30+ years running! Featuring must-see national acts and standout local opening artists, these free, un-ticketed outdoor music events are held on five consecutive Sunday evenings in downtown Rochester, Minnesota along the Zumbro River.
Stellar music, gorgeous green space, plus local food vendors and giveaways. These shows are for everyone, and we hope to see you in the park!
Save the dates - we'll see you next year! 2025 dates:
Where: Mayo Park | 30 Civic Center Drive SE, Rochester, MN 55094
Schedule
6:00 pm | Get ready!
Come early to enjoy the space and to grab your spot before the show starts. Food and beverage vendors will be onsite. Lawn chairs, blankets, coolers and picnics are welcome.
7:00 pm | Orange Goodness
The Orange Goodness is an exciting groove-infused alt/indie rock group that creates out of Minneapolis, Minnesota and features Mike Michel (guitars, vocals) Ian Allison (bass) and Reese Kling (drums). Their collective chemistry was immediate, vibrant, and exploratory! The Orange Goodness are steadfast in their mission to be an all inclusive, ageless, multi-dimensional rock group!
The music is up to you! At this interactive show, Max plays your requests. Choose a song from this list and be ready to yell it out!
Max Weinberg is the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and was the bandleader on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Performing songs from the glory days of rock and roll, you can choose from a menu of over 200 songs — everything from the Beatles to the Stones to Bruce Springsteen's biggest hits. How many times have you attended a show where you yearned to hear your favorite performer play your favorite song? With Max Weinberg’s Jukebox your dream can be realized!
Learn more about Max Weinberg's Jukebox on their website.
Food & Beverage Vendors
Nautical Bowl
Popus Gourmet Popcorn
Taco Lab
The Compadres
True Smoke BBQ
Yang Yumm
Kinney Creek
Mayo Civic Center Food & Beverage
About Riverside Music Series
The Riverside Music Series, presented by Rochester Public Music, is the region’s longest running and most anticipated FREE outdoor concert series. Five weeks of live music on Sunday evenings, packed with legendary acts, emerging talent, and local favorites. The music starts at 7 PM in beautiful Mayo Park, located just behind the Civic Center in downtown Rochester, Minnesota.
Come early to enjoy the space and to grab your spot before the show starts. Lawn chairs, blankets, coolers and picnics are welcome. Walk, bike, or roll to the park if you can, otherwise take advantage of the ample free parking downtown. These are all-ages events, and all are welcome!
Closed captioning will be available with your data-connected smart phone or tablet.
CART captioning will be available here or via QR code in the park. Please bring a data-connected digital device (phone, tablet, laptop) to access this streaming service.
Assistance with CART will be available at the Public Music tent. Please contact Public Music for questions about additional accessibility accommodations.
Where
All concerts take place in Mayo Park, located in downtown Rochester behind the Mayo Civic Center. Concertgoers are encouraged to walk, bike, or roll to the shows if possible.
when
Save the dates - we'll see you next year! 2025 dates:
July 13, 2025
July 20, 2025
July 27, 2025
August 3, 2025
August 10, 2025
Music will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
Food vendors will be onsite at 6 p.m. Come early to get food from local vendors and choose your spot in the park!
cost
Concerts are free and open to the public!
Meet & Greets
Interested in meeting the headliners? We partner with local radio stations to give away FREE backstage passes. Check here for information about how to win a pass.
Giveaways
On opening night, stop by the Think Bank tent to receive a FREE, limited edition Riverside Music Series t-shirt! Shirts are available in limited quantity - arrive early to be sure to get one!
And at each concert, Think Bank gives away a FREE electric guitar autographed by the headliner. Enter the giveaway by completing a survey by 7:45 p.m. on show day. Surveys can be completed at the Think Bank tent, by visiting the survey webpage, or by scanning a QR code at the event. Must be present to win.
Directions & parking
Mayo Park is directly accessible from nearby walking paths and bike trails, and concertgoers are encouraged to walk, bike, or roll to the shows if possible.
Ample free parking is available nearby, with public ramps, on-street meters, and City-owned surface lots all free to use on weekends and evenings. Accessible parking is available in all public parking ramps, and several designated accessible parking spaces are available on Civic Center Drive. Additional information about parking is available on the Mayo Civic Center website.
Seating
Space in the park is available on a first come, first served basis. Come early to choose your spot! We do not allow the use of ropes or stakes to reserve space.
We encourage you to bring lawn chairs or blankets to the events; seats are not provided.
items to bring
Coolers, food, drink, lawn chairs, blankets, and other items to make your experience more comfortable are welcome and encouraged. Please leave grills and pets, with the exception of service animals, at home.
concessions
Local food and beverage vendors will have a variety of options for sale. Vendors will be onsite at 5 p.m.
Smoking
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited in Mayo Park.
Restrooms
Restrooms inside the Mayo Civic Center will be available for use. Entrances to the indoor restrooms are on either side of the stage through doors marked 16 and 19.
Additional portable toilets are located in the park near the food vendors.
Weather Policy
Concerts will take place outdoors rain or shine. Ponchos are preferred over umbrellas to keep sightlines unobstructed. In the case of threatening weather, the concert may be delayed, postponed, or, as a last resort, cancelled.
For weather related updates the day of the event, please check our event updates page or social media accounts.
Soliciting
In order to make our events enjoyable for all, we respectfully request that public and private parties refrain from campaigning or soliciting at the Riverside events. We appreciate your consideration.
Down by the Riverside has been sponsored by Think Bank since 2008.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.