News Release

Holiday Party at Brown v. Board Site

Date: December 6, 2011

Release date: December 6, 2011
Release Contact: Justin Sochacki
Phone number: [phone]

Topeka, KS - Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site is hosting a holiday party from 3 pm to 6 pm on Friday, December 16. Come share your holiday traditions and learn about new ones. The party will feature a variety of music, sing-alongs, snacks, a book sale, and a reading of the new Christmas book by local artists Mary Ann Wittman and Andy Valvidia entitled The Little Christmas Tree. The event is free and open to the public of all ages.

Fourth and fifth grade students from Williams Magnet School created holiday decorations and ornaments for the occasion. The students have been participating in an after-school enrichment program operated by Williams and the National Park Service. The general public is also invited to share their own holiday traditions and flex their creative muscles by stopping by the site and making their own decorations between Dec. 9 and Dec. 16.

"This is a great opportunity for members of the community to come and share their holiday traditions and learn about some new ones. If folks are looking for an excuse to get out and enjoy the park, this is a super opportunity to hear some great music, enjoy some snacks, and kick off the holiday season with neighbors and friends!" said park superintendent David Smith.

The art supplies and materials will be provided at the site free of charge. Visitor's art work will be used to decorate the site and reflect the diversity of the community's various holiday traditions. Visitors are encouraged to visit the site and create decorations between Dec. 9 and 16, but art supplies will also be available during the party.

Western National Parks Association will be offering a 15% discount on all purchases at the park bookstore in celebration of the holiday season. The bookstore has an outstanding selection of books and stocking stuffers for all ages and will also feature signed copies of Mary Ann Wittman and Andy Valdivia's book, The Little Christmas Tree.

The approximate program schedule is:

3:30 pm Hanging holiday decorations by Williams Magnet Students
3:45 pm Reading of The Little Christmas Tree by Mary Ann Wittman and Andy Valdivia
4:00 pm African Drumming with the Traditional Music Society
4:45 pm Reading of Jackie's Gift: A True Story of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Jackie Robinson
5:00 pm Decorate cookies and snacks
5:30 pm Sing alongs

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site tells the story of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended legal segregation in public schools. The site is located at 1515 SE Monroe Street in Topeka, Kansas, and is open free of charge from 9 am to 5 pm daily, with the exceptions of Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. For more information visit, www.nps.gov/brvb or call [phone].