With the general election in November, it’s time to make your voting plan now. And WXXI News is here to help answer your questions, including where to vote, how to vote, and who is running for office.
Annie Oakley: American Experience — WXXI-TV
As the star attraction of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, Annie Oakley thrilled audiences around the world with her shooting feats.
Annie Oakley: American Experience airs Tuesday, October 20 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.
She was the toast of Victorian London, New York, and Paris. She was “adopted” by Indian chief Sitting Bull, charmed the Prince of Prussia, and entertained the likes of Oscar Wilde and Queen Victoria. Annie Oakley excelled in a man’s world by doing what she loved, and won fame and fortune as the little lady from Ohio who never missed a shot.
Dinner & a Movie for Two at The Little
If you’re here to enter our drawing to win Dinner and a Movie at The Little Theatre, you are at the right place. Please fill in the required fields below and we will be drawing the winner October 13 . Good luck!
Dinner and a Movie
Enter your name and email for a chance to win prizes.
Haudenosaunee Resources for the Classroom
Learn about the indigenous people of the New York State area. The Haudenosaunee, also known as the Six Nations, have lived in the Finger Lakes Region and across New York State. Explore how their example of governance, women’s rights, culture, and agricultural lifestyle impacted the US culture and the formation of US government.
Native Government & Early Democracy from Native America Series (Including the Haudenosaunee)
WXXI News Coverage of Haudenosaunee History, Culture and Current Day Updates
More Resources
Molly, Trini, and Vera are excited to plant the community garden with Auntie Midge’s Wampanoag friend, Gertie, but the girls keep quarreling and can’t get anything done! They learn about the Three Sisters story from the Haudenosaunee, People of the Longhouse about working together to find success. /After discovering that Grandpa Nat doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, Molly, Tooey, and Trini learn about the history of the holiday. Motivated to help, the kids work to create a feast that honors the people who came before them.
Online Resources from Ganondagan State Historic Site: https://www.ganondagan.org/resources including stories, cultural information, virtual field trips, and videos.
Ganondagan State Historic Site located in Victor, NY is a National Historic Landmark, the only New York State Historic Site dedicated to a Native American theme (1987), and the only Seneca town developed and interpreted in the United States. Spanning almost 600 acres, Ganondagan (ga·NON·da·gan) is the original site of a 17th century Seneca town, that existed there peacefully more than 350 years ago. The culture, art, agriculture, and government of the Seneca people influenced our modern understanding of equality, democratic government, women’s rights, ecology and natural foods.
Ganondagan’s full-size, Seneca Bark Longhouse (1998) is fully furnished to reflect a typical Seneca family from the late 1600’s, complete with reproductions of 17th century Seneca objects and colonial-era trade goods.
The Seneca Art & Culture Center (2015) at Ganondagan State Historic Site is a 17,300-square-foot center that tells the story of Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) contributions to art, culture, and society. Designed to fit into the natural landscape, the center features an interactive, multi-media Exhibit Gallery, including a changing exhibit space, Orientation Theater (featuring the Iroquois Creation Story film), auditorium, and gift shop.
The grounds surrounding the center include two signed interpretive trails that educate visitors about the significance of plant life, Haudenosaunee culture and history. A third trail just a mile away from the center, interprets the history and the importance of Fort Hill, a large palisaded granary.
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“Connections on the Road:” Mental health on campus • The Little Theatre
How are colleges and universities in our region responding to growing concerns about student mental health? Join the live panel discussion.
“Connections on the Road:” Mental health on campus tapes live from The Little Theatre on Thursday, October 22 at 12 p.m.
“Connections with Evan Dawson” goes on the road to The Little Theatre for a live broadcast about student mental health. The issue is a growing concern, leading higher education institutions to establish new programs, services, and — in some cases — new grading and evaluation criteria to address students’ needs. WXXI has gathered data from more than 20 colleges and universities in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region related to how they are supporting students. Our panelists discuss what works, where they see gaps in the system, and we hear one student’s story.
Want to be part of the audience?
Can’t make it to The Little? You can still catch the show at 12 p.m. on WXXI-FM 105.9, WXXNews.org, or WXXI News YouTube channel. And, if you can’t catch it live, you can listen to the podcast whenever you want.
October’s Family Movie Friday: Halloween Boonanza!
WXXI’s Family Movie Friday in October will highlight spooky Halloween specials from PBS KIDS!
About the “Movies”
This Halloween season, PBS KIDS is offering families a festive lineup, including special Halloween episodes from your favorite PBS KIDS series – Super Why’s Comic Book Adventure, Rosie’s Rules, Odd Squad, Wild Kratts, Arthur, and more. Find PBS KIDS Halloween specials here. FMF will showcase a double feature for October (two special episodes from the Halloween catalog): “Things that go OO in the Night! / Tricks and Treats! / Costume Catastrophe!” from Super Why’s Comic Book Adventure, and “A Fuzzytown Halloween” from Carl the Collector.
Things that go OO in the Night! / Tricks and Treats! / Costume Catastrophe!: A ghost needs help to find her ‘oo’ sound! The Eraser gets greedy while trick or treating and takes Wonder Red’s Wonder Basket! Princess Presto’s Halloween costume spell goes magically wrong!
A Fuzzytown Halloween: Carl and his pals are excited to trick-or-treat, until Forrest shares a spooky rumor – Mr. Price is a wizard who turns kids into chicken noodle soup! Sheldon is determined to find the truth and end the rumor once and for all.
What to Know & Registration
Family Movie Fridays are a series of free family movie nights hosted at WXXI Studios. Families can join our WXXI Education team to watch a PBS KIDS movie or group of themed-episodes, play, and connect with other local families. All Family Movie Fridays are free, but registration is required.
Who: Family Movie Fridays are open to all kids and their families. All kids must be accompanied by an adult (over the age of 18). All adults must stay with their children throughout the entire event. Events are most appropriate for kids ages 2-8 years old.
When: Friday, October 23, 2026. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., movie starts at 6 p.m. Movie running time is about 1 hour; includes either one 1-hour movie or two 30-minute special episodes. Families are welcome to stay for part or all of the movie night experience.
Where: WXXI Studios – 280 State Street, Rochester, NY, Parking is available next door at High Falls Parking Garage
**Costumes welcome! Extra special for October, we’d love to see you and your kids dressed in their Halloween costumes. Please feel free to be as festive as you’d like!**
Family Movie Friday Registration
VOCES — Paquito D’Rivera: From Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall • WXXI-TV
Follow the extraordinary journey of jazz legend Paquito D’Rivera from child prodigy to multiple Grammy winner.
VOCES — Paquito D’Rivera: From Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall airs Thursday, October 15 at 10:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.
Through music and memories, celebrate the life and legacy of jazz legend Paquito D’Rivera. Trace his journey from child prodigy in Cuba to a stellar career as a multi-GRAMMY Award-winning musician, composer, and beloved Latin jazz ambassador.
American Masters “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” • WXXI On-Demand & Panel Discussion
American Masters “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” aired Tuesday, October 6 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps. It Repeats Saturday, October 10 at 3pm on WXXI-TV and livestream, The Program is available on-demand through 11/4/26. Watch the local video of the WXXI panel below for thoughts on the film.
A founding figure of the Chicano Movement, filmmaker and playwright Luis Valdez is best known for his play Zoot Suit, the Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba and the theatre company El Teatro Campesino.
The son of migrant farmworkers who became a revolutionary artist, Luis Valdez changed American culture. In the 1960s, his El Teatro Campesino performed on flatbed trucks and helped mobilize farmworkers to win their first union contract. In 1979, his “Zoot Suit” was the first Chicano play ever performed on Broadway. His feature film, “La Bamba” was a breakout blockbuster in 1987 that authentically depicted Mexican American life and shared it with the world. Founded in 1965, Valdez’s El Teatro continues to be a beacon for Latino/a creators. American Pachuco is the story of a pioneering artist who gave voice to the overlooked and opened pathways for generations.
Watch the trailer:
A Discussion of the film with WXXI Panel:
WXXI hosted a screening of American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez,a film that follows the legacy of the filmmaker and playwright. After the screening. Julio Sáenz, WXXI Chief Content Officer, moderated a panel discussion with Annette Ramos, Latinx Community Leader, Social Justice Advocate, Arts Curator & Executive Director Rochester Latino Theatre Company; Ricardo Figueroa, Director, School of Film and Animation at Rochester Institute of Technology & John Traver Endowed Professor; and Jason Barber, Co-Founder and Curator of ¡Presente! Film Series, Educator /Community Engagement Expert/Artist. This is their conversation.