Latrobe again will celebrate the legacy of native son Fred Rogers with activities and entertainment in the town where the iconic television host grew up.
Inspired by the classic “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” series and today’s animated “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” show, weeklong activities from Monday through June 12 will include a Daniel Tiger Storybook Walk and Mister Rogers Quotation Quest, held in cooperation with participating Latrobe merchants and organizations. Episodes of both series will be screened, and the front man of a local award-winning band will perform a solo set.
Mister Rogers Family Days has evolved from a single-day event held for four years in downtown Latrobe before being canceled last summer because of pandemic restrictions.
Concerns over gatherings that remained in place when this year’s event was being planned prompted the change to an extended format, said Michael Tusay, executive director of the Latrobe Art Center. The center is hosting the event website and several activities at 819 Ligonier St.
“We knew what the event normally would look like, and that would not be possible under crowd limitations,” Tusay said. “Instead of doing something all virtual, we decided, if we spaced things out throughout the whole week, we could provide a variety of activities that would not likely result in a single large gathering while providing an enjoyable experience for visitors.”
In the Storybook Walk, a map will serve as a guide to locations displaying large reproductions of pages from the Daniel Tiger-related book “Welcome to the Neighborhood!,” by Becky Friedman.
Participants will write down code words from each of the pages and present their completed list to receive a treat bag and book, while supplies last, at Adams Memorial Library, 1112 Ligonier St.
Similarly, those who write down quotes from Rogers, found at various locations in town, will be entered into a drawing for a prize basket featuring items from Latrobe merchants.
On Tuesday, the library and WQED will present storytimes at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., at Legion Keener Park. That is being held in conjunction with the weekly farmers market, from noon to 4 p.m. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required for the story programs.
“A Beautiful Night in the Neighborhood,” from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, will include monthly Shop Hop specials offered by Latrobe merchants and a children’s cookie-decorating activity at the art center.
Derek Woods of Greensburg, whose band won a 2020 Hollywood Music in Media Award in the Americana/Folk/Acoustic category, will perform from 4 to 7 p.m. in the parklet at Main and Ligonier streets.
Pre-registration also is required for a “Movie Night” on Friday, June 11, at Legion Keener Park. Episodes of the two Rogers-related TV series will be shown at 9 p.m., following a 7:30 p.m. performance by the Laurel Valley Academy of Dance.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, the art center will offer children’s crafts at the former Dollar General store across Ligonier Street from the center. People also can express their artistry with chalk, decorating the walks surrounding the library.
The Neighborhood Trolley is scheduled to visit Latrobe, and a scavenger hunt will challenge participants to follow clues to a series of downtown sites and a prize at the final stop.
Throughout the week, Rogers fans can take advantage of selfie opportunities in front of backdrops that will be placed in the parklet and in the James H. Rogers Park, at Main and Jefferson streets.
Portraits of Rogers, on loan from the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College, will be on display during regular hours at the art center and at the Latrobe Area Historical Society, 416 Weldon St.
President Mary Lou Townsend noted the historical society also has a permanent display of photos and memorabilia documenting some of Rogers’ activities while he was a student at Latrobe public schools.
“We have a photo of him when he was in the elementary boys’ chorus at Second Ward School,” she said. There also is a collection of some early puppets he used — precursors to the character puppets that inhabited the Neighborhood of Make-Believe on his television show.
The society normally is open 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. It will have extended hours, until 3 p.m., on June 12.
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