'Follow the Yellow Brick Road' to Gail Borden's 'Wizard of Oz' exhibit opening April 29
Starting April 29, Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin will be launching a fun-filled educational exhibit based on the beloved classic "The Wizard of Oz."
This interactive fantasy-adventure by the Miami Children's Museum and Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment takes families and children somewhere over the rainbow with the Wizard of Oz Children's Educational Exhibit.
Guests travel from the Gale Farm to the colorful Land of Oz, where they explore Professor Marvel's Wagon and create your own tornado in Dorothy's bedroom. Explore Munchkin houses and meet Dorothy's friends: the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man.
Enter The Emerald City and create a "Horse of a Different Color," play at the kaleidoscope and prism stations, but "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."
Next, climb the mountain to the Wicked Witch's Castle to capture the Wicked Witch's broom from Winged Monkeys. Finally, click your heels three times while reciting "There's no place like home," as guests depart the Land of Oz.
Along the way, everyone will experience the adventures of Dorothy and her friends as they find their way back to true happiness. Iconic elements of the movie can also be seen including Dorothy's Ruby Slippers.
This free exhibition will be at the library at 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin through Aug. 29. The main library is open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Further information can be found at gailborden.info/oz.
The library district thanks the Gail Borden Public Library District Foundation, KCT Credit Union, and Elgin State Bank, A Wintrust Community Bank, for supporting the Wizard of Oz Educational Exhibit.
Founded in 1983, Miami Children's Museum is dedicated to enriching the lives of all children by fostering a love of learning through play and enabling children to realize their highest potential. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to play, learn, imagine and create. The 56,500-square-foot facility includes 17 galleries, classrooms, a 200-seat auditorium and outdoor exhibits, including two playgrounds. The museum offers hundreds of bilingual, interactive exhibits; programs and classes, including special needs classes; Subway restaurant; a Kid Smart educational gift shop and learning materials related to arts, culture, community and communication. To learn more about the museum, visit www.miamichildrensmuseum.org.
Miami Children's Museum's programs are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. With the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners and the City of Miami.
Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment (WBTE), part of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands and Experiences, is a worldwide leader in the creation, development, and licensing of location-based entertainment, live events, exhibits, and theme park experiences based on Warner Bros. Discovery's iconic characters, stories, and brands. WBTE is home to the groundbreaking global locations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, WB Movie World Australia, and countless other experiences inspired by DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby, Game of Thrones, Friends, and more. With best-in-class partners, WBTE allows fans worldwide to physically immerse themselves inside their favorite brands and franchises.
Serving and collaborating with the local community since 1874, the 5-Star Gail Borden Public Library serves a diverse community of approximately 150,000, and it welcomes over 870,000 (non-pandemic times) visitors annually. The library offers books, eBooks, streaming movies and classes, dynamic programming with STEM and technology themes, as well as special events such as job and career expos, technology fairs and new-parent initiatives. Special museum-quality exhibits have featured life-size dinosaurs, interactive exhibits such as "Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog," and the history of space, which gave local students the opportunity to chat live with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. The library and its staff members have been recognized as leaders across the state as well as on a national level. Among its numerous awards, the Library received the nation's highest honor for the industry, the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2009.