Springtacular Celebration & Autism Acceptance | Sesame Place
Elmo’s Springtacular Celebration Returns to Sesame Place Philadelphia, Featuring Exclusive Events Each Weekend!
PHILADELPHIA, PA ─ Sesame Place Philadelphia the first theme park in the U.S. based entirely on the award-winning show Sesame Street®, is gearing up for springtime fun with the return of Elmo’s Springtacular. The park’s annual celebration of spring will begin on Saturday, April 15, and run through Sunday, June 18. Guests can spin, soar, whirl, and twirl on their favorite Sesame Street-themed attractions, take photos with their favorite furry friends, and enjoy energetic entertainment, including the award-winning Sesame Street Party Parade. In addition, Elmo’s Springtacular brings an exciting lineup of Meet & Greets, music, magic, pirate adventures, and fireworks to Sesame Place – giving guests a whole new experience each weekend!
Highlights of Elmo’s Springtacular
Dino Ranch Meet & Greets – April 15 & 16
It’s Veloci-time! Come meet Jon, the fast-talking, wide-eyed young cowboy, and his speedy raptor Blitz, the fastest dino on the ranch! Bold, brash, and full of swagger, Blitz and Jon are the perfect match. You don’t want to miss this dino-might meet and greet opportunity! For more fun watch Dino Ranch every day on Disney Junior! Dino Ranchers, Ride!
PJ Masks Meet & Greets – April 22 & 23
Get ready for an action-packed day with your favorite PJ Masks heroes – Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko! Don’t miss this opportunity to meet everyone’s favorite heroes as they pose for photos. These mystery-solving superheroes encourage children to spark their curiosity and inspire imaginative play and teamwork along the way!
ALL-NEW! Blippi Meet & Greets – April 29 & 30
Blippi and Meekah love visiting new places and meeting new friends. Come say hello and get your picture taken with everybody’s best friend and on air talent actors – Blippi (Clayton Grimm) and his kind-hearted, cartwheel-loving BFF, Meekah (Kaitlin Becker)!
Arthur Meet & Greets – May 6 & 7
Come meet everyone’s favorite aardvark Arthur, along with his little sister, DW, and his best friend, Buster, as they journey from Elwood City to Sesame Place.
Pete the Cat Meet & Greets – May 6 & 7
Join the groovy fun! Meet Pete the Cat, star of the bestselling Pete the Cat book series by James Dean. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet and get a photo with one of the coolest cats around, Pete the Cat!
Mother’s Day Celebration – May 13 & 14
Celebrate Mom with a fun-filled visit to Sesame Place and a special Mother’s Day Dine with Elmo & Friends! Enjoy a delicious buffet meal with your favorite furry friends where all moms will receive a FREE flower. Take a spin on the rides, catch your favorite Sesame Street shows and don’t miss the Sesame Street Party Parade throughout the day! Dine with Elmo & Friends is an additional charge and reservations are required.
Elmo’s Pirate Weekend – May 20 & 21
Ahoy Matey! Elmo and his crew are setting sail for a pirate adventure with exclusive showings of “Elmo and the Bookaneers” in Abby’s Paradise Theater! Join in the fun with a Treasure Hunt throughout the park, and be sure to get photos with everyone’s favorite furry friends dressed in their pirate garb!
Kiwanis-Herald Sesame Place Classic 5k – May 21
Race to the finish line at the 23rd Annual Sesame Place 5k Classic. Race registration includes a free, one-day admission ticket to the park. Proceeds benefit the Dick Dougherty Scholarship Fund.
Memorial Day Celebration and Fireworks at Sesame Place Philadelphia – May 27 & 28
Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend at Sesame Place! Everyone will love the “C is for Celebrate” fireworks show on Sunday, May 28. Don’t miss photos with Elmo dressed in festive red, white, and blue all weekend at Photos with Elmo & Friends.
Power Rangers Meet & Greets – June 3 & 4
Go Go Power Rangers! Come meet the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, a team of teenagers that stand with each other in combat, but never lose sight of the fun. Enjoy meet & greets and photo opportunities with the Red, Pink, Yellow, Black, and Blue Ranger.
Choo-Choo Soul Concerts – June 10 & 11
Follow the musical adventures of Disney Jr.’s hip-hop singer, train station manager Genevieve Goings, and her dancing, beat-boxing engineer DC as they entertain kids while performing soulful and current renditions of the ABCs and 123s
Father’s Day Fan Fest – June 17 & 18
Celebrate Dad with a sports fan fest at Sesame Place! Father’s Day Fan Zone Festivities include special meet & greets, photo opportunities, games, and more. Plus, Dads get a FREE gift at the Dine with Elmo & Friends character buffet! Dine with Elmo & Friends is an additional charge and reservations are required.
Sesame Place Philadelphia Gives Out Sesame Street Storybooks and Hosts Annual Variety Club Event to Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month
Sesame Place Philadelphia Gives Out Sesame Street Storybooks and Hosts Annual Variety Club Event to Celebrate Autism Acceptance MonthSesame Place Philadelphia Gives Out Sesame Street Storybooks and Hosts Annual Variety Club Event to Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month
- Through Sunday, April 30, guests can receive a free Sesame Street storybook featuring Julia
- On Friday, May 12, Sesame Place will host an event in collaboration with Variety – the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley, featuring special accommodations for children with autism
- Pre-visit planning resources and sensory guides are available on the Sesame Place website for guests with cognitive disabilities and other special needs
- Sesame Place was the first theme park in the world to receive the distinction of Certified Autism Center (CAC) by IBCCES in 2018 and was recertified in 2022
Sesame Place® Philadelphia, the first theme park in the U.S. based entirely on the award-winning show Sesame Street® and the first theme park in the world designated as a Certified Autism Center, is celebrating Autism Acceptance Month throughout April and May with limited-time giveaways and an exclusive in-park event dedicated to autistic children and their families.
Autism Acceptance Month at Sesame Place
Throughout the month of April, guests can visit the Welcome Center to receive a FREE Sesame Street storybook dedicated to showing that all children – autistic and neurotypical alike – are amazing in their own ways. The titles include Family Forever: A Julia Storybook, Circle of Friends: A Julia Storybook, A Little Bit Different, A Little Bit the Same, and We’re Amazing: 1, 2, 3! Storybooks will be available on operating days through Sunday, April 30, or while supplies last.
In addition, Julia will be available for Meet & Greets throughout April. Julia is a four-year-old autistic Muppet from Sesame Street and the face of Sesame Workshop’s Sesame Street and Autism: Seeing Amazing in All Children initiative. As part of the initiative, new resources were released that center around belonging and artistic expression, including two new videos featuring Julia and her Sesame Street friends: “Princess Paint A Lot” and “Julia’s Needed,” a new storybook celebrating teamwork and belonging called Julia and the Super-Sunny Celebration, and three new printable pages to encourage children’s creativity by prompting them to create a self-portrait and inserting themselves into different scenes.
Julia was first introduced as a meet-and-greet character at Sesame Place in 2017 and received an overwhelmingly positive response and continued to become a permanent member of the Sesame Place family.
Following Autism Acceptance Month in April, Sesame Place will host its annual Variety Club event on Friday, May 12, in collaboration with Variety – The Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley. Sesame Place has partnered with Variety since 1987, providing children with autism and the differently abled a fun day at the park.
For the event, Sesame Place officials will have special accommodations for autistic children, including designated quiet areas, low sensory shows, and volume adjustments throughout the park to ensure every child has a memorable and enjoyable experience. For admission, guests must register with Variety Club at rsvp@varietyphila.org.
Autism Acceptance and Accessibility All Year
In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, Sesame Place will post a video this month summarizing its accommodations for autistic and differently abled individuals, the first in a “Know Before You Go” series, to help guests plan their visits accordingly.
In 2018, Sesame Place partnered with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) and received the distinction of Certified Autism Center (CAC) – the first theme park in the world to do so. In March 2022, Sesame Place San Diego opened as a CAC, and Sesame Place Philadelphia announced its recertification.
The certification requires ongoing, specialized training for Ambassadors, focusing on sensory awareness, motor skills, program development, communication, and emotional awareness. This allows the park to be better equipped to serve autistic individuals and those with other special needs, creating enjoyable and memorable experiences for all guests.
As a CAC, the park offers services and facilities available for autistic and differently abled guests. This includes robust pre-planning resources online, sensory guides developed by IBCCES, and the Ride Accessibility Program. Guests in need of quiet time and relief from sensory stimulation can utilize the park’s quiet room and complimentary noise-canceling headphones provided for single-day use. Guests can find IBCCES’ sensory guides, information about the Ride Accessibility Program, and other resources at https://sesameplace.com/autism-resources/.
Additionally, earlier this year all full-time staff and security staff at Sesame Place Philadelphia completed Blue Bridge Training for First Responders. This training offered a comprehensive presentation on how autistic behaviors are directly affected by sensory and communication challenges, giving Ambassadors further insight and tools for emotional de-escalation and improved communication.
The Best Way to Play
The best way to play all year long with unbelievable benefits is with a 2023 Sesame Place Season Pass. Season Pass Members can enjoy unlimited access to the park with unbelievable benefits including free tickets, exclusive Meet & Greets with everyone’s favorite furry friends, discounted food and merchandise, exciting events and early access to water attractions throughout the summer. Season Pass Members will be among the first to experience Bert & Ernie’s Splashy Shores, the ALL-NEW water play adventure, and Big Bird’s Beach, the NEW tropical-themed land full of splashy fun, debuting in Summer 2023. Perks vary based on the type of Season Pass purchased. For more information and to purchase Season Passes, guests can visit Guest Relations or https://sesameplace.com/philadelphia/season-pass/
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About Sesame Place®
Sesame Place® Philadelphia, the only theme park on the East Coast based entirely on the award-winning show, Sesame Street®, was the first theme park in the world to become a Certified Autism Center. The park has more than 25 Sesame Street-themed attractions, entertaining character shows and parades, an interactive Sesame Street Neighborhood, and everyone’s favorite furry friends. In 2023, the park will celebrate its Most Splashtacular Season Ever with the debut of the ALL-NEW interactive water play area, Bert & Ernie’s Splashy Shores, a NEW tropical-themed land dedicated to splashy water fun, Big Bird’s Beach, and ALL-NEW entertainment experiences! Celebrate family-friendly events all year long at Sesame Place including the ALL-NEW Mardi Gras Celebration, Elmo’s Eggstravaganza, Elmo’s Springtacular, Sesame Summer Splash, The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular, and A Very Furry Christmas. Conveniently located 30 minutes from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from NYC, Sesame Place is ideal for families with kids of all ages. For more information, visit https://sesameplace.com/philadelphia/.
