Hendersonville Main Street becomes Sesame Street morning of Aug. 20

Main Street between Allen and Caswell Street becomes "Sesame Street" from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Aug. 20 with bounce houses, food trucks, Snoballs, bubbles, hoops, free face painting, balloons, magic and more, along with the Muppets Elmo and Abby Cadabby, according to a press release.

The "Smart Start Sesame Street Party" celebrates the launch of "Sesame Street in Communities" in Henderson County, an initiative to support parents, caregivers, and community providers in their efforts to give all children — especially the most vulnerable — a strong, and healthy start. This event and family resources are specifically geared toward Henderson County families with young children (birth-Kindergarten), and families can RSVP by visiting Smart Start Partnership for Children's Facebook page at facebook.com/smartstartpfc.

"We are so excited for the opportunity to highlight the amazing and free resource 'Sesame Street in Communities' while also raising awareness of our incredible local organizations that serve Henderson County families and young children," said Smart Start Executive Director Sonia Gironda.

Dozens of community partners will be on site to share information and activities for families with young children.

Sesame Street in Communities provides engaging songs, games, stories, activities, articles and workshops for parents and other caregivers. These resources help break down the material so parents and caregivers can comprehend it and effectively serve their children.

The subjects covered by Sesame Street in Communities span from social and emotional development, creating healthy habits, school-readiness and learning through play to the heavier topics that can be harder to discuss with children, like coping with a death in the family, homelessness, divorce and drug addiction.

The "Smart Start Sesame Street Party"is being put on by Smart Start Partnership for Children, along with partners in the READY! Kindergarten Readiness Initiative, which includes Henderson County Public Schools, Henderson County Public Library, Children and Family Resource Center and WNCSource, with the support of Pardee UNC Health Care and Dogwood Health Trust.

Each Western North Carolina County will have its own Sesame Street in Communities launch event over the course of the next two years. More information on other events can be found at www.smartstartpfc.org by clicking on Programs then Raising Resilience WNC.