Join us for the launch of Tokeya C. Graham’s debut children’s book, A Yellow Ribbon in the Sky for Ronald, illustrated by Mariam Poppins, with a foreword by Priscilla Perdue.

Going for Baroque is a weekly series of mini-recitals at the Memorial Art Gallery, offered each Sunday at 1:30 PM and again at 3:00 PM. It offers the opportunity for students from the Eastman School of Music to perform alongside professional musicians on the Italian Baroque organ on the second floor of the museum. The 25-minute mini-recital is included with museum admission.

Guabaza is a high-energy Buffalo-based ensemble that brings a vibrant sound to every performance. The group crafts a rich musical experience by blending the rhythms of Caribbean music with the sophisticated harmonies of Latin, jazz, and the soulful grit of blues. Whether they are reimagining classics or exploring original grooves, Guabaza’s music is a celebration of global traditions. Featuring a powerhouse lineup of local favorites—including Harrison Graser on keys, vocalists Alex McArthur and Michael DeLano, and a driving rhythm section led by drummer Damone Jackson, bassist Brian de Jesus and percussionist Michael Ruopoli—their performances are a rhythmic journey that invites audiences to move, listen, and connect.

Over six weeks you’ll write a short story, from blank pages to first draft. By the end of the workshop, you will shape and revise your story into a final product ready to go out into the world. Each meeting will include notes on the genre, suggested reading, plenty of discussion, and tips for the coming week’s writing. Writers will work on their stories between meetings, share updates each week, and receive personalized, constructive feedback.

Virginia Eubanks will be joined in conversation by writer and physician, Trisha Paul As disarmingly funny as it is quietly wise, A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving is the story—heart-wrenching and all too relatable—of how one woman tried to save her beloved and learned that she would also have to save herself.

Want to fall in love with writing? Want readers to fall in love with your characters? This four-week Romance Writing workshop is perfect for beginner-to-intermediate writers eager to craft their own exhilarating love story. Each two-hour session blends fun mini-lectures with hands-on writing exercises, feedback, and achievable milestones to keep you engaged and growing as a writer.

Held at Hinterland Gallery in Rochester’s historic Brown’s Race District this showcase includes three poets with deep ties to Western NY who incorporate visual elements into their work to heighten the political and personal impact of witnessing.

Join us for a generative writing workshop against censorship at Gates Public Library! What is the role of the writer in an era of increased censorship, where the chilling of speech is a central tactic to suppress dissent, freedom, and social justice? Inspired by BELONG by Gianna Stewart this accessible, generative writing workshop invites you to “take back” one or more words on PEN America’s “Banned Word List” and say exactly what it means to you.

Join us on the eve of National POW/MIA Recognition Day for a reading and conversation between Sherry Dumont and Ilene Benz. In 2023, Dumont published the memoir of her late father, American Special Forces Staff Sergeant James E Jackson, who was held for 16 months in a Viet Cong POW Camp.

Michael Waters and Mihaela Moscaliuc (Pagan Sky (Poems 2000 – 2025)) and (Heartmoor). The poets will read from their new releases and then be in conversation with one another.

Join us for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Alex Sanchez’s debut novel Rainbow Boys, a NY Times “Best YA Book of All Time.” Sanchez will read briefly from the book and then be in conversation with award-winning author and friend, Linda Sue Park. Our indie bookstore, Ampersand Books, will sell brand new reissue copies of the novel , featuring a new cover and limited-edition sprayed stencil edges.

Join us for a generative writing workshop against censorship at Irondequoit Public Library! What is the role of the writer in an era of increased censorship, where the chilling of speech is a central tactic to suppress dissent, freedom, and social justice? Inspired by BELONG by Gianna Stewart this accessible, generative writing workshop invites you to “take back” one or more words on PEN America’s “Banned Word List” and say exactly what it means to you.

Having trouble completing your manuscript? Maybe you started with a spark, but the light has faded? Maybe you just started and need tools for sustaining longevity. Alex Sanchez, author of ten novels including the Lambda award-winning So Hard to Say, will give you the tools to tackle story arcs, compelling conflicts, dynamic characters, and strategies for revision and rewriting.

What can photographs tell us about our lives today, the traditions of our past, and the world we want to create? Which stories, emotions, details, secrets, and meanings lie just outside frame of the photograph?

Writers & Books presents three nationally recognized authors with deep ties to Rochester who use visual art to inspire and inform their work. Whether it’s an illustrative sentence in a story, a powerful polaroid, or a vivid portrait-drawing, these writers rely on the “image” to engender understanding, empathy, and intimacy between readers and writers.

For over five decades, Bill Pugin has stood at the crossroads of two languages and cultures—bridging communication between the Deaf and hearing worlds. In this heartfelt and often humorous memoir, Pugin takes readers on a journey from his small-town Southern childhood to the global stages and studios where he built a lifetime of stories as a sign language interpreter, performer, and advocate.

Guess what; your memoir isn’t about you. It’s not even about a topic like career, illness, travel, or family. It’s about how your story illustrates meaning that readers can see, feel, and learn from. Without this foundation, writing your memoir(s) can be overwhelming and chaotic.

This class provides a deep dive into the prep and layout of a manuscript for upload to Amazon, Ingram, and other distributors. Erin and Nancy will show you how to create beautiful interior designs without AI or a graphic design degree. We’ll prep a manuscript live so you can see how it’s done, review and demonstrate the research process for choosing a strong cover in your genre, and show you how to ready your project for the world.

Did you know? All kids 12 and under will receive free admission to the Museum on Thursdays in August. We’ll offer a wide array of activities in the Historic Village for kids to enjoy, including historic games on the Village Square, ice cream making, new farm animal-themed treats in the D.B. Munger Confectionery, and more.

Genesee Country Village offers one of the nation’s most comprehensive 19th-century base ball programs, including games most Sundays May – October and the National Silver Ball Tournament mid-summer! Each season the Museum’s vintage base ball teams unpack their woolen uniforms, brown balls, and double-knobbed bats to play in Silver Base Ball Park, the first and finest replica 19th-century base ball park in the country.

Join us for a delightful set of exclusive luncheons set against the backdrop of the Museum Gazebo, nestled in the heart of the great meadow! Indulge in a thoughtfully crafted, summer-inspired menu while you soak in the views from the gazebo’s main stage. Sip on refreshing sweet tea and savor the vibrant seasonal flavors as you unwind in the warm embrace of summer.

Bring the family and join us for a fun-filled day of family-friendly activities! Whether your little one isn’t quite ready to attend camp by themselves or you are just looking for a chance for the whole family to join in the camp fun, we have you covered. We will have a little bit of everything from our 19th-century village, nature center, and the magic of imagination.

Join us for a fan favorite, summer brunch in our indoor / outdoor Pavilion Garden Restaurant! The cost of your ticket includes day-long access to all GCV&M has to offer: our 19th-century Historic Village, exhibits in the John L. Wehle Gallery, and Nature Trails. Tickets for this event will go on sale in May 2026.

In this engaging workshop, you’ll roll up your sleeves and actively participate in the recreated 1803 brewery of Walter Grieves, crafting a batch of beer on a commercial scale. But that’s not all! In teams of two, you’ll harness modern equipment alongside an authentic historical recipe to create your very own small, home-scale brew. Each participant will leave with a growler-sized jug of wort to ferment at home, enabling you to continue the brewing tradition.