By Alissa PerskeThis Saturday, September 17, 2011, was the 15th anniversary of B101.5 Kids’ Convention. The radio station, mainly adult contemporary, hosts an annual fun-packed day for parents and children to enjoy together. Many vendors appear every year, but the activities they offer change. The turnout over the years has been overwhelming at more than 100,000. This particular year was special because it was the first year celebrity meet and greets were added to the schedule of events.
The celebrities booked were Jake T. Austin and Jennifer Stone. Both actors starred in Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, a sitcom about the Russo kids, who prepare for the competition that will decide the Family Wizard. Jake T. Austin played Max Russo, the youngest of the three wizards, and Jennifer Stone played Harper Finkle, the non-magical best friend of the only Russo daughter.
The overcast weather in Fredericksburg brought most booths inside, including both meet and greets. Parents began lining up with their excited children hours in advance to secure a spot since everything offered for the Kids’ Convention was free to the public. “I’m just thrilled about meeting celebrities,” shared Victoria A. as her friend stood nervously beside her in line, “I’m so excited.”
Victoria, her friend, and their guardian were lucky to have claimed a ‘Cut-in-Line’ pass to automatically assure them a spot in the front end of the line. “We won them from the radio station,” Victoria explained enthusiastically, smiling at her guardian. For those who were not so fortunate, a parent stayed in the line to allow the kids to explore the multitude of vendors. The young fans came and went while their parent waited patiently with some form of entertainment, and each time the giggling kids ran up to their guardian, they had something new and exciting to share, whether it be homemade putty, a balloon animal, face painting, or something else entirely. Each new story helped the time to pass not only for the guardian, but for the surrounding crowd as well.
Waiting for the Jennifer Stone meet and greet proved to be entertaining in more ways than one. Sitting on the cold hard floor of the mall hallway, parents engaged each other in conversation, talking about their kids and the new experience most gained that day. When the kids were around, laughter flooded the area, pictures were taken with new friends and old, and stories were told of what they hoped would happen. Music played as a karate performance took place, providing the line of parents with more thrilling stories of how the kids got to go up and break a board themselves.
The moment of Jennifer Stone’s arrival triggered applause and shouts of happiness from the giddy little kids. Happiness came also to the guardians, for they were finally able to move. As the line started to progress, emotions ran wild. “I started crying because I didn’t think I’d get to do it,” confessed Madison R., clutching a colorful letter she planned to give Jennifer. Smiling, after being reassured by her mother, she chatted cheerfully about what this day meant to her. “This is the first time I’m meeting a celebrity. [Wizards of Waverly Place] is like my second favorite show.”
Jennifer Stone was very engaging with every single person that stepped on the stage to meet her, child and adult alike. She did not rush through the process, but conversed as she signed the provided photograph, posed for a picture, and, in the end, thanked each and every fan for coming out. She even signed a shoe when asked! “So many people are afraid to even ask. I don’t mind at all,” Jennifer remarked.
More information on B101.5 or their Kids’ Convention can be found on their webpage: http://b1015.com/index.php
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