Nickelodeon’s celebration yesterday of its 10th annual Worldwide Day of Play (WWDoP) drew more than 35,000 kids and families to the Nethermead in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, in addition to the thousands more who attended local events throughout the country and abroad all week long!
This year’s WWDoP signature event was an entire day of activities and games for kids and their families, including football and tennis drills, dance, stepping and double-dutch, as well as arts and entertainment. The fun-filled event also featured a special concert performance from Big Time Rush and breakout star Ariana Grande. Worldwide Day of Play is part of Nickelodeon’s health and wellness efforts and continues the network’s legacy of promoting positive messages to its viewers.
Additionally, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 was declared “Day of Play” in New York City by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In making the proclamation, the Mayor noted his appreciation, “of Nickelodeon’s continuing effort to promote health and wellness among children”. His proclamation also stated, “Thanks to participating schools, parks and recreations centers across the five boroughs, kids and families…have had the chance to learn more about the importance of leading an active lifestyle.”
Joining the musical stars at this year’s celebration were NBA superstar Brook Lopez, as well as some of Nickelodeon’s most popular stars and animated characters, including casts of Sam & Cat, The Haunted Hathaways and Instant Mom along with SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Before Saturday’s event, Nickelodeon turned New York into a “City of Play” with a series of free, fitness-themed public events leading up to the big day! On Monday, passersby, tourists and commuters were invited to take a photo with SpongeBob Square Pants and Patrick in Battery Park and at the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Later that evening, the Empire State Building was lit orange, for the first time ever, to kick-off the week of “City of Play” activities. On Tuesday, Nickelodeon and NFL PLAY 60 teamed up to get New York up and active on the deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and Pier 86. Nickelodeon stars, SpongeBob and Patrick and professional football stars joined hundreds of kids aboard the historic carrier for an afternoon of football drills, laughs and action. On Wednesday, neighborhood kids, families, commuters and shoppers jumped, skipped, stretched, and danced at Union Square Park where event partners Art of Stepping and National Double Dutch League brought special activities to get kids up and moving. On Thursday SpongeBob, Patrick and Dora the Explorer were at Brooklyn Bridge Park to cheer on kids as they participate in a mini-triathlon. Competing activities included kayaking at Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, skateboarding, and volleyball at the Pier 6 Volleyball Courts. On Friday, New York Road Runners Club hosted a Nickelodeon-themed ‘5-Borough Relay Race’ with the help of SpongeBob, Patrick, Dora The Explorer and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Kids and adults can posed for a free commemorative photo with their favorite Nick character.
CelebSecrets4U was on hand for many of Nickelodeon’s pre-WWDoP events as well as the actual event itself! We caught up with TONS of your favorite Nick stars and athletes all over New York City. Check out our interviews + photos from Nickelodeon’s 10th Annual World Wide Day of Play along pre-World Wide Day of Play events below.
You can catch all the action from Nickelodeon’s World Wide Day of Play TONIGHT at 7:30PM ET/PT only on Nick!
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Photos: Getty Images
