Free Comic Book Day 2025

Free Comic Book Day will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025 across both the region and the country. The event in downtown Rochester, NH has blossomed into a citywide festival, now overseen by Rochester Opera House. This year, Rochester’s Free Comic Book Day Festival will feature over 20 comic stop locations, discounts at restaurants and local businesses, a costume contest, artist alley, beer garden, and performances promoting literacy and visual art through the comic medium throughout the day.“It is important to us that Free Comic Book Day remains an annual staple in our downtown area,” shares Anthony Ejarque, Executive Producer of the Rochester Opera House. “We’ll see thousands of people passing through the doors of our local businesses participating. Rochester is becoming a welcome spot to some famous authors and artists – it’s a boon for the economics of our growing town!”.

Free Comic Book Day will offer Power Up Perks. By purchasing a $10 wristband patrons will receive discounts at all comic book stops throughout the town, and at Artist Alley. A wristband is not needed to participate in the festival.

There will be performances throughout the downtown area, rain or shine, for families to attend as well. UNH ArtsReach program will be presenting Drops in the Ocean, a play that brings to life mermaids, pirates, fish, and dragons, will be presented at Rochester Public Library at 12PM and 2PM. Rochester Opera House will present the parody of Annie-Kin Skywalker, with hourly performances starting at 11AM. The Hanson Street Block Party area will also host KISS tribute band Hotter Than Hell for the duration of the festival.

“I’m thrilled that we can make arts and literacy the next part of this festival!” says Jenry Towle, Associate Artistic Director of Rochester Opera House and the new coordinator of the event. “Ralph DiBernardo (Jetpack Comics) has cleverly curated this unique event for nearly 20 years – we’re happy to now continue its legacy.”

Free Comic Book Day will run from 10AM to 4PM on Saturday, May 3. A Star Wars Movie Night will also take place on Sunday, May 4. For more information on either event, please visit www.rochesteroperahouse.com.
Rochester Opera House is a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to educate, engage, empower, challenge, and inspire a community of all ages by presenting extraordinary and culturally diverse theatre, performance art, music, dance, and film on the city’s foremost performing arts stage.

Learn more HERE!