Spots Around Rochester, NY That feel like a Hallmark Movie

This annual Rochester holiday festival delivers all the main character vibes you’re looking for this holiday season. With free ice skating, an adorable shopping village, cozy igloos available for rent, diverse and delicious food trucks, and live music, there really is something for every kind of Hallmark movie lover. 

The best part? This event runs throughout the month of December, so you can plan several visits and embody a different brand of main character energy for each one!

Speaking of holiday shopping, the THEMATA Holiday Market is a local design, craft, and art fair showcasing the work of independent artists and creators around the Rochester area. Picture the gift shopping sequence in your favorite Hallmark movie, that’s the energy this holiday market will give you. 

Not to mention, THEMATA features locally loved coffee shops and restaurants like Village Bakery and Trata.

Looking for other holiday shopping ideas? Check out our guide on local shops to support this holiday season here. 

Located right along the Erie Canal, The Village of Fairport has all the makings of your favorite small town romance Hallmark movie. When visiting the village, don’t forget to swing by the festively decorated Kennelley Park Gazebo for the perfect photo op amid the fairy lights and garland.

Of course, no Hallmark main character would leave a quaint holiday village without stopping by a local bar for a beverage. Fairport has no shortage of amazing bars and restaurants to try. We’d recommend  Iron Smoke Distillery or Tin Cup Social for a craft cocktail, Casa Larga Vineyards if you’re more of a wine drinker, or Tripphammer Bierwerks for a seasonal brew.

Littered with cute restaurants, locally owned boutiques, and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the middle of it all, the Park Avenue area feels like a backdrop plucked right from your favorite Hallmark movie. Find the right playlist, grab a coffee from Pearson’s, and stroll the avenue like the Hallmark movie main character you are.

In our opinion, the best way to explore Park Ave around the holidays is to do so without a solid plan. Maybe you’ll pop into Figgy’s and make some custom jewelry. Maybe you’ll stop at Roux and grab some authentic French cuisine. Or Vern’s if Italian is more your speed. Maybe you’ll end your stroll with some yummy handmade chocolate from Stever’s Candies or dessert and a cocktail from Caramel Bakery and Bar. This is your movie, and the scenes are up to you.

Another village in Rochester that offers you Hallmark movie vibes is the Village of Pittsford. From incredible restaurants like Jojo’s Bistro and Wine Bar, to cozy coffee shops like Neutral Ground, to small shops like Cleo + Kin, the Boutique Curated by UB and Notion, there is no shortage of Hallmark movie vibes to satisfy your craving.

If you’re looking for a more subdued (but no less festive) festive atmosphere, the Pittsford Fine Art Gallery is a must visit! Peruse original art and channel your more mysterious main character energy at this local gallery right in the heart of Pittsford Village.

Are you a Hallmark movie lover with a bit of a soft spot for a time travel trope? If so, Mumford is the place to be this holiday season. Take a trip to Genesee Country Village and Museum, and experience an old fashioned holiday in a classically festive setting. GCV&M is the perfect backdrop for all your main character moments this winter. 

If you end up snowed in (in typical Hallmark movie fashion) and looking for a place to spend the night, the historic Genesee Country Inn can not only offer you a cozy place to stay, but an excuse to continue living out all your main character dreams. 

There are several ways to get festive in the Finger Lakes. Whether you’re spending the day in Canandaigua skiing at Bristol Mountain, grabbing a bite at Cove, or having a sweet treat at Simply Crepes, the beautiful landscape and wintery atmosphere is guaranteed to bring your Hallmark dreams to life.

The Finger Lakes also offers you spots like Watkins Glen where you can spend the day exploring the iced-over lakes and beautiful Winter waterfalls, and Seneca Falls where you can attend the annual It’s a Wonderful Life Festival (talk about the plot of a Hallmark movie waiting to happen). 

Don’t just take our word for it, though. Plan your trip to Rochester, NY this holiday season and come experience all the Hallmark movie energy for yourself!