At the 10th annual Mister Rogers Family Days in Latrobe, children will be able to do more than just visit a magical world of make-believe — they’ll be able to get their “passports” stamped along the way.
The annual festival, which offers a variety of fun family-friendly activities and entertainment celebrating the life of Latrobe native Fred Rogers, has added a “Neighborhood Passport and Keepsake Book” for attendees to use throughout the week.
Mister Rogers Family Days runs Monday through Saturday, June 1-6 throughout the city’s downtown area.
“We were trying to think of something special we could add,” said Michael Tusay, executive director at the Latrobe Art Center. “It’s designed for everyone, kids and adults, as a way for people to not just stay up-to-date with what’s happening each day during the festival, but also capture some memories.”
The book includes a host of activities for which visitors can earn a unique sticker for their “passport.”
“There are things happening each day of the week that the passport can be used for,” Tusay said.
The festival itself kicks off Monday with a variety of weeklong activities.
Among then will be a self-guided Daniel Tiger Storybook Walk with participating Latrobe merchants, a selfie garden located in the downtown Parklet at Main and Ligonier Street, and in James H. Rogers Park with the statue of Mister Rogers, an assortment of sidewalk fun throughout the downtown area, and the opening of the Rogers-McFeely Memorial Pool located in Legion Keener Park for the summer season.
Returning this year, also kicking off this weeklong event, is a special Community Open House at the Fred Rogers Institute at Saint Vincent College. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and featured guided exhibit tours and other free, family-friendly activities including a complimentary banana split bar.
The Mister Rogers Family Days’ Big Finale takes place Saturday,June 6 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be a live character meet-and-greet with Daniel Tiger, a meet-and-greet with actor David Newell (“Mr. McFeely”), a visit by the Neighborhood Trolley, a downtown Latrobe scavenger hunt, family comedy magic shows by magician Steve Haberman at Adams Memorial Library, an exotic reptile show by Iceman Reptiles, a climbing wall, fish pond, pony rides, carriage rides, barrel train rides, face painters, an inflatable obstacle course, food vendors, additional live entertainment, and more.
“It’s so much fun to watch kids taking joy in these activities, especially meeting Daniel Tiger,” Tusay said. “There are little moments like that happening all throughout the week.”
For a full schedule of events, see MisterRogersFamilyDay.org or call 724-537-7011.