CELEBRATION OF SESAME STREET'S 40th ANNIVERSARY

WVPT is requesting funding for the Celebration of Sesame Street’s 40th Anniversary. Most children, even parents and grandparents, have learned of the joy of words, the magic of numbers, the importance of respecting each other, our families, and our communities from the most influential PBS children’s educational program, Sesame Street.

This year the Virginia Festival of the Book and WVPT will create a Celebration of Sesame Street’s 40th Anniversary Event which will promote early childhood literacy.

WVPT is proposing renaming the historic downtown mall "Sesame Street" for a day and having a parade from the Omni Hotel to The Paramount Theater, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m on Saturday, March 20th. Sonia Manzano, "Maria" on Sesame Street, will be the honorary parade marshal, followed by a Middle School Band playing Sesame Street songs, followed by PBS characters and families and children. Included in the parade would be PBS characters such as Curious George, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and the WVPT Cubby the Bear. The parade would end at the Paramount Theater – where “story time events” will happen.

WVPT will utilize the event to promote children’s literacy and also promote and assist the Jefferson Madison Regional Library sign-up of children and families for library cards. The Children’s Discovery Museum will feature a whole week of Sesame Street activities leading up to the March 20 celebration.  This is truly a coming together of Charlottesville organizations who are dedicated to childhood literacy!

The WVPT Kids Book Festival, held each Fall for the past five years in Charlottesville, has about 5,000 kids and families attending. This event won't be as large, but we do expect a big turnout.

For more information please contact Marilyn Maitland at WVPT—540-437-2461.