Children’s Learning & Play Festival
The long-awaited Children’s Learning & Play Festival opens at WestWorld of Scottsdale on Saturday, October 1. The festival is free, indoors and open to the public with widely-acclaimed children’s authors, illustrators, live music and performances, area vendors and activities for toddlers, children and young adults.
“We are pleased to present an exciting day of reading, learning activities and fun for children, parents and families,” said Kathleen M. Wade, Scottsdale Public Library’s Director. The event is supported by the Scottsdale Public Library, The City of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Parks and Recreation and Scottsdale Unified School District.
The event features authors, costumed characters, a life-size T-Rex dinosaur and live animal, bird and reptile exhibits. A chalk festival, bounce house, Lego® racing and the City of Scottsdale’s “Show and Tell” with firefighters, police officers, city vehicles and activities are slated. Plus readings by Marc Brown, creator of the Arthur books and Emmy Award-winning PBS show, and author Carrie Blake-Brekke presents Mrs. B’s Storytime puppet shows and singalongs.
Also appearing are author/teacher Terri Fields, award-winning children’s author Monica Brown, illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal, whimsical writer and illustrator Molly Idle, children’s book illustrator Lynne Avril, actor/young adult author Tom Leveen, teen novelist Amy Fellner Dominy, along with children’s picture book authors Juanita Havill, Michael Hale, Phoebe Fox and B. G. Hennessy. Readings, performances and interactive highlights include:
- Two live readings by Marc Brown, Arthur series creator and author
- Storytelling, author readings, book signings, free coloring books
- Scottsdale Library’s “Play Palooza” and little tikes reading area
- Live animals, birds, reptiles and nature conservation exhibits
- Scottsdale singing duo “Wayward Maggie” family-friendly music
- Interact with a life-size, 14-foot long roaring T-Rex dinosaur!
- Desert Discovery Center Scottsdale’s Wildlife & Nature Conservation Zone
- Read with Me where parents may sit and read with their children
- YMCA Fitness Zone, Mad Science Magic Slime, and Bubble-ology
- Cardboard building blocks for toddlers, LEGO for older kids
- Ice Cream Science by Dr. Maya Warren, Cold Stone Creamery® Tastemaster
- Stay & Play for infants and toddlers (20-min. sessions, space limited)
- Enter to Win a Tuft & Needle luxury mattress ($350-$750 value)
- Local vendors, exhibitors and food trucks
Children’s Learning & Play Festival is supported by Scottsdale Public Library, Scottsdale Parks and Recreation, City of Scottsdale and The Friends of The Scottsdale Public Library. Sponsors include Cold Stone Creamery, Desert Discovery Center Scottsdale, Tuft & Needle, Southwest Human Development and Tonto Creek Camp. Media partners are Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, Arizona Parenting Magazine. Produced by On The Edge Promotions.
