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Daniel Tiger is Coming to Rochester!

Celebrate 60 years of WXXI’s commitment to engaging, educating, and inspiring our community with a special visit from Daniel Tiger at the Rochester and Monroe County America 250 Celebration!

WXXI is joining the community in celebrating America’s 250th birthday! On Sunday, July 12, stop by the PBS KIDS booth for a special photo opportunity with everyone’s favorite neighbor, Daniel Tiger from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Discover how WXXI has supported families and children from our earliest days to today through trusted educational programming and community engagement. It’s sure to be a grr-ific evening—we can’t wait to see you there! Bring the whole family and enjoy activities, memories, and a chance to celebrate this milestone with us.

Here’s What to Expect:

Daniel Tiger Photo Opps: Daniel Tiger photo opportunities will be available from 5-8 p.m. Photo opportunities will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Photo opportunities are for both growups and kids – bring your camera, snap a photo, or give Daniel a hug or a high-five! Please note, Daniel will have to take short breaks.

Birthday Card: Wish WXXI a happy 60th anniversary by signing our card! We’ll have crayons and markers for you to draw and write a happy birthday message.

Timeline of Children’s Educational Programming: Learn how WXXI’s work is rooted in early educational experiences anchored with children’s programming. See how WXXI’s long history of family and community engagement has connected, engaged, and provided a foundational of early learning for kids in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region for 60 years.

Event Details:

Monroe County’s America 250 Celebration is Rochester’s anniversary celebration for our nation, bringing the community together for an unforgettable summer night at ESL Ballpark. This free, family-friendly event transforms the stadium into a vibrant, high-energy experience featuring live music, great food and drink, and activities for all ages. From the outfield to the concourse, every corner of the ballpark comes to life with entertainment, community partners, and hands-on fun. The night builds toward a fireworks finale, creating a shared moment that brings the community together.

Location: ESL Ballpark – 1 Morrie Silver Way, Rochester, NY 14608
Date: Sunday, July 12
Time: 5:00 to 9:30 p.m.
More information: https://www.america250rochester.com

Native Lands and the American Revolution on the Frontier

Tsi’yu-gunsini, or Dragging Canoe in English, is a Cherokee chief who leads raids against illegal settlements by American colonists on Native lands. Their British allies urge them to be patient, but Dragging Canoe doesn’t hesitate. In response, thousands of colonial militiamen pour into Native territories and wage a war of total annihilation. This program is made possible by viewers like you. Explore with your students differing perspectives on the conflict over Cherokee land and understand more about the complexity and consequences of decisions that individuals such as Tsi’yu-gunsini (Dragging Canoe) made during the American Revolution with this free, curriculum-aligned resource: Tsi’yu-gunsini (Dragging Canoe) and Resistance to American Expansion During the American Revolution (9-12)

Find more video clips and discussion about Native American involvement and perspective on the American Revolution in the PBS LearningMedia American Revolution Collection

Learn what perspectives and experiences Native Americans had during the American Revolution and the forming of the new United States.

Explore Native Stories From The American Revolution:

Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War • On-demand

“Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War” is powerful documentary uncovers the stories of four Black Americans who pursued freedom, citizenship, and belonging during the American Revolution, illuminating the tension between the promises of the Declaration of Independence and the lived realities of enslaved and free Black people in early America.  Watch On-Demand through 9/28/26.

Originally Aired and streamed live on WXXI-TV on Monday, June 29th at 10pm

A Hot Dog Program • WXXI-TV

Host Rick Sebak takes you on a mouthwatering journey across the country, visiting some of the most famous, unique and beloved hot dog stands.

A Hot Dog Program airs Sunday, July 5 at 5p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

From iconic city vendors to hidden small-town gems, this film celebrates the rich history, flavors and culture of hot dogs in a fun and engaging way. Originally aired in 1996.

Bruce Springsteen: Finding America in Song • WXXI-TV

The thirty-minute special will be hosted by PBS News Hour co-anchor & co-managing editor Geoff Bennett and focuses on Bruce Springsteen’s storied career, his impact on American music, and the opening of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University.

Bruce Springsteen: Finding America in Song airs Sunday, July 5 at 6 p.m.  on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

The special will include an extended look at Bennett’s recent interview with Springsteen that aired on PBS News Hour as well as conversations with Bob Sanelli, the former executive director of the Grammy Museum and founding executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, and Jon Landau, Springsteen’s longtime manager and producer, on the role music plays in telling the American story as the country marks its 250th anniversary.

Photo Credit: Singersroom

National Treasure, America 250 screening • The Little Theatre

Historian and code-breaker Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) has been searching his whole life for a rumored treasure dating back to the creation of the United States.

America 250 l National Treasure screens at The Little Theatre on Thursday, July 2 at 7 p.m. in Theatre 1 (240 East Avenue).

 Joining an expedition led by fellow treasure hunter Ian Howe (Sean Bean), Gates finds an ice-locked Colonial ship in the Arctic Circle that contains a clue linking the treasure to the Declaration of Independence. But when Howe betrays him, Gates has to race to get to the document ahead of his so-called colleague.

Click here to purchase tickets!

Rufus Wainright Does Kurt Weill • WXXI-TV

Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright performs an evening dedicated to Kurt Weill’s iconic music, featuring classics including “Mack the Knife,” “The Saga of Jenny,” and “September Song.”

Rufus Wainright Does Kurt Weill airs Sunday, July 12 at 1 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright’s fascination with German composer Kurt Weill’s music goes back decades. However, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT DOES KURT WEILL marks the first time he dedicated an entire evening to performing the songs of this legendary figure in musical theater. Filmed in Los Angeles with the Pacific Jazz Orchestra, the concert features classics like “Mack the Knife,” “The Saga of Jenny” and “September Song.”

Photo Credit: APT

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