Children’s Playhouse turns 10
Young Rowan tackles the climbing wall at The Children's Playhouse, which celebrates its 10th anniversary Nov. 6 to 10 with a week full of activities.
The High Country’s only children’s museum, The Children’s
Playhouse, will celebrate its 10th 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,” Playhouse co-founder and executive director Kathy Parham said.
“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 more than 150 other children’s museums around the country. Because The
Playhouse is a nonprofit organization, $75 of the membership fee is tax-deductible.
Special
guests and performances will include a visit from Grandfather Mountain’s Katie Gray and her snakes
and owls on Wednesday morning, Nov. 7.
Playhouse board president Jen Hayward said, “We are
tickled to feature some talented young performers who were actually Playhouse regulars when they
were little.”
Liam Purcell, 10, and Willow Dillon, 12, will perform old-time mountain
music on Friday morning, Nov. 9, while Max Midgett, 10, 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 http://www.goplayhouse.org.
“Saturday is going to be super fun,” Parham
said. “We’ll have Angel Bear Yoga at 10:15 a.m., then Big, Bang, Boom! will rock the house with a
free concert!”
Big, Bang, Boom!, s 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 Stick Boy Bread Company birthday cake. For more information on the
band, visit http://bigbangboom.weebly.com/index.html.
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 10-year anniversary. For a donation,
families can add a name to the art piece, which will raise money for the Playhouse Endowment fund.
For more information, see
http://www.goplayhouse.org/give/10th_anniversary_commerative_artwork_installation.html.
Playhouse
fans will have opportunities to give back, as well.
“Like any 10-year-old, we love
presents!” Parham said. “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 percent of the
museum’s total budget, and The Playhouse also gives away more than 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.
For more information on The
Children’s Playhouse, located at 400 Tracy Circle, call (828) 263-0011 or visit http://www.goplayhouse.org.
Playhouse 10th Birthday Bash Activities
Tuesday, Nov. 6
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Blue Ridge Pediatrics Free Play Day (Free admission)
10:15 a.m. to noon – Face painting by Birdie, Birdie
10:30 a.m. – Make a Healthy Snack presented by the Appalachian District Health
Department
Wednesday, Nov. 7
10 a.m. to 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, Nov. 8
10 a.m. to 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 p.m. – Sand Art
Friday, Nov. 9
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Orthodontists and Pediatric Dentists Drs. Mayhew, Scheffler,
Hardaway and Conn Free Play Day (Free admission)
10:15 a.m. to noon – Face painting by Birdie, Birdie
10:30 a.m. – "State Line Jam” with Liam Purcell and Willow Dillon
3:30 p.m. – Max the Magician
Saturday Nov. 10
10:15 a.m. – Angel Bear Yoga
11 a.m. to noon – Big, Bang, Boom! concert
Noon – Co-Creating Community Art installation, drawing for a free birthday party gift certificate, drawing for a free massage
Noon to 2 p.m. – Earth Fare Pizza and Stick Boy Birthday cake (while supplies last)
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