Press Room
Television Appearances
Good Day New Mexico
Watch Angela on upcoming show - air date yet to be released
Radio Appearances
KNKT - 107.1 FM - Albuqueque, NM
September 19, 2008
KGGV-LP - 95.1 FM - Guerneville, CA
June 1, 2007
News Articles
Kidding Around
(September 8, 2008 - Albuquerque Journal)
Kidding around (September 8, 2008)
by Eric Billingsley
Albuquerque Journal - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX
Sep. 8--Carnival rides, midway games, colorful and mouth-watering food -- they are all part of the fun of going to the New Mexico State Fair.
But, for many parents, there comes a time during the day when adding a dose of education, culture and creativity helps round out the experience.
Enter the Kids' Pavilion at Expo New Mexico and other kid-friendly events and attractions scheduled for the 2008 New Mexico State Fair. The best part is they're free with the price of general admission.
"There's an increased focus on kids this year," says Angela R. Vigil, event coordinator for Expo New Mexico. " We're offering more programs that are engaging and interactive. And we're wanting to promote education, literacy, the arts and health education."
But before getting to the fun stuff, make sure to stop at the Tag Your Tots station. The State Police unit will photograph your children, collect contact information and give them identification tags. If they get lost, it's the quickest and safest way to be reunited.
Tag Your Tots is in a State Police mobile command post on the Avenue of the Governors.
The youth hall The Kids' Pavilion is home base for a host of fun children's activities. It is at the Leon Harms Youth Hall on the north end of the Avenue of the Governors, across from the Red Barn and next to the Agriculture Building.
There's a live entertainment stage on the north side of the patio and a 3,200-square-foot "Wild Science!" exhibit on the south end. And there's a separate dedicated kids' performance stage by the boxcar in front of the Administration Building near the Gate 4 entrance to the fair.
"Wild Science!" -- new this year and a replacement for last year's "Mad Science" exhibit -- gives adults and children an opportunity to explore science and technology.
The interactive exhibits you might encounter include: manipulating a robotic arm, creating man-sized soap bubbles, using radar to measure pitching speed, taking the "sense of smell" challenge, dancing in the "wall of light," creating hightech music and exploring the "Rube Goldberg" machine, according to wildscience.com.
Performances are scheduled throughout the day on the north side of the Kids' Pavilion patio. Confirmed acts include interactive dance and physical activity demonstrations, a jump rope team exhibition, interactive Mexican and New Mexican dance performances, a Chinese cultural exhibition, gymnastics and dance presentations, and a variety show.
"We want to provide an opportunity to highlight kids and showcase a variety of talent in the state," says Vigil. "We're also building in more health education."
In front of the Administration Building is where the ever-popular Pee Wee Stampede takes place three times a day.
The "mock rodeo" is geared for kids ages 3 to 6. Tots dress in chaps and cowboy hats and ride around on stick horses. They even compete in events like barrel racing.
Vigil says that, in addition to being one of the most adorable events of the fair, the Pee Wee Stampede teaches kids about good sportsmanship.
All about livestock Near the Boxcar Stage is where you can sign kids up for tours of the animal exhibits. Guides lead groups of children to the livestock exhibits and teach them about types of animals, what they eat and how to care for them.
New this year at the Boxcar Stage is the Read to Me Corner, where community volunteers read stories to young children. The State Fair has also lined up children's book authors to read their stories and sign books each day.
Children's book illustrators will be on hand to show kids how they do their artwork. And arts and crafts activities are scheduled throughout the day.
Still too early to call it a day?
Vigil says families often forget to visit the agricultural exhibits on the north end of the fairgrounds.
The Dairy Barn has a working dairy, where kids can see each step of the milk production process. Milking demonstrations are offered seven times a day.
Children can see a variety of horses at the Don Chalmers Horse Complex, where horse shows are held throughout the fair, and learn about other animals at the Livestock Pavilion.
And if you time your visit right, you can take the children to see the Junior Livestock competitions. Over the course of one week, members of 4-H and Future Farmers of America show off animals they've bred, raised and groomed for the State Fair.
And on this farm Other don't-miss attractions for kids include McDonald's Farm, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, which allows kids to tour a farm, pick apples and gather eggs.
Several so-called spectacular attractions are offered each day, all of which are guaranteed to dazzle the kids: All Creatures Great & Small Petting Zoo, pony rides, Backyard Circus and Family Puppet Parade, Amazing Rainforest Experience, Mapapa African Acrobats and a diving show. They are included in the price of fair admission.
Children's needs Enjoying a day at the New Mexico State Fair with children is easy if you have a plan for navigation. Here are a few tips from Expo New Mexico officials: Need a break from the crowds? Chill out near the Boxcar Stage by the Administration Building. There is a shaded grassy area. It's near the State Police headquarters.
Need to change a diaper? Baby changing stations are in restrooms throughout the fairgrounds.
Lost child? Register your kids with the State Police's Tag Your Tots program. Children will be photographed and fingerprinted and contact information will be collected. Kids will also be given ID bracelets. DNA kits, which include a cheek swab to collect DNA, fingerprint and other information about your child, are also available to parents.
Looking for healthy food options? Instead of that big ball of cotton candy, opt for some corn on the cob, or pack your own snacks and meals. Another option is to tell kids up front to choose only one "treat" for the day.
Concerned about germs from farm animals? Be sure to wash your children's hands with soap and water immediately after they pet animals.
To see more of the Albuquerque Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.abqjournal.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Albuquerque Journal, N.M. Distributed
by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email
tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to
847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303,
Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008 Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
Book Release
This Is Who I AM™
Connoisseur [ PR ] Media Group
Lisette Calderon
Public Relations Director / Editorial Research
"Couture Public Relations"
1001 Green Bay Road, #228
Winnetka, Illinois 60093
www.ConnoisseurPR.com
Email: LCalder@ConnoisseurPR.com
Phone: 773.679.0679
* For Speaking Engagements, Interview Opportunities or Public Relations questions, please contact Info@LivingEmpowered.com or Phone: (866) 768-9503 Toll Free