Highlights Archive

Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month to focus on learning about black history and culture throughout the year.

This PBS LearningMedia Collection to showcase Black excellence through contributions, achievements, and ideas across core subjects and eras. These classroom resources aim to inspire educators to intentionally include Black history and stories in all curricula, using PBS LearningMedia as a tool in doing so, and celebrate Black history this month — and all year long.

Explore videos, media galleries, lesson plans, and more for students! Explore additional related Black History connected collections

About Black History Month

Watch PBS KIDS Black History Month Playlist

Watch the PBS KIDS YouTube Playlist for Black History Month

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with PBS KIDS

Make this Valentine’s Day extra special by spending it with your favorite PBS KIDS characters. Share sweet moments and important lessons about love, kindness, and friendship with Daniel Tiger, Pinkalicious, Molly of Denali, Arthur, Peg+Cat, Nature Cat, Super Why, Word World and more! Watch the Playlist Above.

Watch More PBS KIDS Specials

Watch more PBS KIDS videos

Valentine’s Arts & Crafts

Printable cards and more Valentine’s Day Crafts

Valentine’s Games

Play Valentines Themed Games

Sesame Street Valentine Playlist

A message from Chris Hastings

As we mark the 60-day milestone of my arrival and our “Bringing Us Together” campaign, I want to take a moment to reflect on what I’ve learned in my short time here in Rochester. This is a special community — one that values how WXXI shows up every day. You count on us to provide fact-based, balanced journalism, quality entertainment for the whole family, and educational opportunities that bring us together and keep us whole — no matter what our political ideology is.

We do this work because Rochester deserves it. Because you deserve it.

But right now, public media — including WXXI — is facing one of its greatest challenges. Federal funding, which has long helped sustain local public media stations like ours, is at risk. Proposed budget cuts and funding freezes threaten our ability to continue delivering the trusted news, cultural programming, and lifelong learning opportunities that serve every corner of this community.

In a world increasingly divided by partisanship, WXXI stands as a rare and essential space that serves everyone — on radio, television, digital platforms, and in person. We are a vital part of Rochester’s civic and cultural life, and we need your help to ensure we remain strong.

I’m asking you to share your story. Tell us what WXXI means to you. Your voice matters, and your testimonials can help protect the future of public media. Visit Protect My Public Media to add your voice and learn how you can advocate for continued federal support.

Now more than ever, our community needs a trusted source for news, storytelling, and connection. And together, we can make sure WXXI continues to be that source. Thank you for believing in us.

Warm regards,

Chris Hastings
President & CEO
WXXI Public Media

Ken Burns’ “The Statue of Liberty” & “The Congress” • WXXI-TV

Enjoy an evening of two iconic Ken Burns’ films.

The Statue of Liberty airs Friday, February 14 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app. The Congress follows at 10:30 p.m.

Burns’ 1985 film The Statue of Liberty presents a lyrical, compelling and provocative portrait of the statue. He explores both the history of America’s premier symbol and the meaning of liberty itself. Featuring rare archival photographs, paintings and drawings, readings from actual diaries, letters and newspapers of the day, the fascinating story of this universally admired monument is told. In interviews with Americans from all walks of life, including former New York governor Mario Cuomo, the late congresswoman Barbara Jordan and the late writers James Baldwin and Jerzy Kosinski, The Statue of Liberty examines the nature of liberty and the significance of the statue to American life.

Burns’ 1989 film The Congress. For 200 years, the United States Congress has been one of the country’s most important and least understood institutions. Using historical photographs and newsreels, evocative live footage and interviews, Burns chronicles the events that have shaped the first 200 years of congress and, in turn, our country.

Photo: The Statue of Liberty
Credit: Provided by PBS

ACL Presents: Willie Nelson & Family • WXXI-TV

Willie Nelson returns to the Austin City Limits stage alongside family and friends, for a Texas-sized concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his pilot taping.

ACL Presents: Willie Nelson & Family airs Saturday, July 19 at 4:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Iconic live music television series Austin City Limits (ACL) was born on October 17, 1974, when Willie Nelson taped the pilot episode. That now legendary debut became the cornerstone for 50 years of groundbreaking, award-winning music television. Now Willie returns on the 50th anniversary of that taping to commemorate Austin City Limits’ remarkable half-century milestone with a Texas-sized outdoor concert on October 17, 2024, at Austin’s Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Photo: Willie Nelson on ACL in 1974
Credit: Austin City Limits

In the Key of Z: Meet the Musicians • Watch On-Demand

Born into the 21st century, Gen Z takes a new approach to everything by default. But how does this contrast against the long-established canon of music history? Meet 5 students whose devotion to their craft defies generational trends in WXXI’s latest series, In the Key of Z: Classical.

Click here to learn more about this digital first series and watch all the episodes.

Hot takes! Instrument redesigns! Composer March Madness! WXXI Classical Host, Steve Johnson pulls back the curtain and gets behind the scenes to discover what feeds the fire for these young musicians.