ImaginOn Welcomes “The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD” Exhibit May 21

Families won’t want to miss The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD, a new interactive exhibit that will be at ImaginOn from May 21 to September 11, 2016.

The much-loved MR. POTATO HEAD character will lead young visitors and parents on a number of fun and educational adventures. From trips to outer space to underwater exploration, each activity will provide children with engaging learning experiences.

The exotic and fanciful exhibit, targeted to children ages 3 – 8, is designed to develop school readiness and academic skills for young children, focusing on literacy, problem solving, mathematics, science and social studies. It is based on developmental milestones set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and national academic standards. The exhibit also includes bilingual signage (English/Spanish) that helps adults understand how children learn through play.

Visitors will find interactive play areas within the exhibit, including:

• WELCOME! – The fun begins with an awe-inspiring collection of MR. POTATO HEAD parts and accessories as well as an anthology to depict the character’s wild adventures.

• SPACE S.P.U.D. (Space Potatoes United for Discovery) – Here, visitors can join Commander MR. POTATO HEAD aboard the S.P.U.D. space station, where they’ll learn about repair and maintenance to the station. Children can sit in and control their journey from the commander’s chair, use the intergalactic translator, explore the galaxy and conduct experiments at the isolation glove box. 

• SPUD OVERBOARD – Ocean explorer Jacques Coustato will take visitors on an underwater adventure where they can build fanciful reefs, meet a friendly octopus and wise clam, and enjoy simulated snorkeling adventures. Guests will learn by finding small surprises and a sea horse race in the kelp bed, operating the spud sub, experimenting with sounds from above and below the waves, and generating underwater sparkle using the sub’s disco-ball antenna.

Admission to the exhibit is free. The exhibit is open during ImaginOn building hours: Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday – Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (ImaginOn is closed on Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day for summer hours.) For more information, call 704-416-4600 or visit www.imaginon.org.

The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit was created by the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with Hasbro. MR. POTATO HEAD is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc. and is used with permission. © 2016 Hasbro. All rights reserved. The national exhibit tour is sponsored by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, with additional support provided by Debra Altshul-Stark and Brian Stark, and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

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Information for Groups:

Can I bring a group? Yes! Groups are welcome to visit The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit after 12pm, Monday through Saturday. Reservations are neither required nor accepted and entry into The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit is always on a first-come, first-served basis. However, if you wish to combine your visit to the exhibit with any other building-wide activity and have a group of 10 or more, a group visit booking is required. You can make a request at www.imaginon.org/Planning_Your_Visit/fieldtrip.asp.

Can a group make a reservation to visit The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit? No, all visits to the exhibit happen on a first-come, first-served basis. Families are encouraged to take advantage of Family Time if your schedule allows. (See below for details.)

Is there a time when the exhibit is open just for families? Yes! Family Time for The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit is every Monday through Saturday from 9am-12pm. During this time, the exhibit is open just for children with their parents/caregivers. (Limit 5 children per adult.)

Can children visit the exhibit by themselves? Children under age 8 must be with a caretaker at all times. Caretakers should be at least 12 years old and mature enough to follow ImaginOn rules and guidelines. Chaperones are required for all groups visiting ImaginOn and the exhibit.

What if the exhibit is full when I arrive? Because visitor safety is our top priority, admittance into the exhibit is limited. This allows guests the ability to fully explore the exhibit at their own pace. If the exhibit is “full,” we have a queuing area where visitors can wait to enter the exhibit on a first-come, first-served basis. We have suggested activities to pass the time while you are in line.

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