THE OCTONAUTS WILL APPEAR MARCH 3
AT THE 2018 HANNAFORD KIDZ EXPO AT THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn M. Destito today announced the 13th annual Hannaford Kidz Expo will take place on Saturday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free for this event, which attracts thousands of children and parents to the Empire State Plaza.
“A day full of wonderful entertainment as well as healthy and exciting educational activities for children of all ages awaits everyone who attends the Hannaford Kidz Expo on March 3,” Commissioner Destito said. “We are all looking forward to seeing the big smiles that will appear on children’s faces this year when they participate in an interactive performance with those exciting underwater action heroes, the Octonauts. I am thankful that we are able to partner with Hannaford Supermarkets and all of our generous sponsors to offer this free, family event.”
“Hannaford Supermarkets is proud to once again partner with the New York State Office of General Services on an event that has become a true mainstay for Capital Region families. The Hannaford Kidz Expo is a great opportunity for kids to learn, grow and stay active,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Specialist Brian Fabre. “We look forward to welcoming families to the Empire State Plaza to enjoy a fun-filled day of exploration and education.”
Kids will find activities galore – many of them focusing on a healthy and active lifestyle. There will be meet and greets with children’s characters, theater performances, bounce rides, arts and crafts, mini-golf, and even reptiles. Parents will find information from all of their favorite vendors in one convenient location: summer camps, health care, sports clubs, photographers, schools, dance studios, and amusement parks, just to name a few. Also, a variety of food options will be available.
Exciting Activities for All Ages
Among the new and featured attractions for the 2018 Hannaford Kidz Expo are:
The Octonauts (The Egg’s Hart Theatre) – The Octonauts are a dynamic eight-member crew of quirky and courageous adventure heroes who dive into action whenever there is trouble under the sea. Now is your chance to become an Octo-cadet and join Captain Barnacles and Kwazii in an interactive performance. Don’t forget to bring your cameras to get your picture taken with your favorite aquatic heroes.
Hannaford Supermarkets Healthy Kidz Room (Meeting Rooms 3–4) – The 2018 Hannaford Healthy Kidz Room will feature multiple activities designed to get kids on their feet and playing together. From tunnel crawls to hopper balls, balance beams to slalom poles, there is sure to be something for kids of all ages and skill levels to enjoy. But there’s no time to sit around – this year’s theme is fast-paced: Get in, get moving, and get on with the Hannaford Kidz Expo.
Circo Comedia (Meeting Room 6) – Following in the tradition of the Quebec circus, Jean Saucier, master equilibrist, juggler, trick cyclist, acrobat, and magician, performs his feats from dizzying heights while Patrick Côté, burlesque clown, expert roller skater, and drummer, innocently tries his best to be the (imperfect) assistant. This is family entertainment at its finest, filled with deliriously funny and unforgettable moments.
A great deal of entertainment and activities at the 2018 Hannaford Kidz Expo will be provided by performers and organizations from the Capital Region community, including Dance Dimensions, School of the Albany Berkshire Ballet, Debuts Theater Company, the Capital District Youth Pipe Band, and local libraries.
Also, the Empire “Skate” Plaza Ice Rink will be open for free skating, weather permitting, and there will be free learn-to-skate clinics presented by BlueShield of Northeastern NY and hosted by the Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club at 9 and 10 a.m. Pre-registration for the clinics is required and is now open at empirestateplaza.org. Skate rentals are available and are free for learn-to-skate clinic participants.
Paid visitor parking will be available in the V-lot under the Empire State Plaza for $5, and free parking will be available in the East Garage on Philip Street off Madison Avenue.
For more information about this year’s Hannaford Kidz Expo and other events at the Empire State Plaza, visit us online at empirestateplaza.org and follow @PlazaEvents on Twitter and @EmpireStatePlaza on Facebook, or call the OGS Convention & Cultural Events Office at (518) 474-4759.
In addition to Hannaford Supermarkets, sponsors include NY’s 529 College Savings Program, FYE, BlueShield of Northeastern New York, Renaissance Albany Hotel, The Spot 518, Capital District Parent Pages, Times Union, Albany.com, AllOverAlbany.com, 107.7 WGNA, and Hot 99.1.