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Free Family Fun: Children’s Playhouse to Host BuildFest on Saturday at Watauga High

By Bailey Faulkner

Looking for a fun and educational event for your children? Look no further — The Children’s Playhouse will present the Playhouse BuildFest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 9th at Watauga High School. Even better, admission to the event is free!

Playhouse BuildFest

driving an rc robot at buildfest 2015
RC Robot Driving/Kathy Parham

Saturday’s event will mark the third year that The Children’s Playhouse has presented the Playhouse BuildFest. This year, the event will be part of the 2016 North Carolina Science Festival.

“It’s the most fun you can have for free all year if you have kids in the High Country,” Playhouse Executive Director Kathy Parham said.

The free event will feature a wide range of exciting and educational opportunities for children aged 2-12. Specifically, the BuildFest will offer hands-on STEAM activities.

“STEM is a hot buzzword which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, but really this fest will have a head of STEAM because we’ll incorporate visual arts as well,” Parham said.

Multiple ASU classes and clubs will help run activities at the event.

In addition to “all age” activities, BuildFest will offer activities specifically designed for preschoolers, kindergarten to third grade students and fourth to sixth grade students.

Around 1,000 children and adults attended last year’s BuildFest. The event offered 40 hands-on activities and a live physics and chemistry show. You can click here to check out a slideshow of last year’s event.

If you would like to help The Children’s Playhouse, you can sign up to be a sponsor, activity partner or volunteer for BuildFest.

While admission is free, hot dogs, pizza, fruit and water will be available for purchase at the event.

A “soft open” will be held from 9 – 10 a.m. for children with special needs.

Make sure you get to the event early so you don’t miss out on anything!

“There were kids crying last year after the event because they didn’t want it to end,” Parham said.

The Children’s Playhouse

Children's Playhouse Sign
The Children’s Playhouse/yelp.com

The Playhouse BuildFest is only part of the Children’s Playhouse’s central mission: providing “children from birth to age eight with an enriching, educational play environment while at the same time offering their parents and caregivers friendly support in the important job of raising children.”

Since opening in 2002, the nonprofit children’s museum has served as an “informal ‘town square’ for the High Country,” where “people of all classes are brought together to share the joy of playful learning with their children.

You can visit The Children’s Playhouse at 400 Tracy Circle or call at 828-262-0011.

Sponsors

The Children’s playhouse is very thankful for all of the sponsors helping out BuildFest this year. Check out these High Country businesses and residents that are helping to make BuildFest awesome!

Diamond Skyscraper Level: OP Smiles Orthodontists and Pediatric Dentists Drs. Mayhew, Scheffler, Conn and Hardaway

Golden Bridge Level: North Carolina Science Festival

Silver Shovel Level: Anonymous, Mast General Store

Copper Trowel Level: Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, Boone Drug

Granite Block Level: Bluebird Exchange, Pell’s Angels Painting.

Bronze Brick Level: Blue Ridge Pediatrics, Eggers, Eggers, Eggers, & Eggers, Galileo’s, Wendy’s/Tar Heel Capital.