EIU Media Relations

WEIU Kids Day set for March 9

WEIU Kids Day on the campus of Eastern Illinois University will be held on Saturday, March 9 from 10 a.m. to noon inside Buzzard Hall. The physical address for the event is 1920 9th Street, Charleston, Illinois.

WEIU, a PBS affiliate station, will showcase PBS Kids characters Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat as the main character attractions at this year’s Kids Day for the community. Be sure to bring your cameras for a meet and greet opportunity at this free family fun event. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center provided funding for the Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat characters.

Several businesses, groups, and organizations will take part in this free event including: True Force Martial Arts, Child Care Resource and Referral, Dance Life, SBLHC Healthy Kids Car “Healthy Hero,” Cub Scout Pack 41, Mid-Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mattoon Area Family YMCA, Douglas-Hart Nature Center, Mattoon Public Library, Charleston Parks and Recreation Department, HOPE of East Central Illinois, Phoenix Elite, Bunches of Treasures Art Studio, Fit-2-Serve, EIU Sky Watch Weather, Camp New Hope, Charleston Fire Department, Charleston Police Department, Urban Butterfly Initiative, EIU Chemistry Dept RSO ACSSA, EIU World and Language Cultures, EIU Police Department, and an appearance from Billy the Panther. More participants may attend as we continue to confirm participation.

Arts and crafts; including princess wand and knight shield making activities; face painting, and games/prizes will be available to children. There will also be a live Hit-Mix 88.9 WEIU broadcast, in addition to event music that will lead to a couple of dance contests with the children.

Ke’an Armstrong, Publicity/Promotions Associate for WEIU, said that she is happy to see several community organizations participate in this event. Each organization will offer an interactive educational activity for the children as well.

"We always receive lots of positive comments from community members during the event, such as, 'I am glad to see the university offering events such as this for the community' and 'having a local public broadcasting station is such an added value to the area,'" Armstrong said. She shared that WEIU’s mission is to serve the university and the rest of the communities in WEIU's 22-county broadcast viewing area.

WEIU invites the community to attend Kids Day to enjoy a fun time thanks those who will set up booths and activities, those who have taken part in the planning, and EIU staff.

Funding for Kids Day is provided in part by: City of Charleston Tourism Fund; Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center; EIU Office of Civic Engagement & Volunteerism; Coles County Sanitation & Recycling; Harris Metals & Recycling; Cooper Bumpus Insurance Agency; Auto, Truck, and Farm Repair; and other local oncoming underwriters.