2026 Is the New 2016: What Was Happening in Rochester, MN

A popular trend going around right now is '2026 is the new 2016'. Everyone is getting nostalgic about 2016 trends, things that happened, and big events from their personal life.

So I thought, why not take that to the city level and see what was happening in Rochester, MN in 2016?

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2026 is the New 2016: Rochester, MN Edition

It's insane to think that 2016 was already 10 years ago... Where has the time gone?

Skinny jeans, Pokémon Go, and the Mannequin Challenge were all the rage in 2016. So were full faces of makeup (I'm happy that isn't as trendy anymore, my face thanks me).

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In Rochester, though, the Mayo Civic Center was going through a big renovation, expanding to the Mayo Civic Center we know today.

(Below: Mayo Civic Center circa 2012)

2016 was also when Destination Medical Center (DMC) announced plans for Discovery Square, which is now across the street from where our studios are located.

(Below: The future location of the Discovery Buildings circa 2015.)

Mayo Clinic did something pretty amazing in 2016: A near-total face transplant. That's incredible.

And, of course, plenty of great events happened in Rochester in 2016, including Thursdays on First and Third, Rochester On Tap, and the Rochester Women's Fall Expo.

Speaking of Thursdays on First and Third (now Thursdays Downtown), some of the performers from 2016 included Tim Fast, Strung Like a Horse, Lojo Russo, and Naughty Professor.

While it's fun to be nostalgic and remember good times from our past, let's make 2026 something we're proud to look back on, too!