National Children's Museum Launch Zone Celebrates First Birthday April 24-25

The National Children’s Museum (NCM), scheduled to open in 2013 at National Harbor, will celebrate the first year of the Launch Zone on April 24 and 25. Since opening on April 25, 2009, the 2,700-square-foot space has seen more than 23,000 visitors, who have prototyped exhibit components and programs and shared their valuable ideas about what should be included in the new Museum. In addition, families throughout the region and from across the country have participated in numerous engaging events and activities designed around NCM’s mission—to inspire kids to care about and improve the world—and core content areas.

To mark the success of the Launch Zone’s first year, NCM will host a “birthday party” for the site, a special family festival with entertainment, activities, programs, party favors, and more.

On Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, the Museum will present balloon sculptures by the entertaining Bobby D; face painting; party hat making; chalk art; and a variety of the Launch Zone’s “greatest hits” — kid and family activities and programs, including an outdoor station to dig for shark teeth, a giant mural to decorate like a birthday card, and Kids Harbor, where kids work individually and with a group to design a community out of recycled materials.

Colorful mini-Frisbees will be handed out as party favors to the first 250 birthday party guests! (Limit one per child.) Freshly popped popcorn will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis, both days.

To help NCM celebrate, several of the Launch Zone’s neighbors at National Harbor will offer free treats, special product discounts, and more:

• The first 50 children to arrive at the Launch Zone will receive free mini chocolate chip cookies and coupons from CakeLove.
• NCM’s neighbors at Segway will offer free rides around the Harbor for a small donation to the National Children’s Museum.
• Ben & Jerry’s will distribute “buy one cone, get a kid’s scoop free” coupons at the Launch Zone.
• Aromi d’ Italia Café will offer small cookies and coupons at the Launch Zone

Families can attend the Launch Zone's first birthday party for FREE, without reservations!

                When:

                Saturday, April 24, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

                Sunday, April 25, noon - 4 p.m.

   Where:

   NCM Launch Zone

  112 Waterfront Street

   National Harbor, MD 20745

Media Contact: Amy Lowman, 202-675-4145 or alowman@ncm.museum