FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PBS NORTH CAROLINA ANNOUNCES THE 2025 ROOTLE ROADSTER TOUR

The family-friendly tour will include stops in the Outer Banks, Charlotte and Raleigh and features a special ‘Jamming on the Job’ concert in Wilmington.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 2/13/2025 — PBS North Carolina is proud to announce the 2025 Rootle Roadster Tour, a series of free playful learning events for families across the state. The tour kicks off in Buxton, NC, in Dare County on Saturday, March 8. Additional stops include The Independent Picture House in Charlotte, Moore Square and Marbles IMAX in Raleigh and Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington, which will feature a special concert by stars of the PBS KIDS musical podcast Jamming on the Job. 

The Rootle Roadster Tour is an interactive program designed to support early childhood education for ages 0–8. At every tour stop, families can enjoy free activities such as STEM experiments, literacy games and social-emotional learning exercises—all designed to be both fun and educational. Local organizations and community partners are also on hand at every stop to offer additional resources and support for families. 

“PBS North Carolina is so excited to bring educational fun to families across North Carolina through the Rootle Roadster Tour,” said Jewel Lowe, Engagement Program Manager at PBS North Carolina. “Our collaboration with statewide and community partners who understand the importance of early childhood education is key to the program’s success. We’re deeply grateful to them and the generous support of NC 529 and the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Child Development and Early Education.” 

“NC 529 is so proud to join PBS North Carolina on the Rootle Roadster Tour,” said Tia Anderson, program services representative for NC 529. “We’re excited to encourage hands-on learning experiences for families across the state and to share ways to start saving in an NC 529 college savings account to best prepare for future educational expenses.” 

All Rootle Roadster Tour activities and takeaways are aligned with literacy, physical, sensory, social-emotional and STEM curriculum. Since the initiative’s launch, the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) has played a vital role in shaping and sustaining the tour, offering essential resources and curricular guidance to ensure it delivers engaging, educational experiences. Through this collaboration, PBS North Carolina continues to bring high-quality early learning opportunities to communities statewide. 

“Healthy brain development and education that happen in the first five years set the stage for a child’s success in school and life,” said Candace Witherspoon, director of DCDEE. “The Rootle Roadster Tour meets parents and caregivers of young learners where they are across our state to share available early learning resources that support healthy development. DCDEE is proud to partner with PBS North Carolina in this effort.” 

Additional partners this year include Children & Youth Partnership of Dare County, educator and screenwriter Rodney Stringfellow, Raleigh Parks and Recreation, Raleigh Area Rotary Clubs and Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

Support 

The Rootle Roadster Tour was made possible by the Preschool Development Grant, Birth-Five (PDG B-5) number [90TP125-01-02]. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. 

Rootle Roadster Tour Schedule 

Visit pbsnc.org/RoadsterTour for the most up-to-date information. 

Buxton, Dare County 
Saturday, March 8, 1–4 PM 
Cape Hatteras Secondary School 
48576 NC Highway 12 
Buxton, NC 27920 
Rootle Ambassador Carla Heppert 

Charlotte, Mecklenburg County 
Saturday, April 12 
The Independent Picture House 
4237 Raleigh Street 
Charlotte, NC 28213 
Rootle Ambassador Erica Reid 

Raleigh, Wake County 
Saturday, May 17, 10 AM–2 PM 
Moore Square & Marbles IMAX 
201 South Blount Street & 201 East Hargett Street 
Raleigh, NC 27601 
Rootle Ambassador Twanna Joyner Jones 

Wilmington, New Hanover County 
Friday, July 11, 4–8 PM 
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater 
1941 Amphitheater Drive 
Wilmington, NC 28401 
Rootle Ambassador Yolanda House 

About Rootle PBS KIDS 

Rootle, PBS North Carolina’s 24/7 PBS KIDS channel, is a trusted educational partner to families, caregivers and educators across the state providing wholesome, educational and entertaining content for children ages two to eight. Learn more at pbsnc.org/rootle.  

About the Rootle Ambassador Program 

Rootle Ambassadors are committed community members who support families of young learners and are trained to share PBS early education resources within their communities. By July 2025, there will be Rootle Ambassadors based in all 100 North Carolina counties and the Qualla Boundary. Learn more at pbsnc.org/rootle-ambassadors. 

About PBS North Carolina 

As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

-PBS NC-

Media Contact 
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications 
PBS North Carolina 
press@pbsnc.org