Highlights Archive

Epic Train Journeys from Above • WXXI-TV + The PBS app

On the heels of a visit from the Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, which stopped at Letchworth on its America 250 tour earlier this month, WXXI is pleased to bring train lovers this six-part series that follows some of the world’s most extraordinary railway journeys from above and on the ground

Epic Train Journeys from Above airs Sunday, June 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

You’ll fly above spectacular scenery and explore exceptional engineering; meeting the people who maintain and run these incredible railroads as well as those who live alongside them.

Episode 1 I The Glacier Express train in the Swiss Alps and its amazing engineering
Episode 2 I The Winnipeg-Churchill train crosses the difficult landscape of Manitoba.
Episode 3 I Explore the luxury of El Chepe train and its engineering as it travels through Mexico.
Episode 4 I The 140-year-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and its amazing engineering.
Episode 5 I Behind the scenes on Australia’s luxury Ghan train crossing the continent.
Episode 6 I The Bergensbanen train in Western Norway and its extraordinary journey.

Repeats Sunday, June 28 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Check out this story from WXXI News about Big Boy’s visit to our area. Click here.

PBS KIDS Across America

PBS KIDS invites kids and families to come along on an unforgettable cross-country road trip with the PBS KIDS Across America initiative. From May through July 2026 and beyond, PBS KIDS will showcase amazing places and real kids throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories, as well as some of the American figures who have had an impact on the nation’s history to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Leading the way on May 1 is WOWSABOUT, a new special from The Jim Henson Company, followed by the launch of AMERICA’S AWESOME KIDS, a series of live-action shorts from GBH KIDS on May 22. June will bring CITY ISLAND: USA!, a miniseries of shorts from Future Brain Media, and XAVIER RIDDLE CELEBRATES AMERICAN HEROES, four specials from 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films. Additional new content from MOLLY OF DENALI and ALMA’S WAY, as well as videos and games from fan-favorites such as ARTHUR, CYBERCHASE, SESAME STREET and more, are also on the way to help boost civics and broader social studies learning.

Explore PBS KIDS Across America

America’s Awesome Kids
Explore America’s Amazing Places
Our History, Our Stories
Wild Kratts: North American Animals
Civics in Your Community
And More Related Episodes

Watch the Full Playlist

Independent Lens “The Inquisitor” • WXXI-WORLD

Meet Barbara Jordan: a civil rights icon whose powerful voice masked a complex private life.

Independent Lens “The Inquisitor” airs Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. on WXXI-WORLD

Explore the life and legacy of Barbara Jordan in The Inquisitor. Jordan was a groundbreaking Texas congresswoman whose sharp intellect and moral clarity transformed U.S. politics. From Nixon’s impeachment to civil rights battles, her voice demanded accountability, while she privately faced struggles few ever knew of.

Watch now!

Following the premier airing on the February 23rd, the full film will be available to stream for free for 90 days at https://video.wxxi.org/show/independent-lens/ through May 23, 2026. Discussion Background and Activities are available in the The Inquisitor Film Engagement Guide.

Slamdance on the Road Tour 2026 Screening & Filmmaker Q&A • July 10 at The Little Theatre

This nationwide touring film program comes to The Little Theatre!

Friday, July 10, 2026 | 7:30pm

Little Theatre 1 (240 East Ave.)
Doors open at 6:30pm

Click here for tickets

$5 General Admission tickets
Tickets available online in advance, at our box office during open hours, or at the door (if tickets remain).

Slamdance On The Road 2026 is a nationwide touring film program bringing the best of the Slamdance Film Festival to audiences everywhere. This tour stop at The Little features Unstoppable programming, highlighting films created by filmmakers with visible and non-visible disabilities. These dedicated programs expand Slamdance’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, representation, and elevating underrepresented voices in independent cinema.

Featuring the short films Talk and Contours, and the feature You Look Fine, followed by a live Q&A with filmmaker/comedian J Snow.

Accessibility at this Screening

• Open Captions
• Hearing Amplification (accessibility device or hearing loop)
• ASL Interpretation (introduction and presentation)

Disability Representation in the Media Virtual Panel Discussion • July 7

Join Move to Include Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. for a FREE virtual panel discussion on the good and bad of disability representation in film, television, & other media.

In honor of Disability Pride Month, Move to Include is pleased to bring you this important conversation on the current state of disability representation in media and the arts. Our panel of industry experts will discuss the good, the bad, and what opportunities are ahead for disabled creatives, both in front of and behind the camera.

Joining us:

Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick, Casting Director
Markus Essien, Educator and Artist
Kristen Lopez, Entertainment journalist, EIC of The Film Maven, and author

Accessibility: Zoom auto-generated captions will be enabled for this session. If you have additional accessibility requests, please note this in the registration form. Please contact Sarah Murphy Abbamonte, Project Manager for Move to Include(TM), at sabbamonte@wxxi.org with any questions.

Click here to reserve your free spot

America’s Awesome Kids • WXXI-TV and YouTube

Discover the amazing places, cultures, and passions of children nationwide in America’s Awesome Kids! Join us as we celebrate America’s 250th.

Watch America’s Awesome Kids on America’s Awesome Kids YouTube channel.

America’s Awesome Kids is a new live-action short-form series created by PBS stations across the country — including WXXI. The series showcases kids from coast-to-coast, revealing what is special about where they live, their hobbies and passions, and how they are making a positive impact on their communities. Watch America’s Awesome Kids on America’s Awesome Kids YouTube channel and during the PBS KIDS show Alma’s Way, weekdays at 12:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and daily at 3:30 p.m. on WXXI-KIDS 24/7.

Each featured kid highlights a range of interests, activities, and experiences that celebrate what’s awesome about America. Meet Mahry from Iowa, who takes care of llamas on her family’s farm; Sahana from Georgia, who shares her love of Georgia peaches, Bollywood dancing, and helps organize a park clean up; and Jacob of Louisiana, who share his Cajun culture.

In Rochester, the series features Arwyn, a deaf dancer at the Rochester City Ballet, who performs as the lead angel in The Nutcracker. She expresses herself through dance and communicates using ASL. Watch Arwyn’s episode now.

Crossroads of a Nation • WXXI-TV

This three-part series details the history of Missouri as a crossroads of a nation.

Crossroads of a Nation airs Saturday, June 13 at 3 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams on the WXXI app.

The docu-series explores how Missouri shaped American culture, from Route 66 to blues, jazz and country music. Binge all three episodes!

Pt. 1 / Missouri’s Rhythm, Roads & Roots — Route 66 to the blues, barbecue to baseball, Missouri shaped the soul of American culture.

Pt. 2/ Missouri’s Rifts, Roads & Civil Rights — At the crossroads of progress and justice, Missouri shaped the path of a divided nation.

Pt. 3/ Missouri’s Indelible Role in American History — Tracing the indelible mark Missouri has had on American history.

Photo: Slave market in St. Louis
Credit: Mo Hist

Hochstein at High Falls 2026: Tyler Westcott & Friends

Westcott breathes new life into roots music spanning multiple genres and decades. He and his friends perform the final concert in the series, Thursday, August 6 at 12 :10 p.m.

Tyler Westcott is a poet, singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Buffalo, NY. He specializes in storytelling, songwriting, folk, country blues, traditional jazz, bluegrass and old time, western swing, and more. Armed with his trusty guitar, banjo, and harmonica, & the gift of the gab, he has a knack for describing the human condition with humor and joy, Often in timely and topical songs reflecting the current state of the world. Westcott will guide you through a myriad of genres and decades of eclectic roots music while seamlessly weaving in his own original cuts.

More about the concert series:
Hosted by Hannah Maier of The Route/WRUR 88.5, the concerts begin at 12:10 pm at Granite Mills Park, near the Pont du Rennes bridge.

Concerts take place rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the rain location at MCC Downtown Campus will be announced by 10:30 am on Hochstein’s website and via Hochstein’s social media. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating and lunch. Each performance will run approximately 40 minutes.

Parking Info: Public parking is available at the High Falls Parking Garage.

Hochstein at High Falls concerts are presented by High Falls Business Association, The Hochstein School, and The Route/WRUR 88.5. Hochstein at High Falls concerts.

Photo: Tyler Westcott
Provided.