Saturday Feb 20, 2016
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST
February 20, 10 AM to 4 PM
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Recommended donation of $10/Adult and $5/Child
44 Hampden Street
Springfield, MA 01103
Tel: 800-781-9429
Fax: 413-731-7163
Media Contacts:
? Geoffrey Oldmixon, Director of Marketing ? 413-781-2801, Ext. 1558; goldmixon@wgby.org
? Marie Waechter, Director of Community Relations & Events ? 413-781- 2801, Ext. 1547; mwaechter@wgby.org
44 Hampden Street Springfield, MA 01103 Tel: 800-781-9429 Fax: 413-731-7163 Media Contacts: ? Geoffrey Oldmixon, Director of Marketing ? 413-781-2801, Ext. 1558; goldmixon@wgby.org ? Marie Waechter, Director of Community Relations & Events ? 413-781- 2801, Ext. 1547; mwaechter@wgby.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Elmo and Curious George to Appear Live in Springfield Public broadcasting station WGBY is hosting a PBS Kids fan fair event at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 20. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. ? What child doesn?t watch PBS Kids television at some point in their development? PBS? educational content is a trusted source for children?s entertainment with characters kids recognize and love ? and now those fan favorites are coming to life in downtown Springfield. Local public broadcasting station WGBY-57 is hosting a PBS fan fair, called Love for Learning, at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield on Saturday, Feb. 20. This event will not only introduce live characters ? including Sesame Street?s Elmo, Curious George, Eric Carle?s Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Dr. Seuss? Cat in the Hat ? but will also present an opportunity for children to engage with PBS Kids content at over 15 activity stations based on PBS Kids shows and popular children?s books. ?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 Love for Learning event eager to express themselves, to showcase their own relationship with PBS Kids characters. It?s not just about meeting Elmo or Curious George; it?s about being able to tell Curious George, face to face, why you love him.? The local event is sponsored in large part by Bay State Health and MassLive. CELEBRATE PBS KIDS The WGBY 2016 Love for Learning PBS Kids fan fair is designed to support the educational programming of PBS Kids. 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! ? Super Why! Partner activity station hosts will include Baystate Children?s Hospital, Amherst College, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Macaroni Kid, Springfield Museums, and WGBY Education Services. 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 mwaechter@wgby.org. 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 Anna Alter, Aaron Becker, David Hyde Costello, Angela DiTerlizzi, Grace Lin, Jeff Mack, Ralph Masiello, and Heidi Stemple. 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 2016 Love for Learning PBS Kids Fan Fair may be reserved online with recommended donation of $10/adult, $5/child at WGBY.org/fanfair. This early registration method will entitle donors to "Express Admission" and a gift upon arrival to the event. Event attendees will receive discounted admission to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame museum (optional) on the day of the event. ### ABOUT WGBY WGBY (wgby.org) is a community-supported public broadcasting organization connecting the people of western New England to events, ideas, and each other through national PBS programming and locally produced series and specials. With four digital television channels, video on demand, podcasting, and streaming video, WGBY is one of the region?s most accessible community institutions. WGBY is available over the air on digital channel 57-1 and on cable throughout western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut and can be seen in high definition in western Massachusetts at Comcast 857, Time Warner 1807, Charter 782, and over the air on channel 57.