Arizona PBS to host KIDS Festival for families Jan. 16

To mark the launch of its all-new children’s channel, Arizona PBS is hosting a public celebration next month, featuring favorite characters from PBS KIDS programs and interactive activities for children.

The Arizona PBS KIDS Festival will include appearances by the Cat in the Hat, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George and Daniel Tiger, among others. The free festival is scheduled for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16, at Arizona PBS. RSVP at azpbs.org/kids.

At the festival, families will have the opportunity to interact and take photos with PBS KIDS characters and participate in activities that promote literacy, health and STEM education. Attractions will include story time and arts and crafts with PBS KIDS characters, as well as theater-style screenings of children’s programming on the new Arizona PBS KIDS channel.

“The quality programming on Arizona PBS KIDS promotes lifelong learning and encourages children to interact with the world,” said Arizona PBS CEO Christopher Callahan. “We are thrilled to be opening our doors to the public for children to have the opportunity to learn and play with some of their favorite friends on television.”

Families will have the chance to explore the state-of-the-art facility that houses Arizona PBS and have fun with broadcasting technologies such as green screen video. They also will be able to take photos with Ollie the Trolley.

The Arizona PBS KIDS Festival will include complimentary snacks and light refreshments, and community organizations, including the Maricopa County Library District, will be on hand to provide educational information for families.

Launching on the day of the festival, Arizona PBS KIDS is a new 24/7 channel, featuring an array of programming to help young children master important skills, ranging from reading and basic math and science to problem solving and emotional skills.

The new channel will feature innovative, impactful programs designed for children from preschool through early elementary school to develop a strong educational foundation. The channel will broadcast popular programs such as “Arthur,” “Clifford,” “WordGirl,” “Wild Kratts,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” and “Sesame Street,” among others.

“Research confirms that PBS KIDS programming helps children build the critical skills they need to succeed in school and life,” said Linda Simensky, vice president of children’s programming at PBS. “Studies show that PBS KIDS resources improve kids’ achievement in important areas, such as literacy and math, and increase parent engagement in their children’s learning. Through the new 24-hour Arizona PBS KIDS channel, children across the state will have anytime access to programs that are proven to move the needle in early education.”

The Arizona PBS KIDS Festival is open to the public. Arizona PBS is located on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus inside the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at 555. N. Central Ave. Community organizations interested in participating in the Arizona PBS KIDS Festival should call 602-496-8888.