For immediate release Contact Kathy Parham (828) 263-0011 The Childrens Playhouse Celebrates 10th Birthday with

Five Days of Free Admission and Special Treats BOONE, N.C. The High Countrys only childrens museum, The Childrens Playhouse will celebrate its tenth birthday with a five day celebration running from Tuesday, November 6 through Saturday, November 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 (see sidebar). The Childrens Playhouse is located at 400 Tracy Circle, Boone. If youve never visited The Childrens 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 memberships give 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 childrens 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 Womens 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, Rays Weather, and Todds Calendar. Prize books provided by The Scholars Bookshop, ASU Bookstore. Cake provided by Stick Boy Bread Company. Exciting guests and special performances will include a visit from Grandfather Mountains Katie Gray and her snakes and owls on Wednesday morning, November 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 (age 10) and Willon Dillon (age 12) will perform old time mountain music on Friday morning, November 9, while ten year old Max Midgett (age 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, see sidebar or www.goplayhouse.org. Saturday is going to be super fun says Parham, Well have Angel Bear Yoga at 10:15, then Big, Bang, Boom! will rock the house with a free concert! Big, Bang, Boom! -(http://bigbangboom.weebly.com/index.html) a nationally known kids music band featuring Chuck Folds and Steve Willardwill play from 11 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 Childrens 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. 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! 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. About The Childrens Playhouse

A nonprofit childrens museum founded in 2002, The Childrens 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. It is located at 400 Tracy Circle near downtown Boone. Daily admission is $5 per person. A one year Playhouse Passport Membership for $125 includes admission to The Playhouse and more than 150 childrens museums nationwide. Scholarship memberships are available for families that meet income guidelines. The Childrens Playhouse is supported in part by grants from the Barnickel Foundation, the Janes Foundation, the Town of Boone, the High Country Womens 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. [Sidebar] Playhouse 10th Birthday Bash Activities All activities will be held at The Childrens 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). Tuesday, 11/6: 10-5 pm Blue Ridge Pediatrics Free Play Day (Free admission) 10:15-noon Face painting by Birdie, Birdie 10:30 Make a Healthy Snack presented by the Appalachian District Health Department Wednesday 11/7: 10-5 pm Harmony Center for Womens Health and Vitality Free Play Day (Free admission) 10:30 Real Owls and Snakes from Grandfather Mountain 3:30 Make Fruit Kabobs with Earth Fare Thursday 11/8: 10-5 pm Mast General Store Free Play Day (Free admission) 10:30 Free Try It Music Class with Laura Donovan 3:30 Sand Art Friday 11/9: 10-3 pm Orthodontists and Pediatric Dentists Drs. Mayhew, Scheffler, Hardaway and Conn Free Play Day (Free admission) 10:15-noon Face painting by Birdie, Birdie

10:30"State Line Jam" (Traditional Mountain Music on fiddle and banjo)with Liam Purcell, age 10, and Willow Dillon, age 12 3:30 Max the Magician, age 10 Saturday 11/10: 10:15 Angel Bear Yoga 11:00-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 pm Earth Fare Pizza and Stick Boy Birthday cake (while supplies last)