Staff Report / September 17, 2026
CORNING – The Rockwell Museum is celebrating five decades of art, culture, and community engagement with a free, all-day block party on Saturday, Sept. 19. Running from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the special event coincides with the Gaffer District’s annual Harvest Festival in downtown Corning.
The “Rockwell @ 50 Block Party” will host activities across the main museum, the KIDS ROCKWELL Art Lab, and the intersection of Market and Cedar Streets. The celebration offers an array of interactive workshops, live performances, historic walking tours, and commemorative giveaways designed for visitors of all ages.
Key event highlights and scheduled activities include:
- Official Commemoration: Assemblyman Phil Palmesano and Sen. Tom O’Mara will present a formal legislative resolution honoring the museum’s 50th anniversary at 11:30 a.m. at the Market and Cedar Street intersection.
- Workshops & Performances: Fiber artist Anna Warfield will guide hourly collaborative bookmaking workshops (10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., registration required). The street intersection will also host dance performances at noon and 2:00 p.m., followed by a live musical set from Corning singer-songwriter Doc Possum from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
- Guided Tours: Docents and staff will lead special tours throughout the day, including an Alley Art Project mural walk (10:00 a.m.), a collections tour (11:00 a.m.), a Director’s Choice tour (1:00 p.m.), and a Market Street history walking tour (3:00 p.m.).
- Visitor Giveaways: The first 500 attendees will receive a free commemorative Rockwell 50 tote bag with opportunities to collect up to six event patches. Additionally, the first 150 guests at the KIDS ROCKWELL Art Lab will receive a free cookie courtesy of Magician’s Kitchen.
