LEGO Systems, Inc. and Newport Festivals Foundation to Debut New Children's Tent at the 2011 Newport Folk Festival
Acclaimed Children's Musician Elizabeth Mitchell to Headline the LEGO® DUPLO® KidZone Where Families with Preschoolers Will Find Musically Inspired Ways to Build and Play
Newport, Rhode Island—To inspire and facilitate new ways to play, LEGO Systems, Inc. teams up with the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. to announce the new children's tent at the 2011 Newport Folk Festival—the LEGO® DUPLO® KidZone—July 30-31 at Fort Adams State Park. The LEGO DUPLO KidZone marks the first time the renowned festival has dedicated a specific area to families of young children where they can listen to music, build, play and rejuvenate.
“We've always been a family friendly festival, but teaming up with LEGO Systems has given us the opportunity to introduce a special area where kids can play, sing and explore," said Jay Sweet, Newport Folk Festival producer. “It is our hope that the LEGO DUPLO KidZone will be a key attraction for families with young children as they come to celebrate their love of music."
Since 1959, the Newport Folk Festival has served true musical omnivores that crave innovation yet appreciate tradition. The 2011 Newport Folk Festival continues to build on the festival's historic past by featuring emerging young artists alongside some of folk music's most venerable names. This year's festival features The Decemberists, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Gillian Welch and Amos Lee, among many others.
The LEGO DUPLO KidZone will offer a shaded area for parents and their preschoolers, ages 5 and under, to relax and play within earshot of the festival's main stage. Well-known children's musician Elizabeth Mitchell will host the children's tent, with her husband Daniel Littleton and daughter Storey (10). A former kindergarten teacher, Elizabeth has been making her brand of “handmade music of the finest kind for folks of all ages" for over 10 years now, and at the urging of fellow musician Dan Zanes, was the first new artist signed to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings this century. Her albums feature her unique take on classics by Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley and even the Velvet Underground as well as compositions by family and friends.
In addition to Mitchell's special performances, LEGO DUPLO will introduce festival-goers to LEGO DUPLO JAMS, a program that combines music with creative construction play. The DUPLO JAMS experience is a compilation of fun songs that encourage toddlers and families to dance, build, play and learn things like their numbers, letters, colors and more while they build. Written and inspired by a preschool father, there are currently five free songs available via the Official LEGO DUPLO Jams channel on iTunes or the LEGO DUPLO Facebook page, with plans to release a new song every month through 2011.
“Music plays such a strong role in everyday family life and immediately promotes joyful energy, so we're thrilled to marry that to our creative building materials with DUPLO JAMS," said Michael McNally, brand relations director, LEGO Systems. “It's especially rewarding to bring the DUPLO JAMS experience to life in a venue as prestigious as the Newport Folk Festival, where, during breaks from the main stage action, children can sing along, build, and play to our original playroom music and their parents will discover a fresh, fun approach as the songs inspire different ways to learn simple things like colors and the alphabet through building."
LEGO DUPLO is the world's leading preschool construction toy, specially designed for children ages 18 months to 5 years, to introduce creative building, storytelling and role play through open-ended play materials.
Acclaimed Children's Musician Elizabeth Mitchell to Headline the LEGO® DUPLO® KidZone Where Families with Preschoolers Will Find Musically Inspired Ways to Build and Play
Newport, Rhode Island—To inspire and facilitate new ways to play, LEGO Systems, Inc. teams up with the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. to announce the new children's tent at the 2011 Newport Folk Festival—the LEGO® DUPLO® KidZone—July 30-31 at Fort Adams State Park. The LEGO DUPLO KidZone marks the first time the renowned festival has dedicated a specific area to families of young children where they can listen to music, build, play and rejuvenate.
“We've always been a family friendly festival, but teaming up with LEGO Systems has given us the opportunity to introduce a special area where kids can play, sing and explore," said Jay Sweet, Newport Folk Festival producer. “It is our hope that the LEGO DUPLO KidZone will be a key attraction for families with young children as they come to celebrate their love of music."
Since 1959, the Newport Folk Festival has served true musical omnivores that crave innovation yet appreciate tradition. The 2011 Newport Folk Festival continues to build on the festival's historic past by featuring emerging young artists alongside some of folk music's most venerable names. This year's festival features The Decemberists, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Gillian Welch and Amos Lee, among many others.
The LEGO DUPLO KidZone will offer a shaded area for parents and their preschoolers, ages 5 and under, to relax and play within earshot of the festival's main stage. Well-known children's musician Elizabeth Mitchell will host the children's tent, with her husband Daniel Littleton and daughter Storey (10). A former kindergarten teacher, Elizabeth has been making her brand of “handmade music of the finest kind for folks of all ages" for over 10 years now, and at the urging of fellow musician Dan Zanes, was the first new artist signed to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings this century. Her albums feature her unique take on classics by Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley and even the Velvet Underground as well as compositions by family and friends.
In addition to Mitchell's special performances, LEGO DUPLO will introduce festival-goers to LEGO DUPLO JAMS, a program that combines music with creative construction play. The DUPLO JAMS experience is a compilation of fun songs that encourage toddlers and families to dance, build, play and learn things like their numbers, letters, colors and more while they build. Written and inspired by a preschool father, there are currently five free songs available via the Official LEGO DUPLO Jams channel on iTunes or the LEGO DUPLO Facebook page, with plans to release a new song every month through 2011.
“Music plays such a strong role in everyday family life and immediately promotes joyful energy, so we're thrilled to marry that to our creative building materials with DUPLO JAMS," said Michael McNally, brand relations director, LEGO Systems. “It's especially rewarding to bring the DUPLO JAMS experience to life in a venue as prestigious as the Newport Folk Festival, where, during breaks from the main stage action, children can sing along, build, and play to our original playroom music and their parents will discover a fresh, fun approach as the songs inspire different ways to learn simple things like colors and the alphabet through building."
LEGO DUPLO is the world's leading preschool construction toy, specially designed for children ages 18 months to 5 years, to introduce creative building, storytelling and role play through open-ended play materials.
For more information contact Carolyn McClair Public Relations.
