November 10 Birthday Party Will Honor the 55^th Anniversary of Sesame Street with Carousel Rides and Themed Activities

November 30 Reading Rainbow Event Will Include Story Time, Crafts, and Screening of Butterfly in the Sky

The New York State Museum is excited to announce celebrations honoring two beloved public broadcasting programs with free, family-friendly events in November. The Museum will host “Happy Birthday Sesame Street!” on November 10 and “A Tribute to Reading Rainbow: Stories, Crafts, and Cinema” on November 30. The events, hosted with the support of WMHT and The RED Bookshelf, will offer an opportunity for visitors of all ages to celebrate their favorite PBS educational programs and to share the love of learning, reading, and creativity. 

Happy Birthday Sesame Street!

On November 10^th from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. visitors are invited to a birthday party for Sesame Street’s 55th anniversary. The event will celebrate the 55 years of excellent education through empathy, inquiry, and discovery right at the steps of the New York State Museum’s historic Sesame Street Exhibit. Families can learn more about the history of Sesame Street through art-based activities and a day of creativity in the galleries.

This free event is a collaboration between the New York State Museum and WMHT. Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the Sesame Street exhibit at the New York State Museum, and enjoy Sesame Street-themed activities, including:

- Make and “mail” a birthday card to Sesame Street

- Dance to your favorite Sesame Street hits

- Enjoy a Sesame Street-themed ride on the New York State Museum’s historic Carousel

- Access to PBS Learning Media resources for families to use at home

A Tribute to Reading Rainbow: Stories, Crafts, and Cinema

On November 30^th from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., visitors are invited to take part in family-friendly activities celebrating early literacy and the support “Reading Rainbow” brought to young readers. The event promises a nostalgic journey through the pages of Reading Rainbow’s history and a chance to celebrate the power of reading. The free festivities will include:

- Story time from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. featuring readings from classic Reading Rainbow books

- Crafts centered around creativity and a love for reading

- A screening of the documentary Butterfly in the Sky from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

- Free books provided by The RED Bookshelf

New York State Educational Television & Public Broadcasting, Jackie Stapleton said, “We’re thrilled to celebrate the good work done through quality programming for our community and especially the generations of early learners who enjoyed and continue to learn from both Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow. New York State Museum’s Sesame Street Exhibit is a favorite for all of our audiences and the perfect place to honor over 50 years of “helping children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. PBS is such an important partner in early learning opportunities for younger visitors and their families.”

WMHT Director of Community Engagement and Education Mara Drogan said, “WMHT Public Media is proud to partner with our wonderful neighbors at the New York State Museum for Sesame Street’s 55th birthday! We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you on Sunday, November 10. And don’t forget you can watch, learn and play with Sesame Street every day at wmht.org/kids.”

New York State Museum Director of Community Engagement & Education Kathryn Weller, said, “A focus on literacy with early learners, both in the classroom and at home, is instrumental in building lifelong readers and an important foundation for developing a love of learning. We welcome opportunities for families to celebrate reading and learning together in a fun environment. The New York State Museum provides the opportunity for family families to read and learn together through engaging programming and hands-on activities that inspire.”

About the Cultural Education Center 

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 480 million years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website.  

The New York State Library is part of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department. Visit the New York State Library website for a complete list of upcoming programs. To receive news, resources, and other updates, please subscribe to the quarterly newsletter.  

The New York State Archives holds many of the oldest and most important archival treasures in the nation. The Archives preserves and makes accessible over 250 million records of New York’s State and colonial governments dating from 1630 to the present. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website.  

The Archives Partnership Trust was founded in 1992 to build an endowment and provide project support to enhance humanities programs, increase access to these outstanding treasures, and continue the preservation of New York's historical records. Since its founding, the Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has supported exceptional projects and programs. These include the Research Residency Program, the Student Research Awards Program, history conferences, special exhibitions, public education programs, book signings and lectures, publications, teacher training institutes, preservation projects, and more. 

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.  

About WMHT

WMHT Public Media located in New York State’s Capital Region, serving Eastern New York and Western New England, is the only locally owned nonprofit, multichannel public communications organization that reaches beyond the traditional broadcasting model to act as a leader by convening arts, culture, learning and civic interests. WMHT works to “Celebrate our diversity while revealing what we have in common.” Find out more at https://www.wmht.org/.