Just Buffalo Literary Center invites Buffalo to celebrate 6 months of gratitude at Silo City

Community gathering featuring Ross Gay, local vendors, interactive art, public readings & waterfront festivities set for June 27

Just Buffalo Literary Center press release & graphic

Just Buffalo Literary Center invites the public to join “In Gratitude: A Community Celebration,” from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Silo City. The free event marks the culmination of the organization's six-month “In Gratitude” initiative, a citywide project inspired by the work of acclaimed poet and essayist Ross Gay.

Bringing together community members, artists, readers and neighbors, the afternoon will feature interactive art, local vendors, public readings, food, music, and opportunities to reflect on the people, places and experiences that inspire gratitude in Buffalo.

Throughout the spring, Just Buffalo's “In Gratitude” project has invited participants across Western New York to explore gratitude through workshops, creative activities, public programs, and community. The June 27 celebration brings these experiences together in one gathering on the Buffalo waterfront.

“The ‘In Gratitude’ project has been a testament to the power of noticing, asking us all to pause and witness the small, often overlooked wonders that sustain us," said Noah Falck, literary director at Just Buffalo Literary Center. "This celebration at Silo City is more than just a conclusion to a six-month initiative; it is a way to honor those who shared their joys with us. It lifts up the idea of living in joy.”

The afternoon's activities include:

•3-6 p.m., Stitch Buffalo's “Positive Graffiti,” an interactive community art installation; Konbini Buffalo; Fat Daddy's food vendor.

•3:30-4:30 p.m., “Ross Gay Gratitude Walk,” a guided exploration of the Silo City grounds led by Gay; “Bubbles, Breath & Delight” with Jessie Mancuso of Uniquely Yourself. The “Gratitude Walk” offers participants a rare opportunity to experience Silo City alongside Gay, whose celebrated works “The Book of Delights” and “The Book of More Delights” have inspired readers nationwide to cultivate attention, joy and appreciation for everyday life. Participation is limited to 40 people and requires advance registration.

•4:40-5:15 p.m., Community reading featuring selections from Buffalo's collective archive of gratitude.

•5:30-6 p.m., Gay book signing.

The event takes place at Silo City, one of Buffalo's most iconic cultural landmarks and home to the Silo City Reading Series. It is free and open to the public. Advance registration for the “Ross Gay Gratitude Walk” is encouraged due to limited capacity.

For more information and registration details, visit www.JustBuffalo.org.