Preakness is taking over Baltimore ? even children are galloping in on the fun with the Pee Wee Preakness.
The annual Pee Wee Preakness, presented by the Municipal Employees Credit Union on Tuesday is celebrating the 131st annual running of the Preakness Stakes. The children of Baltimore get to participate in their own “horse” race ? only on bouncy red balls instead of 3-year-old thoroughbred horses.
Maryland Public Television?s Bob the Vid Tech will perform children?s songs and host the Great Vid Kid Quiz Game in a live, interactive show at 11:30 a.m. Since 1992, Bob the Vid Tech, played by Baltimore native Bob Heck, has been teaching children basic subjects like letters, numbers, shapes and sharing.
At noon, the children will participate in the actual Pee Wee Preakness by racing out of the gates on bouncy balls. After the race, the children will eat packed lunches while watching one-man-show Spats at 12:30 p.m., who will entertain the children with juggling, unicycling, music and comedy from the vaudeville era.
Also there to entertain the youngsters will be a craft project, a balloon artist, a caricaturist and fun face art. Most of the children will be from area day care centers and schools, but walk-in participants are also encouraged to try their legs at bouncing their way to victory.
President and CEO of MECU Bert J. Hash Jr., is proud to sponsor the Pee Wee Preakness, saying that the event “has become a Baltimore tradition as much as the Preakness itself, but focuses on the children of our community.”
The Pee Wee Preakness will take place in Federal Hill Park, on Warren Street near Battery Avenue. The event is a part of the Preakness Celebration, which takes place from May Saturday to May 20.
