Southern Minnesota's largest art, food and music street festival!
Dates: Every Thursday from June 11 – August 13, 2026 (Except July 2)
Time: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: 1st Ave SW (from W Center St to Historic 3rd St SW) & Peace Plaza
A weekly summer staple of downtown Rochester, Thursdays Downtown combines arts, music, food, and a vendor market into one free community-uniting, block-party-style event. Join your friends and neighbors at Thursdays Downtown to eat, drink, dance, and shop the day away!
Music Busking at Thursdays
Want to perform as an acoustic busker (a street-corner musician) at Thursdays Downtown? We're offering signups during 1-3pm at the remaining Thursdays Downtown events. Busking is permitted only at official locations approved by Rochester Downtown Alliance and must be approved via the completion of the application. Artists must pre-register weekly by Tuesday at 5pm to secure a time slot.
Click here to review the guidelines before applying
Special Events at Thursdays
June 11, 5-6:30pm: Bring the Sing Rochester with The Twin Cities Beer Choir
Join in for a delightful, free, evening community sing-along! YourClassical Minnesota Public Radio's Bring the Sing returns to Thursdays Downtown, featuring the Twin Cities Beer Choir. The Beer Choirs mission is to bring people together by singing while drinking great beer in community-building sing-along events. If you love beer and singing, Beer Choir is for you! No rehearsal, talent or experience required. All you need to do is show up and be ready to have a great time! There are also numerous non-alcoholic options at Thursday’s Downtown.
Register: Registration requested, but not required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bring-the-sing-with-the-twin-cities-beer-choir-tickets-1981584957952?aff=MPREvents
Mayo Clinic Family Nook
Participate in fun family activities and yard games from 11am-7:30pm.
