Children’s Museum of Atlanta welcomes The Amazing Castle™ feature exhibit, June 9-September 9
Families are invited to explore a day in the life of a Medieval community
ATLANTA (April 10, 2018) – Children’s Museum of Atlanta will bring new extraordinary hands-on adventures to life with the opening of The Amazing Castle on Saturday, June 9, where visitors will be transported to a magical place and time. Inside the castle’s stone walls, lies a happy and peaceful little community where every citizen has a special job to do. Children can don costumes and engage in role-play, become lords and ladies, castle villagers or even “HiJinx the Jester.” Families can try their hands in the Royal Workshops with “Trim the Tailor” or “Gable the Carpenter.” After picking vegetables in the garden, kids can tote them to the Great Hall to cook up a royal meal or visit the tower to wake “Herald” the sleeping dragon! The Amazing Castle is designed for guests of all ages and will be at Children’s Museum of Atlanta from June 9-September 9.
“Just in time for summer, The Amazing Castle exhibit will offer the perfect space for kids to let their imaginations run wild,” said Jane Turner, executive director of Children’s Museum of Atlanta. “With the opportunity to play various roles and take on different tasks, the exhibit is sure to spark imaginations and help little ones learn the importance of teamwork and community.”
As visitors explore The Amazing Castle and its eight themed areas, they will encounter graphic panels that introduce seven citizens who are part of the castle community. From entertaining to sewing, each citizen has a special task to complete. Throughout the castle, visitors can playfully explore ideas related to community life. Children will experience the interconnectedness of individuals as they interact with friends, family and new acquaintances.
Exhibit Entry and Big Book
From the moment visitors walk through the entrance to The Amazing Castle, they are transported to a magical time and place—and the fantasy begins! “Lord Ben” and “Lady Evolent” welcome children and adults and make sure the castle is a safe and healthy place to live. Visitors can begin their adventure by reading the story of The Amazing Castle, which introduces the castle citizens and depicts the interconnectedness of those living in the castle.
The Keep
The Keep is a fortress sure to be enjoyed by the youngest royals. Toddlers can create a miniature, magical community in a castle-inspired dollhouse, build their own fortress out of “stone” blocks and play with a castle busy wall.
The Great Hall and Garden
Friends and family can take a seat at the royal table while children prepare a wonderful, magical meal with “Kipper the Cook.” They can put on an apron and select ingredients from a larder stocked with bread, fruits, and choose a main course! Or they can put on a garden smock and join “Posey the Gardener” in the royal garden, where visitors can pick and plant vegetables and gather eggs from a hen in the garden shed. To prepare and cook the meal, children can use wooden bowls, cooking utensils and a fireplace complete with a glowing fire, spit and cauldron. When the meal is ready, they’ll serve friends and family a heaping helping on wooden plates. Bon Appetit!
Royal Puppet Theatre
Children and adults will become castle entertainers when they visit “HiJinx the Jester” in the Royal Puppet Theatre to present a puppet show using castle character puppets. Little ones have the option to pick out a fancy robe, pull up a throne and become the Lord or Lady, or don the jester’s costume and entertain the Lord and Lady.
The Royal Workshops
In the Tailor Shop, families can try their hand at repairing and making clothing for all of the castle citizens with “Trim the Tailor.” Guests play a game and design costumes, from sensible to ridiculous, by mixing and matching puzzle pieces. Children can also create their own outfits and discover how silly their costumes appear when they look at themselves in a distorted mirror!
In the Carpenter’s Shop, grab a work apron and help “Gable the Carpenter” build a simple table or chair using mortise and tenon construction. Kids can also express creativity and put together something of their own design.
After assisting Gable, children can join “Synge the Blacksmith” in the Blacksmith Shop and help her affix a metal patch to the hole in Kipper’s big iron cauldron. Families can also pretend to repair iron tools using a stone forge with “glowing” coals, a water bucket and Synge’s anvil.
The Dragon Tower
The Dragon Tower is home to “Herald the Dragon,” who announces important information to the citizens of The Amazing Castle. But Herald keeps falling asleep and needs to be awakened frequently. Visitors can wake Herald, who rises from the top of the tower, by matching each of the six electronic castle character puzzle pieces with his or her appropriate tool or symbol.
Whether sewing, preparing a meal or entertaining the Lord and Lady, kids will learn the importance of each citizen’s role and how everyone can work together to help a community flourish.
The Amazing Castle was created by Minnesota Children’s Museum. Local sponsorship is provided by Fulton County Board of Commissioners and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
For more information, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.
