Fandads Holiday Gift Guide 2020

Disclaimer: Some links in this post are from affiliates and clicking on them will give a small percentage to the Fandads.

Friends, the holidays are going to look a lot different this year but we hope to bring back some normalcy with our annual Holiday Gift Guide. This year our focus is on gifts for inside the home and can be played by the entire family. We know it's been a rough year but hopefully, these ideas will bring some joy to those in your lives. Let's begin!

Bring Home the Complete Legend of Korra Series Next Year

Thanks to streaming services, we just started watching The Legend of Korra and it is a fantastic show. From the writing, the animation, and the lessons in each episode, this is a show I wished I watched when it was originally released. Coming out next year is the complete series on Blu-Ray and it comes in a great collectors case with amazing artwork for each Book. Check out more about this great series below. 

Season 12 of Spongebob Squarepants is Coming Home Next Year! Are you Ready?

We have mentioned before on here how we love watching Spongebob Squarepants with our children. It is always great to share things from our past with them and enjoy the new episodes with them. Today we are happy to learn that the 12th season of Spongebob Squarepants is coming home next year in January. Read about what this new season has and what fun you can expect with your children.  

Rumbling with Wubble Rumblers and Fuzzy Jigglers

Disclaimer: The Fandads were compensated and received the product for this review. All thoughts, opinions, and epic wrestling/karate matches are our own.

 

Friends, being home all day with your children sometimes gets frustrating. You see the energy building up inside of them and don't really want them to go outside on their own for their safety. So what are you to do? Well, if you have some space in your house you can let your children let off their energy by having wrestling/karate matches with Wubble Rumblers! 

Stepping into the New Age with The Croods

Disclaimer: The Fandads saw an advance stream of The Croods: A New Age in exchange for a review. All thoughts, opinions, and Weird Eyes are our own. 

The original Croods came out in 2013. While I did not see the movie when it originally released I did watch it online with my chldren a few times and thought it was a fun movie. It was good for what it was: an escape movie. Now we are in 2020 and The Croods: A New Age is being released into the theaters. What new adventures will the family get into? Let's find out.

Couch Co-op Exploration with Pikmin 3 Deluxe

Disclaimer: The Fandads received an advance copy of Pikmin 3 Deluxe for review. All thoughts, opinions, and motion sickness from traveling are our own. 

With the holiday season coming up you can expect your children to start asking for the hottest games for their video game systems. While there will be a lot of games and consoles to choose from we want to help you find games that are family-friendly and fun for the entire family to play. Fandad Gil and his daughters flew to the far reaches of the galaxy to find a game that checks those boxes and met up with an old nemesis. 

The Paw-fect Gift for Your PAW Patrol Fan! #Giveaway

Friends, the holiday season is coming and it's time to start looking for the perfect gift for the little ones in your life. Now while clothes and toys are great items to give, why not give the children in your family an amazing collection of DVDs that will teach them valuable lessons while entertaining them at the same time. Now available is the PAW Patrol: PUP-tastic! 8-DVD Collection Limited Edition Marshall's Fire Truck that will please any PAW Patrol fan in your family. 

Getting Ready for the Holidays with Holiday of Play

On October 22 the Fandads attended The Toy Insiders' Holiday of Play from home in the comfort of our dining room. This is the second time we attended an online toy fair and it did not disappoint. From the set-up to the brands that were on hand, the show was a great way to see what toys will be the must get toys for the holidays. So what were the stand out toys and what is going to be added to our upcoming Holiday Gift Guide? Keep ready for a preview of what's to come.

Have the Best Day Everrrr with The Spongebob Musical: Live on Stage! DVD #giveaway

The Fandads were provided with a review copy for this post. All thoughts, opinions, and best days ever belong to us. 

It is always cool when your children take a liking to some of the things that you liked when you were younger. I loved watching Spongebob Squarepants and just getting lost in the world of Bikini Bottom. Spongebob was one of those characters that I could not wait to introduce to my children. I wanted to share this world with them but they beat me to it. 

My children found Spongebob on their own and loved watching him on television. My son has watched the movies countless times and was excited when The Spongebob Musical: Live on Stage. I remembered we watched it together on television and just loved seeing the performances and listening to the songs. Now you too can enjoy this fun musical with your family and win a copy for yourselves. 

Halloween Movies to Watch with the Family

With Halloween, a few days away, and the current pandemic changing the way we might celebrate it, what is a family to do? This year, why not stay home with the family, order some food, and watch a fun Halloween themed movie or two. We have rounded up some fun movies to watch, so check out our spoiler-free picks and start planning your Halloween night! 

Going on an Adventure with Tonies

Disclaimer: The Fandads were provided with a Toniebox for our review. All thoughts, opinions, and fun times are our own. 

Parents, we have all been there: Your child is in front of a screen all day due to school, and as soon as class ends they run to a tablet or phone for more screentime. We all know what happens next. We tell them to get off the screen and they say that they are bored and have nothing to do. So what do you do in this situation? You find something that keeps them occupied and does not require a screen and that is where the Toniebox comes in. 

Learning to Care with Blue's Clues

Disclaimer: The Fandads were provided with an advance copy of Blue's Clue & You: Caring with Blue in exchange for a review and giveaway opportunity. All thoughts, words, and excitement are our own. 

Back in June, we reviewed Blue's Clue & You and my son absolutely loved the DVD.  I loved seeing a new generation of Blue's Clue and seeing how the show was updated for today's time and hearing familiar songs with a new twist. Now that we are familiar with Josh and the characters of the show, this new collection of episodes is a joy to watch. 

Finding Your True self with Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs

Every now and then a movie comes along with a great message and gets lost because not many people see it. Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs is a fun retelling of the Snow White story but with a message about being true to yourself and those around you. While my family and I enjoyed the movie, we all agreed that it started a little slow before the storyline really picked up. 

It's Never Easy to Say Good-Bye

 

It's been over a month and we just emptied out her food bowl. The water basically evaporated and her food just sat there untouched. I am not sure if it was a written rule in our house, but no one emptied our dog's, Samantha aka Sammie aka Sam's food bowl since she passed away on August 8th. When Sam passed away that is where she laid down and took her last breath, next to her bowl, and taking that away just seems so final. We’re not quite ready for that but we know it has to happen for us to move forward. Taking that away also takes away the memory of the kids’ first chore. After her morning walk, the kids would take turns feeding Sam. Every morning I have to stop myself from asking my children if they fed Sam or if she had been walked. Every morning I am reminded that she is not here anymore. 

Fly away with Paw Patrol Jet to the Rescue

Get ready for high-flying adventures with the PAW Patrol pups in the brand-new DVD PAW Patrol: Jet to the Rescue, featuring an exclusive, all-new original TV movie and four fan-favorite episodes from the number-one ranked preschool show on television, produced by Spin Master Entertainment and airing on Nickelodeon. The DVD release lets fans join the pups as they travel back to Barkingburg with all-new rescue gear and high-speed mission jets for action-packed aerial adventures. The PAW Patrol pups will soar to new heights to save Barkingburg Castle, rescue a stunt pilot, help one of Mayor Humdinger’s kittens and more!

Celebrating Star Wars with ForceFest

This coming August 28-30 is the first-ever Forcefest and this Fandad will be there. I will be hosting a panel called Celebrating the Diversity in Star Wars on August 29th at 7:45 pm CST. The panel will be held in the Interview and Discussion stage and will consist of myself, Elliott Serrano, and Olivia and Raven from Sistas with Sabers. It will be a fun panel and we hope you can attend and join us. This is the first time we are hosting a panel at a convention and we are very excited about doing this. Read on for more details about Forcefest. 

LootCrate + Pixar = Pixar Limited Edition Series

Get ready to step into the world of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story, The Incredibles, Up and more as Loot Crate celebrates the continuing legacy of Pixar with a series of 3 one-time-only limited-edition crates. Unbox the new Disney and Pixar Limited Edition Series and celebrate the magic of Pixar’s stories, films and characters with exclusive collectibles, apparel and gear you can’t find anywhere else!

For the first crate, Loot Crate opens the door to adventure with gear and collectibles from beloved films including Disney and Pixar’s Up, Wall-E, Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles and more.

Before this series of 3 one-time-only limited-edition crates sell out, be sure to order by September 30 at 9:00pm PST. Each Pixar crate costs $49.99 plus shipping and handling. Supplies are limited. The first crate is expected to ship in December 2020, with crates monthly thereafter.

Are You Afraid of the Dark Brings Some Scares Into Your Home

Disclaimer: The Fandads received an advance copy of Are You Afraid of the Dark in exchange for a review and giveaway. All thoughts, opinions, and maybe screams are our own. 

I do not remember the original Are You Afraid of the Dark? because I was not watching Nickolodeon at that time. I remember hearing people talk about the show, but I never watched it. Thankfully a new series was released and I sat down and watched these for with my children. The series was great and had a few fun scares and now it is coming home for you to enjoy with your family. Read about the home release and see how you can win a copy for your family.

You Should Have Left review

Disclaimer: The Fandads were provided with a digital copy of You Should Have Left in exchange for a review. All thoughts, opinions, and fear of old houses are our own. 

When I first saw the commercials for You Should Have Left it reminded me of the book House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. The idea that the house was bigger inside than it was outside intrigued me and I thought this was a film adaptation of that book. Sadly, that was the only similarity with the book and the movie was completely not what I expected.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY Coming to 4K Ultra HD

There are many great movie trilogies out in the world: Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and Back to the Future. Back to the Future is one of my favorites and it is exciting to see that it will be coming out on 4K in October with a lot of extra features and we mean a lot of extra features. Check out yesterday's announcement below and get ready to hop on your overboard again. 

We Attended Our First Sweet Suite and Here is What we Loved!

On Wednesday, July 22, the Fandads attended the first-ever Toy Insider Sweet Suite @ Home event. In the time of Covid and social distancing, this was a great way for toy brands and social influencers to connect and see the exciting new toys coming out later this year. For our first time attending, we were excited and made sure to take advantage of all that was offered.

Gearing up for the Summer with Blaze and Shimmer and Shine

Disclaimer: The Fandads were provided with review copies of Blaze and The Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure and Shimmer and Shine: Glitter Magic! in exchange for doing a giveaway. All thoughts, opinions, and family adventures are our own. 

With the summertime heating up, some days are better spent inside catching up with some of your favorite characters. Thanks to our friends at Nickelodeon we have two fun DVDs to share with you and your children. Blaze and The Monster Machines: Race for the Golden Treasure and Shimmer and Shine: Glitter Magic! Read our thoughts about the two titles and keep reading to see how you can win a copy of each.

Trolls World Tour Rocks the House

I remember watching the first Trolls movie at home with my children and was quite a surprise. I did not know what to expect and the storyline was fun. The songs were catchy and there were a few scenes that had me laughing out loud. When the trailers for the second movie came out it vaguely resembled a certain Marvel movie that was released. The Rock Troll is stealing multi-colored strings to eliminate all other forms of music and make rock the only music for all Trolls.  Sound familiar.

Get Ready for Adventure with Rockford T. Honeypot

Disclaimer: The Fandads were provided with an advance copy of The Adventures of Rockford T. Honeypot in exchange for a review. All thoughts, opinions, and need for adventure are our own. 

When I was younger I would spend my days reading anything that I could get my hands on. I always loved to find books that would take me on adventures to other worlds. Now that I have children, I love that they have fallen in love with books like their father. My daughter is always reading something and my son finds old children books on our shelves and reads them quietly to himself. When my review copy of The Adventures of Rockford T. Honeypot arrived I knew this would be a book that we would all enjoy together. 

Netflix's THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB Premieres July 3rd!

When I was younger I would read pretty much everything. Reading was my escape and it helped me get through a lot of my early years. While I mainly stuck to books having to do with themes boys would like: Space, monsters, and adventure, I never read the Baby-Sitters Club books. I knew about them and when I worked at a bookstore I would recommend them to families, but I never took the time to read them.

New STAR WARS MINIMALIST Prints for your Home!

As a Star Wars fan, I am always amazed at the amazing art the is put out for the world to consume. If I had the wall space, I would buy every piece of art that would take me back to that galaxy far, far away. Sometimes you see artwork that has a fresh take on your favorite characters that you have to share with everyone you know. These latest pieces by S. Preston are a great way to showcase your love for some of your favorite characters from the Star Wars Universe.

Chicago Dogs Release Their 2020 Season Schedule

With summer coming up we are approaching the beginning of baseball season. This year the baseball season's are going to be a little short and a little bit restrictive on the crowds attending, but it will be a good distraction from all that is going on in the world. We have been to Chicago Dogs' games a few times over the years and hopefully, we will attend some games once they start up again in July. The team just released their 2020 game and promotional schedule. 

A New Blue's Clues & You for the Next Generation

Diclaimer: The Fandads were provided with a review copy and giveaway copy in exchange for a review on the new Blue's Clues & You DVD. All thoughts, opinions, and flashbacks to the original show are our own. 

It's crazy to think that the original Blue's Clues first aired on September 8, 1996. By that time I was not watching children shows, but I had younger cousins that would watch them. I remember watching Blue's Clues every now and then and just liking the songs and the shear joy of the show. It was fun watching Steve, Blue, & Magenta go on these little adventures each episode all while learning a lesson or two.

Projecting Fun with ProjeX! #giveaway

Disclaimer: The Fandads were compensated for their review of ProjeX and supplied with a system to giveaway. All thoughts, opinions, and good times are our own. 

With families staying home due to the recent pandemic, finding activities to do together can be challenging. Sitting in front of the television is not exactly a great family activity, but what if you can do something that doesn't involve the television? The ProjeX Projecting Game Arcade takes the concept of playing video games and makes it more interactive by removing the screen and getting your family up and active. 

Time to get "charged up" with Paw Patrol!

Disclaimer: The Fandads received a review copy of Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Charged Up in exchange for a review and giveaway copy for our readers. All thoughts, opinions, and good times are our own. 

Parents, let's be honest with each other for a moment. There are certain theme songs from our children's television shows that get stuck in our heads from time to time because they are so catchy. One of those songs is the theme song for Paw Patrol. Yes, that song makes me want to run and would be a great addition to my running playlist. Now that we got that out of the way, the Paw Patrol team is back with new adventures for you to share with your children.

The paw-some Mighty Pups are back for next level action-packed adventures in PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Charged Up. With this epic new DVD collection, fans can follow the Mighty Pups on daring rescue missions as they use their new superpowers and charged-up hover vehicles to save Adventure Bay from a brand-new baddie—the Copycat. PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Charged Up will be available on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment on June 2, 2020 for the suggested retail price of $10.99.

PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Charged Up Episodes:
Mighty Pups Charged Up: Pups Vs. the Copycat
Mighty Pups Charged Up: Pups Stop a Big Bad Bot
Mighty Pups Charged Up: Pups Vs. the Dome
Mighty Pups Charged Up: Pups Stop a Humdinger Horde
Mighty Pups Charged Up: Pups Save a Mighty Lighthouse
Pups Save a Cat Burglar
Pups Save the Runaway Kitties

PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Charged Up synopsis:
When a new superpower replicating baddie known as the Copycat arrives in Adventure Bay, Ryder has to charge up the Mighty Pups with the mighty meteor, giving them all-new secondary superpowers. With their new abilities and charged-up hover vehicles, the pups are ready for super-charged rescue action.

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Learning to help with the Helpsters

Parents, in these days of Shelter-at-Home and e-learning, we are trying to find ways to keep our children busy and learning how to interact with people other than the ones they are living with. Here to help you is the newest creation from the makers of Sesame Street, Helpsters Help You.

May the Fourth be With You Always #Giveaway

Disclaimer: The Fandads were provided with a giveaway prize to help promote the May the 4th sale at Cufflinks.com. All thoughts, opinions, and fancy socks are our own. 

May is a big month for Star Wars fan. Not only do we celebrate Star Wars theatrical release anniversaries, but we also have May 4th to celebrate. This year we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back and while many stores will be having May the 4th sales and exclusives our friends from Cufflinks.com are joining in on the fun.

Doodle Boy X Kidrobot Collaboration

Kidrobot always does some great collaborations and their new one is one your entire family can enjoy and it might also give the children in your household some inspiration.

Let's Party with Spongebob Squarepants!

Disclaimer: The Fandads were provided with a review copy of Spongebob Squarepants: Bikini Bottom Bash to host a giveaway. All thoughts, opinions, and full bellies from birthday cake are our own. 

Who is ready to party? Come on down to Bikini Bottom for a few celebration-themed episodes of Spongebob Squarepants. The episodes on his DVD are a lot of fun, but our favorite one is Spongebob's Big Birthday Blowout. It is great to see the actual voice actors in front of the camera doing what they do best. Keep reading to see how you can win your own copy of Spongebob Squarepants: Bikini Bottom Bash. 

Trying to move forward in the midst of setbacks

This is my son's birthday week and it has been about one month since we have been quarantined due to the coronavirus. It's interesting seeing all the ways families are celebrating birthdays in these times and what we are doing with this new normal. If you have read some of my posts about my son, you will know that he has his own challenges that he is going through.

Get Ready to Rock with Trolls World Tour

With the pandemic facing the world right now, families are at home and looking for ways to make their nights enjoyable. Watching the same movie over and over is one thing that we have been doing at our home, but luckily movie studios have either been releasing movies early on digital or premiering them at home. 

Speaking to the Animals with Dr. Dolittle

Fresh off the heels of Avengers: Endgame, Robert Downey Jr. is back in the family-friendly, Dr. Dolittle. While there have been a few takes on the Dr. Dolittle stories, this is a new take on it with advanced CGI and a cast of A-list stars. 

Spongebob Squarepants Season 11 is ready to take you back to Bikini Bottom

As Fandads, we love to share the things we love with our children. Be it movies, video games, cartoons, we want them to see the things that made us laugh and took us to different worlds. I remember watching Spongebob Squarepants when it was on television and remember laughing at the silly adventures of Patrick and Spongebob. Just watching how silly they were always made me laugh.

Bring The Call of the Wild home

The Call of the Wild is one of those books that you have either read in school or heard about it in school. I remember reading this book a few times and watching the different versions of the film. The new version that was released this year was a great take on the same story but the CGI dogs did take a while to get used to. 

Quarantine 2020 - Day 1

Is this real life? That question has come up way too often over the past few years and especially these past few months. 2020 is definitely going to be one for the record books and it's not even April yet. So as I'm sure many of you are doing, we're staying home. I won't get into the people that still refuse to comply. Or the ones that still think this is a hoax and/or that we're overreacting. It's all too real and we need to get ahead of it. So yes, schools are closed and that means my family is safe at home. Times are tough but I am grateful that we are home and that my wife and I have the opportunity to be home with our children. I know that not everyone is as lucky.

That being said, we wanted to try to keep things as close to normal as possible. One of my daughters brought home a suggested schedule and we tried to keep to it. I have to hand it to my girls, they did a great job of sticking to it. So far so good, granted it was only my first day, but they've been home since Friday. All things considered, they're handling the cabin fever well.

Hard at Work

I did manage to go out and vote before everyone woke up. It was a good move as no one was there and I was able to get in and out fairly quickly. The rest of my clan woke up and they got to work. Their schedule called for a little fresh air so we took a nice walk around the neighborhood.

Umm...?

It was a nice day and a few other people had the same idea. We all kept our distance and gave each other friendly nods from afar.

Lunch was next on the schedule and then a little more school work. We definitely don't want to burn them out so we had some quiet time and then took the afternoon off. 

Naps were had and video games were played. We finished off the day with dinner and a couple of movies before bed.

I'm ending my day like it began, everyone else is in bed while I'm here trying to be productive. 

I'll finish up this post with links to resources and tips for those of you that are also at home doing the best you can with your little ones. Take care everyone and I hope we all get through this safely and in good health.

https://www.khanacademy.org/ Sample Schedules

https://www.gonoodle.com/ https://www.cosmickids.com/

Kidz Bop Dance Tutorials https://www.fitnessblender.com/

 

Bring Home Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #Givewaway

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams’ riveting, inspiring conclusion of the seminal Skywalker saga, electrified audiences around the globe, earning more than a billion dollars worldwide. Soon fans can complete their collections when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrives digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and via Movies Anywhere on March 17, two weeks before it lands physically in 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on March 31.

Bonus material includes a feature-length, making-of documentary, which goes behind the scenes with the cast and filmmakers from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and explores the legacy of the Skywalker saga. Bonus features also dig into the film’s Pasaana desert scenes, including the thrilling landspeeder chase, and the ship in which Rey discovers family secrets as well as a new little droid named D-O. Plus, fans will hear from Warwick Davis, who reprises his role as Wicket the Ewok, as well as the creature effects team that created a record 584 creatures and droids for the film. Digital consumers will receive an exclusive feature highlighting legendary composer John Williams, who has scored every episode in the Skywalker saga.

Bonus features include*:

• The Skywalker Legacy – The story lives forever in this feature-length documentary that charts the making of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
• Pasaana Pursuit: Creating the Speeder Chase – Dive into the making of the movie’s epic landspeeder chase and discover how this spectacular sequence was brought to the screen.
• Aliens in the Desert – See what it took to create the Pasaana desert scenes, from the sheer scale and complexity of the shoot to its colorful details.
• D-O: Key to the Past – Explore the ship that connects Rey to the mystery of her missing parents and get to know the galaxy’s newest, irresistible droid.
• Warwick & Son – Warwick Davis, who played Wicket in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, dons the Ewok costume once more; this time joined by his son Harrison.
• Cast of Creatures – The team behind the film’s memorable creatures reveal the puppetry, makeup, prosthetics and digital magic that bring them to life!

Digital Exclusive:

The Maestro’s Finale – Composer John Williams reflects on his body of work for the Star Wars saga and shares insights on scoring Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

* Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer.

The ninth and final episode in the Skywalker saga welcomed the return of original characters Luke Skywalker, General Leia Organa, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Emperor Palpatine and Lando Calrissian, along with the latest generation of heroes and villains, including Rey, Finn, Poe, BB-8, Maz, Rose, General Hux and Kylo Ren. Newcomers include Jannah, a new ally of the Resistance; Allegiant General Pryde of the First Order; and smuggler Zorii Bliss.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is packaged several ways to ensure fans get the most out of their at-home viewing experience. The Multiscreen Edition includes Blu-ray and a Digital copy, giving viewers the flexibility to watch the film on different devices. Those with 4K Ultra HD capability may opt for a 4K UHD Ultimate Collector’s Edition, including 4K UHD, Blu-ray and a Digital copy. 4K Ultra HD provides four times the resolution of HD paired with fully immersive picture and sound and Dolby Atmos audio, allowing viewers at home to practically feel the Force.

On March 31, coinciding with the physical release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, eight Star Wars films are being released on 4K UHD for the first time: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

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Getting Weird With Spies In Disguise

When I was younger I was the kid that would get lost in his own world with comics and video games. While I did have a lot of friends, I always felt like the outsider of the group. Growing up I've always had that feeling and even today I still feel like an outsider sometimes. I think that is why Spies in Disguise really connected with me.

Wizard Entertainment To Launch ‘Wizard World Virtual Experiences’ To Bring Convention Experience Online

Wizard Entertainment Inc. for more than 20 years has produced “Wizard World” events at which attendees have enjoyed meeting celebrities, participating in Q&A panels, collecting signatures and conversing with their favorite artists and writers in gatherings at convention centers across North America. Now Wizard Entertainment will bring that experience online with “Wizard World Virtual Experiences,” which make many of the elements that fans at Wizard World shows love most accessible to everyone regardless of location.

Wizard Entertainment will launch this exciting venture later this month, with the celebrities and groups involved in the inaugural programming to be announced soon. Fans will have the ability to purchase a personal one-minute video chat,:15- or:30-second personalized video recording, signed 8x10 photos and signed memorabilia, group chats, and exclusive limited edition art. Select session dates will feature live video panels that are free for fans to view and hear, accessible through the Wizard World website (www.wizardworld.com) and other social media platforms.

“‘Wizard World Virtual Experiences’ will bring the Wizard World experience to fans across the globe, wherever they live,” said John D. Maatta, CEO, Wizard Entertainment, Inc. “We will capture the excitement of interacting one-on-one with celebrities and creators in a format that will be unique and compelling.”

The sessions will be on set dates, with live panels, video chats and signings taking place at designated times during the day.

About Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZDD)

Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com) produces comic, gaming and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, tech, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming and entertainment takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&As, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Additional initiatives may include an augmented touring schedule of Wizard World shows, fixed-site installations, curated e-commerce, and the production and distribution of content both in the U.S. and internationally. Fans can interact with Wizard Entertainment at www.wizardworld.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and other social media services.

The 2020 Wizard World convention schedule is available athttp://www.wizardworld.com/comiccon.

BLUE MAN GROUP CHICAGO CELEBRATES “CEREAL DAY” WITH COMMUNITY CEREAL DRIVE MARCH 7 – APRIL 19

Blue Man Group, continuing its open run at Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre (3133 N. Halsted), will celebrate “National Cereal Day” Saturday, March 7 by kicking off a month-long cereal-focused food drive. In partnership with Mariano’s, the theatrical phenomenon will collect boxes of cereal at the Briar Street Theatre from March 7 – April 19, 2020. All cereal will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which provides food to those facing hunger in Chicago and Cook County.

“We are proud to lead this initiative in the fight against hunger and collect food donations for our community,” said Blue Man Group Chicago Resident General Manager Jeremy Smith. “With the help of Mariano’s, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and our patrons, we hope to make a difference in the lives of Chicago families in need.”

Patrons who donate boxed cereal to Blue Man Group’s cereal drive will receive $20 off their ticket to Blue Man Group Chicago and a Blue Man Group branded swag item. Tickets are subject to availability and the promotion is valid for up to 9 tickets with 9 boxes of cereal donated per person. More information is available at www.blueman.com/cereal.

Blue Man Group Ticket Information

Tickets are available from $49-$104. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1-800-BLUE-MAN (1-800-258-3626) or visiting www.blueman.com. A full show schedule and ticket pricing can also be found at www.blueman.com.

VIP Experience ticket packages are also available starting at $150 per person and include an exclusive piece of Blue Man Group merchandise, premium seat, and one pre-show beverage at the Briar Street Theatre, souvenir lanyard and a post-show meet-and-greet with a Blue Man.

Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more, varying from $46.50- $79.50 per person. “Backstage On Stage” experiences for groups of 10 or more are available for $52 per person. For groups of 10 or more, call the group sales department to book at 773-348-3300 or email chicagogroups@blueman.com to request information.

About Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group is an award-winning show and entertainment phenomenon seen by more than 35 million people worldwide since 1991. A dynamic combination of art, music, comedy and technology, the show’s euphoric celebration of human connection has universal appeal for a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. The show is continually refreshed with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments, and state-of-the-art technology. Blue Man Group has permanent theatrical productions in New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Berlin, and is currently touring two shows, the North American Tour and the World Tour. Blue Man Group is owned and operated by Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.

This creative collective has become part of the pop culture zeitgeist. Blue Man Group has served as the face of branding campaigns for Intel and TIM/Brasil and appeared countless times on hit shows like “The Tonight Show,” “Arrested Development,” “Ellen,” “Schlag den Raab” (Germany), “WOWOW” (Japan), and “Caldeirão do Huck” (Brasil).

Beyond the stage show, they are Grammy-nominated recording artists, known for their contributions to various film and TV scores and multiple Blue Man Group albums, including their most recent, THREE.  Their “Megastar World Tour” rock concert parody played arenas across the globe. The group’s recently published first-ever book, Blue Man World, is a visually stunning anthropological exploration of the curious bald and blue character.

About the Greater Chicago Food Depository

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, believes a healthy community starts with food. The Food Depository is at the center of a network of more than 700 partner organizations and programs – food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, mobile distributions, and other partners – working to bring food, dignity and hope to our neighbors across Chicago and Cook County. The Food Depository addresses the root causes of hunger with job training, advocacy, and other innovative solutions. The Food Depository is a proud member of Feeding America – the national network of food banks. By working to help those most in need go from hungry to hopeful, the Food Depository is building a Greater Chicago. Learn more at chicagosfoodbank.org.