The annual Mom, Pop & Tots Fair takes place Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8. The event offers an opportunity for families to spend some quality time with entertainment, interaction and education for parents and children.
“You don’t get a manual when you have a baby, so we’re trying to do the next best thing and have a really solid resource centre,” says Louise Reinich, show producer. “If you’re looking for education, if you’re looking for products, if you’re looking for services, if you’re looking for any resources for your family, you’ll find something at the show.”
Reinich estimates the Mom, Pop & Tots Fair, which debuted in Calgary, has been going for about 20 years.
For parents, the fair will have approximately 150 booths with information on everything from schools to music lessons, photographers to toys, and investments to baby slings.
“We always try to bring in a big children’s star,” Reinich says. “Last year was Thomas (the Train) and we’ve had Dora and Max and Ruby over the years.”
Toopy and Binoo will be the big headliners on stage this year. Toopy and Binoo, airing on the Treehouse cable channel, is based on the book series by author Dominique Jolin. The cat and mouse duo will take the stage for three daily performances.
The stage will also feature magic shows, dancing and an interactive play. Children can participate and play along as Fergus the Superfrog embarks on an adventure to capture the hand of the beautiful Princess Vi.
The fair offers children’s activities including an interactive classroom from Edmonton Catholic Schools, a petting zoo, pony rides by Thistle Hill Farm, bouncy castles and a chalk drawing floor.
“We have sidewalk chalk and this open piece of concrete so it’s beautiful,” Reinich says. “You see the parents down there with the kids playing with the chalk and that’s the whole idea – let’s get the families really involved and working together. That’s part of what we’re trying to encourage, making sure that the parents are focusing on their families and participating with their children.”
In keeping with the family feel of the show, the Mom, Pop & Tots Fair supports a charity each year.
“We always have a charity that we’ve chosen to help either through publicity or fundraising or a combination of both,” Reinich says. “For Mom, Pop & Tots, it’s Santas Anonymous. We host them at the show and provide them with the space and publicity to do fundraising.”
The Mom, Pop & Tots Fair goes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7 and Saturday March 8 at the Edmonton Expo Centre, Hall A. More information is available online at mpt.edmontonshows.com.
