SENECA FALLS — The 178th anniversary of Convention Days is this weekend, July 17-19. Convention Days commemorates the historic 1848 Women’s Rights Convention through history programs, guest speakers, family activities, living history performances, music, and community events.

One of the featured events, a luncheon tomorrow, Saturday, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Seneca Falls Community Center.

One of the featured speakers is Coach Gloria Thornton-Peek, originally from Geneva — member of the Geneva Sports Hall of Fame, Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame and the first female Olympic boxing coach to coach Claressa Shields to a Gold Medal at the 2012 London Olympics. She is the founder of the Gold Standard Boxing Program, mentoring thousands of youth and adults during her 50-year career.

The other speaker, Mary Masciangelo, is a 101-year-old Rosie the Riveter from Rochester, veteran advocate, community volunteer through Rochester Honor Flight and recipient of numerous honors for her lifelong service. Masciangelo was honored at the WWII Museum through the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Soaring Valor program in 2025 with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor. Most recently, she was again honored with the American Spirit Award for her work as a “Rosie.”

At age 16, Masciangelo helped to produce critical supplies for soldiers overseas during the war, inspecting pens for parachutes and assembling glasses for the Air Force. She helped with the war effort from 1943 to 1946.

Tickets for the luncheon are $35 a person. To purchase tickets, contact Fran Barbieri at 315-568-5966 or Holly Anne Waye at 585-474-7627

Following the luncheon, there will be a free outdoor concert featuring the Finger Lakes fan favorites, The Cool Club and Lipker Sisters from Rochester. Concert begins at 1 p.m. at the Community Band Stand in People’s Park near the Seneca Falls Community Center. Rain location: Seneca Falls Community Center. Food and beverage vendors will be on site. Bring your own chair, relax, and enjoy an afternoon of outstanding musical entertainment.

For more information and a complete schedule of events for the weekend, visit: ConventionDays.com.