Costume Characters, Live Radio Shows and More Than 500 Children to Receive Free Lunch
Contact: Meredith Hart, Marketing & Communications Director
614.247.2675, meredith.hart@wosu.org
July 16, 2018 — For the third year in a row, WOSU Public Media is partnering with the Ohio State Fair for WOSU Kids Day on Thursday, July 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrating WOSU Kids, the TV channel that features 24/7 PBS KIDS programming, WOSU Kids Day will have costume character appearances from popular PBS KIDS shows like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Super Why! and Clifford, family-friendly activities and live radio broadcasts.
WOSU and the State Fair will also join with Columbus Recreation and Parks to provide a free, nutritionally balanced lunch on-site at the fair which will be part of the Columbus Summer Food Service Food Program. The Ohio Department of Education Office for Child Nutrition is the administrator for the program which is funded by the USDA.
“All of these organizations have come together to offer more than 500 admission tickets to the fair to children eligible for the lunch program from low-income and underserved areas of Columbus. At WOSU, we’re very proud of this unique initiative,” said Tom Rieland, General Manager of WOSU Public Media.
“Serving nutritious meals to Ohio kids at the fair will give us an exciting opportunity to spread the word about Ohio’s free, statewide Summer Food Service Program,” said Paolo DeMaria, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Julie Pruett, Program Coordinator for the Summer Food Program, agrees: “We serve meals to thousands of children each day during the summer, and having the chance to provide meals at an event like WOSU Kids Day is a fun way for us to make a difference for even more kids.”
All Sides with Ann Fisher, the daily public affairs program on 89.7 NPR News will broadcast live from 10 a.m. to noon and Classical 101 at 101.1 FM will broadcast live with classical music favorites for kids from noon to 3 p.m. WOSU Public Media’s booth will be in Central Park at the Ohio State Fair located at 717 East 17th Avenue.
Along with photo opportunities with the PBS KIDS characters, children will have the chance to participate in a scavenger hunt and receive a back-to-school kit, available while supplies last. The PBS KIDS characters will also be featured in the daily parade at the State Fair at 4 p.m.
The Ohio State Fair has been a favorite family tradition since 1850. Activities and exhibits include interactive educational activities, sporting competitions, a fine arts show, free entertainment stages, a free petting zoo, helicopter rides, a farm animal delivery room, roving performers, agricultural competitions, more than 60 fun rides, horse shows, and an 8-acre natural resources park.
WOSU Public Media is a community-supported, noncommercial network of public radio and television stations, and digital services.
Note to editor: Working members of the media are asked to enter the grounds through the Media Center located on 11th Avenue, just west of the OHIO Gate. Parking and admission credentials are available at the Media Center trailer.
Please review the on-site guidelines and if your station / publication has not already done so, please send a list of staff members who will be working the Fair to the Public Relations office by email to a.shoults@expo.state.oh.us or by fax to 614-644-4031.