FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PBS NORTH CAROLINA ANNOUNCES THE 2026 ROOTLE ROADSTER TOUR

Kicking off April 25, the family-friendly tour will include stops throughout the state.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 3/17/2026 — PBS North Carolina is proud to announce the 2026 Rootle Roadster Tour, free playful learning events for families across the state. The tour kicks off Saturday, April 25, in downtown Laurinburg and continues through the fall. Additional stops include the Greensboro Science Center (May 16), the Swannanoa Resilience Hub (June 20), the Currituck County Center (August 15), the Macon County Fair (September 23–26) and the Clinton Square Fair & BBQ Cookoff (October 10).

The Rootle Roadster Tour offers free hands-on experiences for families and is specially designed to support children ages 8 and under. At every tour stop, families enjoy fun and educational activities such as STEM experiments, literacy games and social-emotional learning exercises. Local community partners are also on hand to offer family resources and support.

“This year, the Rootle Roadster Tour is traveling from the mountains to the sea to bring playful learning and PBS KIDS joy directly to families throughout the state,” said Jewel Lowe, Engagement Program Manager at PBS North Carolina. “By joining local fairs, festivals and community events, we’re meeting families where they are and creating opportunities for them to watch, play, explore and share together. We’re deeply grateful to our partners, whose support makes this vital program possible.”

Rootle Roadster Tour partners this year include NC 529, Scotland Memorial Foundation, Scotland County Partnership for Children and Families, the Greensboro Science Center, Guilford County Partnership for Children, Team Genius Squad, the Swannanoa Resilience Hub, Buncombe Partnership for Children, Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families, the Macon County Fair, Region A Partnership for Children, the Clinton Square Fair & BBQ Cookoff and the Autism Society of North Carolina.

“NC 529 is so proud to rejoin PBS North Carolina on the Rootle Roadster Tour,” said Tia Anderson, NC 529 program services representative. “We’re excited to bring interactive learning to children while providing families with information to start saving and investing in an NC 529 Account to meet their future education goals.”

PBS North Carolina launched the Rootle Roadster Tour in 2022 thanks to the Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. All Rootle Roadster Tour activities and takeaways are aligned with the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development with an emphasis on the foundations of literacy and social-emotional learning.

Rootle, PBS North Carolina’s 24/7 PBS KIDS brand, is committed to inspiring curiosity and joyful learning for young children and their families through hands-on experiences and trusted educational resources. In addition to the Rootle Roadster Tour, Rootle Discovery Corners bring fun hands-on learning experiences to communities year-round. These playful learning nooks in community spaces offer children and caregivers a welcoming environment to watch, play, explore and share together. Currently, Rootle Discovery Corners are in all 41 counties in eastern North Carolina, eight counties in central North Carolina and eight counties in western North Carolina.

Rootle Roadster Tour Schedule
Visit pbsnc.org/RoadsterTour for the most up-to-date information.

Laurinburg, Scotland County
Saturday, April 25, 9:30 AM–1 PM
McDuffie Square
129 West Railroad Street
Laurinburg, NC 28352
Rootle Ambassador Jenna Maley

Greensboro, Guilford County
Saturday, May 16, 9 AM–3 PM
Greensboro Science Center
4301 Lawndale Drive
Greensboro, NC 27455
Rootle Ambassador Alexis Scott

Swannanoa, Buncombe County
Saturday, June 20, 10 AM–1 PM
Swannanoa Resilience Hub
216 Whitson Avenue
Swannanoa, NC 28778
Rootle Ambassador Misti Chastain

Barco, Currituck County
Saturday, August 15, 10 AM–2 PM
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Currituck County Center
120 Community Way
Barco, NC 27917
Rootle Ambassador Ashleigh Arsenault

Franklin, Macon County
September 23–26
Wednesday, September 23, 1–8 PM
Thursday & Friday, September 24 & 25, 9 AM–8 PM
Saturday, September 26, 9 AM–2 PM
Macon County Fair
1436 Georgia Road
Franklin, NC 28734
Rootle Ambassador Melchor Gamez Correa

Clinton, Sampson County
Saturday, October 10, 10 AM–3 PM
Clinton Square Fair & BBQ Cookoff
Downtown Clinton, Main Street
Clinton, NC 28328
Rootle Ambassador Cory Kinnaman

About Rootle PBS KIDS

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

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 
For press info and resources, email press@pbsnc.org.