6 PM! 🏳️‍🌈🎨

🌟 What to Expect:
🎭 Live performances all day on multiple stages
🖼️ Student Art Gallery sponsored by The Harley School
🎶 Drag, music, theatre, and dance
👗 The “No Labels” Fashion Show
🛍️ Over 150 artists and vendors
🥂 VIP Lounge sponsored by Mistr with refreshments from Wegmans + Beak & Skiff
🤝 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Mayor Malik Evans, Senator Samra Brouk, Assembly Member Harry Bronson, and Governor Kathy Hochul’s office

And so much more—including food trucks, workshops, a sensory-friendly space, and ASL interpreters at every stage.

✨ Admission is FREE! ✨

📍 Village Gate Square, Rochester, NY
🗓️ Saturday, October 11 | 10 AM – 6 PM
🌐 Full schedule + vendor list at q***rartsfest.com

Let’s celebrate art, community, and PRIDE together! 💖

***rArtsFestival

10/02/2025

and with Evan Dawson on ‘s Connections talking about the upcoming Rochester Q***r Arts Fest!

09/25/2025

Epic Juggling. Pink Balls. 🎪✨🩷

Avi the Astounding is bringing his world-class juggling to the Courtyard at the Rochester Q***r Arts Festival! Don’t miss the magic, the comedy, and yes—the pink balls flying through the air.

🗓 Saturday, October 11, 2025
📍 Village Gate Square – Courtyard Stage
🎟 Admission is FREE

The full entertainment line-up is now live at q***rartsfest.com 🌈🎭

***rArtsFestival ***rArts

09/25/2025

New Workshop Schedule! (Updated)
Reserve your spot at any of these workshops at q***rartsfest.com/workshops today!

09/22/2025

🌟 Huge thanks to and for their generous in-kind donations to this year’s Rochester Q***r Arts Festival! 🌟

Your support helps us keep the festival vibrant, creative, and accessible for our community. 🎭🎶✨

We’re so grateful for partners who believe in celebrating q***r creativity and community right alongside us. 💜

📅 Join us October 11 at Village Gate Square for a day full of art, music, performances, vendors, and more!

***rArtsFest

09/16/2025

🌟 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! 🌟

We are thrilled to welcome WOW Presents Plus as our official Festival Tent Sponsor for the Rochester Q***r Arts Festival! 🎪✨

WOW Presents Plus is owned by World of Wonder, the brilliant minds behind RuPaul’s Drag Race 👑 — the global phenomenon that has brought drag into the mainstream and celebrated q***r artistry around the world.

Join us under the WOW Presents Plus Festival Tent on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Village Gate Square, where the magic of drag, art, and community come alive all day long!

Check them out at 👉 wowpresentsplus.com 💻

***rArtsFestival