Pretend City Children's Museum

City Lights Founding Members are illuminating our children's futures! ? At our inaugural appreciation dinner on November 15th at Turnip Rose, we celebrated the incredible impact of the 113 individuals and couples who have joined City Lights since its launch earlier this year. Together, this giving circle gives children and families the critical early childhood development experiences and resources they need to thrive. Are you ready to make a difference and be part of something extraordinary? Join us in creating brighter futures! ? ???Learn more and become a member today: https://lnkd.in/gKXFNRKF ? Pictured: Our dedicated City Lights Committee (Left to Right, Bottom to Top): Janice Christensen, Barbara Powers, Jolie Wyatt, Melody Yu, Adina Stowell, Karen Jordan, CFP?, MBA, Janice Song, Kai Yu And special thanks to our Committee members not pictured: Jennifer Bunn Hayden, Jessica Kwon, Pharm.D., MS-HIA, RHIA, and Jimmee Medina.

37 more days until Christmas!???? Get ready to unwrap the magic of the holiday season at Pretend City. Stay tuned for festive fun as we gear up to welcome Santa himself to the museum! #santascoming #orangecounty #meetsanta #irvine #ocmoms

This holiday season, Pretend City Children’s Museum invites your family to celebrate warmth, wonder, and festive traditions! From twinkling lights to cheerful music, joy fills every corner for you to explore together. 12/1 Kick off the holiday season with our enchanting Tree Lighting Ceremony at Pretend City! Join us as we welcome winter with festive cheer, cookies, and hot cocoa—served alongside a special visit from Santa! Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to create cherished memories with family and friends as we celebrate the magic of the holidays in the city! ??11 am ONLY 12/18 Celebrate the magic of Las Posadas with us at Pretend City! Las Posadas is a special celebration that takes place in Mexico and other Latin American countries during the days leading up to Christmas. ??11 am & 2:30 pm 12/20 Celebrate Hanukkah with Rabbi Sender at Pretend City with a special celebration! Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. ??11 am ONLY 12/22 Join us for a day filled with laughter, joy, and the warmth of the holiday season. Let’s make this Christmas Celebration a memorable one for you and your family! ??Pictures with Santa: 10 am-12 pm ??Pop-Up Booksale: 10 am-4 pm 12/27 Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration honoring African heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1. Each day focuses on one of the seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. ?????? ??11 am & 2:30 pm 12/31 It’s Midnight Somewhere 5..4..3..2..1.. HAPPY NOON YEAR! Join us for our annual New Year’s Celebration in the middle of the day! ??Pretend City is open 10 am -1 pm ONLY Our holiday events are sure to sell out, so don’t wait! Book your tickets online now and make this holiday season unforgettable for your little ones.

We were honored to attend National Philanthropy Day this week. Congratulations to inspiring Youth Honorees, Connor Wong and Wilson Song, who got their entrepreneurial start at Pretend City as youngsters. We are also proud to partner with Large Business Honoree PNC Bank who is an incredibly generous champion of early learning and the community at large. To top it off, we enjoyed celebrating our co-founders, Alex Airth and Sandy Stone, on the 15th anniversary of Pretend City in Irvine and in appreciation of their creative vision and continued leadership and support. Congratulations to event co-chair, Kathy Ruvolo, and her committee on a great event!

We had an incredible experience at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference, proudly representing Pretend City Children's Museum! Our work is rooted in making a difference—we’re passionate about advocating for children, families, and educators. Our Good to Go initiative offers free neurodivergent family nights, baby steps, free developmental screenings for children ages 0-5 1/2. Our diverse cultural programs provide a welcoming place for families which embody our commitment to building a supportive, inclusive community for all. Grateful for the chance to be among inspiring leaders in early childhood education who share this passion!

Calling all Young Inventors! Do you have a fantastic idea or creation you'd like to showcase? Join us for Pretend City's Kid Inventors Convention, a celebration of creativity and innovation. We're excited to see all the new inventions! This is open for ages 0-18. Send us a DM or email [email protected] for more information on how to participate and be a part of this exciting event. #kidinventors #younginnovators

Thank you, EY volunteers, for joining us at Pretend City Children's Museum! From connecting with families and engaging in imaginative play to hosting a dance party in Orange Plaza, your dedication truly makes a difference. #EY #volunteers #betterworkingworld

Celebrate World Kindness Day with Pretend City and Tanvi Shah November 13th 11am & 2:30pm Through playful yoga poses, mindful breathing, and positive energy, children will discover how movement can be a fun way to care for their bodies and build self-confidence. This practice encourages young kids to embrace kindness in all forms, fostering empathy and well-being from an early age. ??♂??? Meet Tanvi! Tanvi brings extensive certifications, including recognitions from the Quality Council of India, Yoga Alliance, and Patanjali Yogpeeth USA. At her studio, Tanvi Yoga, clients have experienced genuine relief and rejuvenation through authentic yoga, pranayama, and meditation. Tanvi is also committed to sourcing non-GMO, natural ingredients for holistic wellness. Learn more about her journey and philosophy at www.Tanvi-enterprise.com. Let’s inspire our kids to be kind inside and out! #PretendCity #KidsYoga #HealthyBodies #KindnessMatters #MindfulKids #EarlyChildhoodWellness #GrowingUpHealthy #FamilyWellness #YogaForKids

It's time to cast your vote in the Pretend City mayor elections. Your choice matters, and every vote counts! Let’s shape the future of Pretend City together! ???? Vote online today! Vote here https://lnkd.in/g37_PVFZ

???? Thank you City of Irvine, and City Clerk, Carl Petersen for our special Election Edition Grown Up Tip! Your vote matters! If you have questions or need assistance, please visit cityofirvine.org/election or call the City of Irvine Election Hotline at 949-724-6159. You may also contact the Orange County Registrar of Voters at 714-567-7600 or visit ocvote.gov. #vote #voting #votingmatters #votingrights #orangecountyelections #cityofirvine #pretendcity