SPRINGFIELD — PBS Kids offers some of the most recognizable and trusted children’s programs and characters on television. On Saturday, Feb. 25 western New England youngsters get their chance to celebrate those TV shows and characters in person at the WGBY Love for Learning, a PBS Kids fan fair at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
Hosted and organized by WGBY, the region’s public television and PBS member station, the children’s event is sponsored by Baystate Children’s Hospital and media partner MassLive. It features live appearances by characters, PBS Kids show-themed activity stations, and tabletop experiences from nearly two dozen community health, cultural, and education partners and children’s book authors/illustrators.
“PBS Kids isn’t just about the consumption of content,” said WGBY Director of Community Relations and Events Marie Waechter. “It’s about engagement. We want families to come to the WGBY Love for Learning event eager to express themselves, to showcase their own relationship with PBS Kids characters. It’s not just about meeting Curious George; it’s about being able to tell Curious George, face to face, why you love him.”
Indeed, Curious George will be available for real-life hugs and interaction. The precocious primate will be joined by other live PBS Kids characters, too, including The Cat in the Hat and Buddy from Dinosaur Train. In addition, the Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtle Michelangelo will make a special appearance alongside his PBS Kids friends.
While the WGBY Love for Learning event is a free event for walk-ins — and all the characters will be on hand throughout the day to meet with any and all attendees — there are real benefits for those wishing to register early. With an online registration (wgby.org/fanfair/tickets) in support of public educational programming ($10/adult; $5/child), early registrants will enjoy Express Admission and a special exclusive private character greeting.
At 10 a.m. the morning of Saturday, Feb. 25, Curious George and other characters will be waiting in a private room of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to meet early registrants. That means shorter lines, better photo ops, and maybe even an extra hug or two.
CELEBRATING 24/7 WGBY KIDS
The WGBY 2016 Love for Learning PBS Kids fan fair comes on the heels of the station’s expansion of children’s services. Earlier this month, WGBY Kids became a 24/7 multiplatform offering, airing PBS Kids shows around the clock and offering an online, mobile-friendly digital stream with accompanying games, activities, and resources for kids and families.
“For over 40 years, WGBY has offered a steady stream of engaging, educational PBS Kids programming that sparks kids’ imaginations and fosters a life-long love of learning,” says WGBY Interim General Manager Lynn Page. “The new 24/7 PBS Kids channel builds on that mission, providing an essential service for children, parents, and teachers alike.”
The WGBY Love for Learning event in Springfield on Feb. 25 is designed to support the educational programming of the all-new WGBY Kids services.
Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite PBS Kids character and participate in costume parade. Children will also enjoy PBS-themed program stations, at which they can enjoy creative, informative activities.
Activity stations will be set up throughout the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Each station will be themed to a PBS Kids show or hosted by a guest partner. PBS Kids shows being represented include:
- The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That
- Curious George
- Daniel Tiger
- Dinosaur Train
- Odd Squad
- Peg + Cat
- Ready, Jet, Go!
- Splash & Bubbles
- Super Why!
- Wild Kratts
Child health and education partners include 413 Families, AIM, Baystate Children’s Hospital, Child Learning and Development Lab at Amherst College, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Macaroni Kid, R. Michelson Galleries, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Springfield City Library, Springfield Community Music School, Springfield Museums, UMass Amherst Laboratory of Medical Zoology, WGBY Education Services, the WGBY Volunteer Guild, and The Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center.
Gluten-free snacks will be available from East Hartford-based Bakery on Main.
Love for Learning activity stations are still available for potential partners. To discuss hosting an activity station for children and families, contact Marie Waechter at [email protected].
MEET AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS
In addition to the celebration of PBS Kids, storytelling in arts and words will be honored in general. Attendees will get to know the people behind favorite children’s books. Plus, the Eric Carle Museum is hosting book sales and signings, and R. Michelson Galleries will be bringing a display of original illustration artwork.
“There is a straight line, a continuum, that begins with authors and illustrators, leads to educational television programming, and then develops further into games and interactive content,” Waechter explains. “Our Love for Learning event aims to represent all the points along the creative spectrum relating to PBS Kids.”
Local children’s authors and illustrators in attendance will include Angela Diterlizzi, Tony Diterlizzi, Jarret Krosoczka, Jeff Mack, Heidi Stemple, and David White. Each will host an activity station and be making a presentation or reading in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame theater.
REGISTER EARLY
Admission to the WGBY 2017 Love for Learning PBS Kids Fan Fair is free the day of the event with recommended donation. To reserve your spot early, and to gain Express Admission and a special exclusive private character greeting, visit WGBY.org/fanfair. The early online registration requires a donation of $10/adult, $5/child.
Event attendees will receive discounted admission to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame museum (optional) on the day of the event.
