Public television met the public in Alton on Saturday as St. Louis station Nine PBS hosted Mississippi Mornings at the Liberty Bank Amphitheater, complete with hands-on experiences and a chance to meet PBS KIDS favorites Daniel Tiger and Nature Cat.
The free, family-friendly event was part of the television station’s “Storytime” series and allowed kids to take part in interactive activities, explore, and discover the creatures of the Mississippi.
Four-year-old Teddy Kamphoefner from Edwardsville welcomed the chance to get up close and personal to some of the PBS-TV experiences he’s had, according to his father Sam.
“He really likes Nature Cat and Daniel the Tiger,” Sam said as those characters appeared on the giant amphitheater screen. “We just like that this gets him away from the online stuff and he gets to watch more wholesome things.”
Sixteen-month-old Marleigh Goedelman from Swansea literally ran into the arms of her favorite PBS Kids character, and her father, Greg, said it was a dream come true for his daughter.
“She’s been watching PBS for a while so we’ve been really excited to do this,” said Greg as he and his wife joined Marleigh for a photo with Daniel Tiger. “She also loves watching Miss Rachel and Sesame Street.”
A bubble machine at one PBS booth captured the attention of 4-year-old Auggie Sherman from Alton, and his mother, Jedda, wasn’t surprised.
“He is obsessed with bubbles; if it’s not a bubble machine, it’s bubble wands. We have them in the car and all over the house,” acknowledged Jedda, who said Auggie’s favorite PBS programs are “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” “It’s great to see him expand his imagination but also learn core values with a lot of the shows.”
It wasn’t just PBS characters and shows that grabbed visitors’ attention on Saturday. Local organizations and vendors were also on hand to offer activities, information, and takeaways. Nine-year-old Jonathan Wohlgemuth Jr. from Alton had a blast operating a fire hose courtesy of the Alton Fire Department.
“I love it, I encourage him to try new things,” said Jonathan’s mother, Jennifer Aarup. “We have tried every single activity here. He has an interest in such a wide variety of things.”
Four-year-old Lilly Goodrich from Alton built a tower quite a bit taller than herself by stacking recycled items at a recycling booth.
“It’s fun to see her have fun, and she’s learning something hands-on,” said Lilly’s father, Zachary. “She just likes PBS shows, and she loves being outdoors, whether it’s fishing, walking, or hiking.
Visit ninepbs.org for more information about Nine PBS, including upcoming programs and events.