Make a playdate with MR. POTATO HEAD at ImaginOn this summer

Crawl through a jungle cave and dig for treasure as you think about all you can be and do!

Have an out-of-this world, silly adventure with The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD® exhibit at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center May 25 through Sept. 8, 2019.

The much-loved MR. POTATO HEAD character will lead young visitors and parents on a number of fun and educational adventures. From jungle safaris to archeological digs, each activity will provide children with engaging learning experiences.

The exotic and fanciful exhibit is designed to develop school readiness and academic skills for young children, focusing on literacy, problem solving, mathematics, science and social studies. It is based on developmental milestones set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and national academic standards.

The 1,500-square-foot exhibit, targeted to children ages 3-8, was created by the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with PLAYSKOOL, the infant/preschool toy division of Hasbro, Inc.

Visitors will find interactive play areas within the exhibit, including:

WELCOME! – The fun begins with an awe-inspiring collection of MR. POTATO HEAD parts and accessories as well as an anthology to depict the character’s wild adventures.

SPUD QUEST – While on an archeological dig in search of the statue of King Tato, visitors will need to decipher “tatoglyphs” and solve mazes to find the statue’s secret caché. Guests will use special maps to explore the treasure chamber and excavate the dig site to uncover fun artifacts from the King’s past, while reconstructing the King’s crown and weighing the discoveries in MR. POTATO HEAD’s research tent.

SPUD SAFARI – While roaming jungles with MR. POTATO HEAD, visitors can enjoy a pretend mudslide or venture inside a cave in search of mysterious objects.  Guests should listen carefully to identify sounds in the jungle, discover camouflaged and hidden creatures, and gain a different perspective when they use special lenses and cameras to see the world through the eyes of silly birds, bugs and animals.

Plan your visit

Admission to the exhibit is free. The exhibit is open during ImaginOn building hours: Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday – Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (ImaginOn is closed on Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day for summer hours.) but entry will close 30 minutes prior to building closing time. For more information, call 704-416-4600 or visit imaginon.org.

Information for groups

Can I bring a group? Yes! Groups are welcome to visit The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit after 12 p.m., Monday - Saturday. Reservations are neither required nor accepted and entry into The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit is always on a first-come, first-served basis. However, if you wish to combine your visit to the exhibit with any other building-wide activity, a group visit booking is required. You can make a request at  imaginon.org/calendar/group-visits.

Can a group make a reservation to visit The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit? No, all visits to the exhibit happen on a first-come, first-served basis. Families are encouraged to take advantage of Family Time, if your schedule allows. (See below for details.)

Is there a time when the exhibit is open just for families? Yes! Family Time for The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit is every Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. During this time, the exhibit is open just for children with their parents/caregivers. (Limit five (5) children per adult.)

Can children visit the exhibit by themselves? Children under age 8 must be with a caretaker at all times. Caretakers should be at least 12 years old and mature enough to follow ImaginOn rules and guidelines. Chaperones are required for all groups visiting ImaginOn and the exhibit.

What if the exhibit is full when I arrive? Because visitor safety is our top priority, admittance into the exhibit is limited. This allows guests the ability to fully explore the exhibit at their own pace. If the exhibit is “full,” we have a queuing area where visitors can wait to enter the exhibit on a first-come, first-served basis. We have suggested activities to pass the time while you are in line.

The summer exhibit at ImaginOn is funded through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Humanities Endowment Fund, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD exhibit was created by the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with Hasbro. MR. POTATO HEAD is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc. and is used with permission. © 2019 Hasbro. All rights reserved. The national exhibit tour is sponsored by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, with additional support provided by Debra Altshul-Stark and Brian Stark, and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.