Peppa Pig and her brother George were such a hit last year, that the loveable cheeky little pig whose favorite things include playing games, dressing up, days out, jumping in muddy puddles and whose adventures always end happily with loud snorts of laughter will be returning to New Providence for a family fun day on the August Monday holiday.
She will also be bringing along a few new friends to take part in the fun -- Nickelodeon Bubble Guppies characters Molly, a girl who has star power and who is smart, sings and is a really good friend and the silly, playful Gil who if he sees a ball has to throw it, if he finds an electric guitar has to play it, and if there's a pig costume around he'll be oinking in no time, as he wants everyone to join in his adventures; there will also be Elsa from Disney's Frozen; and corralling Charlie the Yellow Bahamian Bird to participate in the party on Monday, August 1 at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts.
With the success of last year when only one show was planned, but two had to be staged on the spot to satisfy the crowd demand, and both were sold out, Renee "Natural Empress" Davis, owner of Natural Empress Productions said returning was a "no-brainer" and that she had to do so bigger and better.
"We're adding pony rides this year as well as slides, and face painting, and we've got more vendors offering lots more to eat, lots more to sample. It's going to be really nice," said Davis.
"Peppa Pig, Bubble Guppies and Frozen are first and foremost, all little girls' best friends right now and little boys love George ... they love Bubble Guppies, they love bounce-abouts and they love pony rides, and we've got Derek the Yellow Bahamian Bird who is a crowd favorite, so there is something for everyone."
Davis said last year even the parents got involved in the interactive show.
"The adults had just as much fun or more than the kids did last year, so-much-so, that everywhere I went, people were asking when I was doing it again. They loved it that much. What was really heartwarming last year was that I saw that a lot of fathers came out. We had many families with mom and dad and their children, and then we had a lot of single men bring out their children," she said.
Jay Isaacs Photography will also be present with their Pic Me photo booth where children can take photos with their favorite characters and take home a memento from the fun day.
Last year Peppa Pig paraphernalia was the only thing available to be had. This year items will be available for all the characters due to the urging of Davis' four-year-old daughter, Soleil, who is called Punky.
It's also due to the love that Soleil has for the characters that Davis said she knew the Peppa Pig & Friends Family Fun Day would be successful.
"She would always have these character pieces and we would
go out and she would leave children crying because they would want what she has and I knew that all children between the ages of one and 10 would gravitate and love something like this."
Davis said she envisions the Peppa Pig & Friends Family Fun Day getting ready for a bigger venue in the foreseeable future. As it stands now, she will have two shows, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. after last year's sold-out demand. Each showing has 335 seats. But with all the other activities that will be going on outside the actual shows, the gates will open at 12 noon and officially close when the last child decides to leave.
Tickets are $5 children, $8 adults; VIP tickets that will put your children right at front stage will be $10 children and $15 adults. For ticket information telephone 325-2223.

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