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The Children’s Playhouse Celebrates 10th Birthday with Five Days of Free Admission and Special Treats

Oct. 29, 2012. The High Country’s only children’s museum, The Children’s Playhouse located at 400 Tracy Circle in Boone, will celebrate its tenth birthday with a five day celebration running from Tuesday, Nov. 6 through Saturday, Nov. 10.

The Playhouse 10th Birthday Bash will feature free admission, membership discounts, special activities and culminate in a free kids’ music concert and pizza and cake party on Saturday.

“If you’ve never visited The Children’s Playhouse, this is your no-excuses chance to check it out,” says Playhouse co-founder and current executive director Kathy Parham.“Thanks to our generous sponsors, admission will be free all five days and we will be offering $10 off a one year family membership and $15 off a Passport membership.”

Normally $100,  a family membership gives a whole family unlimited admission and other discounts at The Playhouse for a whole year. Passport memberships, normally $125, offer the same benefits, plus free or reduced admission to over 150 other children’s museums around the country. Because The Playhouse is a 501c.3 nonprofit, $75 of the membership fee is tax-deductible.

The Playhouse Birthday Bash is sponsored by Blue Ridge Pediatrics, Earth Fare, Harmony Center for Women’s Health and Vitality, Kiwanis Club of Boone, Mast General Store, and Orthodontists and Pediatric Dentists Drs. Mayhew, Scheffler, Hardaway, & Conn. Media sponsors are Lamar Advertising, Ray’s Weather, and Todd’s Calendar.  Prize books will be provided by The Scholars Bookshop, ASU Bookstore with cake provided by Stick Boy Bread Company.

Exciting guests and special performances will include a visit from Grandfather Mountain’s Katie Gray and her snakes and owls on Wednesday morning, Nov. 7.

“We are tickled to feature some talented young performers who were actually Playhouse regulars when they were little,” Playhouse board president Jen Hayward said.

Liam Purcell (age 10) and Willow Dillon (age 12) will perform old time mountain music on Friday morning, Nov. 9, while ten-year-old Max Midgett will mystify kids with magic tricks on Friday afternoon. Families will have opportunities to make and eat healthy snacks on Tuesday and Wednesday thanks to Earth Fare and the Appalachian District Health Department.

Birdie, Birdie will be providing professional face painting on Tuesday and Friday.

For more information, visit www.goplayhouse.org.

“Saturday is going to be super fun” says Parham. “We’ll have Angel Bear Yoga at 10:15, then Big, Bang, Boom! will rock the house with a free concert!” 

Big, Bang, Boom!, a nationally known kids’ music band featuring Chuck Folds and Steve Willard, will play from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a while-supplies-last party featuring Earth Fare pizza and Stickboy birthday cake.

Saturday will also include the official installation of a custom art piece, “The Children’s Playhouse: Co-Creating Community” by local artist Debbie Tallarico, which commemorates the ten year anniversary. For a donation, families can add a name to the art piece which will raise money for the Playhouse Endowment fund. 

Playhouse fans will have opportunities to give back as well.  “Like any 10-year-old, we love presents!” jokes Parham.“Truly, we have to fundraise year round to keep improving our facility and to keep our fees low for families.”

Admission and membership fees cover less than 30% of the museums total budget and The Playhouse also gives away over 50 free memberships a year to low-income families and social service agencies. During the Birthday Bash, the museum will post a wish list of needed items ranging from glue sticks to money. When families bring in a donation, they can add a decoration to a giant birthday cake poster. Members are encouraged to bring in new guests and when they do will be entered into a prize drawing for a free birthday party or a one hour massage donated by Melissa Pollard.

The Children’s Playhouse is a nonprofit children’s museum founded in 2002, The Children’s Playhouse provides an enriching play environment for children from birth to age eight while at the same time offering parents and caregivers friendly support in the important job of raising children.

Daily admission is $5 per person. A one-year Playhouse Passport Membership for $125 includes admission to The Playhouse and more than 150 children’s museums nationwide. Scholarship memberships are available for families that meet income guidelines. The Children’s Playhouse is supported in part by grants from the Barnickel Foundation, the Janes Foundation, the Town of Boone, the High Country Women’s Fund, the High Country United Way, Boone Service League and donations from individuals.  For more information call 828-263-0011, like it on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Childrens.Playhouse ), or visit the website, www.goplayhouse.org.

All activities will be held at The Children’s Playhouse, 400 Tracy Circle, Boone, NC 28607. The Playhouse is open from 10-5 Tuesday-Friday and 10-3 on Saturday.  Admission during the Birthday Bash will be free (normally $5 per person).

 

The Birthday Bash Schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, 11/6:

10 a.m.- 5 p.m. – Blue Ridge Pediatrics Free Play Day (Free admission)

10:15 a.m. – noon – Face painting by Birdie, Birdie   

10:30 a.m. – Make a Healthy Snack presented by the Appalachian District Health Department

 

Wednesday 11/7:

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Harmony Center for Women’s Health and Vitality Free Play Day (Free admission)

10:30 a.m. – Real Owls and Snakes from Grandfather Mountain

3:30 p.m. – Make Fruit Kabobs with Earth Fare

 

Thursday 11/8:

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Mast General Store Free Play Day (Free admission)

10:30 a.m. – Free “Try It” Music Class with Laura Donovan

3:30 a.m. – Sand Art

 

Friday 11/9:

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Orthodontists and Pediatric Dentists Drs. Mayhew, Scheffler, Hardaway and Conn Free Play Day (Free admission)

10:15 a.m. – noon – Face painting by Birdie, Birdie

10:30 a.m. – “State Line Jam” (Traditional Mountain Music on fiddle and banjo)with Liam Purcell, age 10, and Willow Dillon, age 12

3:30 p.m. –  Max the Magician, age 10

 

Saturday 11/10:        

10:15 a.m. – Angel Bear Yoga

11:00 a.m. – noon – Big, Bang, Boom! Concert (Kids’ music group from Greensboro)

Noon – Co-Creating Community Art installation, drawing for a free Birthday party gift certificate, drawing for a free massage

Noon – 2 p.m. – Earth Fare Pizza and Stick Boy Birthday cake (while supplies last)