Fred Rogers
Fred Rogers.

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
March 20
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

If you’re like countless children around the globe, you grew up watching a colorful trolley ride into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where Fred Rogers would invite you into his living room, sing unforgettable songs such as “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and don those trademark cardigans and blue sneakers. This could only mean the start of 30 imaginative minutes, as Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood captivated kids on television screens around the globe from 1968 to 2001.

Courtesy of Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
Courtesy of Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

On Sunday, March 20th, you can celebrate the birthday of the iconic Fred McFeely Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003) together as a family and enjoy free admission to one of the country’s top museums.

Marking what would have been the 88th birthday of the pioneering American television personality, puppeteer, educator, Presbyterian minister, composer, author and activist, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh will swing open its doors to the public free of charge.

The 14th annual Mister Rogers’ Day event features special programs and activities running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Northside-based destination.

What’s in store for the 2016 version of Make-Believe?

Courtesy of Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
Courtesy of Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

Meet everyone’s favorite speedy delivery man, Mr. McFeely (aka American actor and Pittsburgh native David Newell)
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., help the museum’s special Thank You Tree bloom and grow, by contributing your own handmade leaf of gratitude—you’ll even receive a refreshing cup of lemonade in exchange!

While there, be sure to check out the museum’s newest creative play exhibition, TapeScape 2.0. A giant, full-body installation constructed entirely from 10 miles of packing tape stretched over steel frames, TapeScape invites all young art explorers to crawl, twist and traverse through a mammoth maze featuring curving tunnels, winding walls and multi-sensory environments.

Please note: For Mister Rogers’ Day, one adult must accompany every five children.

Looking for more events? Read our 12 Pittsburgh events not to miss in March feature.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.