Family entertainment continues expanding beyond the screen, and this fall, one of children’s television’s most beloved legacies is inspiring a new hands-on experience designed to help kids learn through play.
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is partnering once again with Fred Rogers Productions to debut It’s a Beautiful Day to Be You: Inspired by Mister Rogers, Daniel Tiger & Donkey Hodie, an interactive exhibition that transforms the timeless lessons of kindness, bravery and imagination into an immersive adventure for families.
Opening October 3, the exhibit invites children to step inside the worlds of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Donkey Hodie, encouraging them to explore, create and play while building positive character traits along the way.
Rather than simply viewing displays, young visitors will become part of the experience through a variety of interactive activities. Families can travel through Trolley’s tunnel connecting the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and Someplace Else, help flowers bloom inside the Enchanted Garden through acts of kindness, and blast off with Purple Panda during a space-themed dance party filled with music, lights and hands-on discovery.
Throughout the exhibit, children will also encounter many familiar faces from the beloved PBS KIDS series, including Daniel Tiger, Donkey Hodie, Miss Elaina, O the Owl, Katerina Kittycat, Prince Wednesday, Purple Panda, Bob Dog, Duck Duck and Grampy Hodie, bringing the television worlds to life in an entirely new way.
The project continues a long-running collaboration between the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and Fred Rogers Productions, following previous family experiences inspired by Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and How People Make Things. This newest exhibit also places an even greater emphasis on character development, encouraging children to practice kindness, resilience and empathy through interactive play rather than observation alone.
After its Pittsburgh debut, It’s a Beautiful Day to Be You will begin traveling across North America in January 2027, giving even more families an opportunity to experience the exhibit as it tours museums through at least 2029.
As family attractions continue evolving into immersive learning experiences, exhibits like this demonstrate how beloved children’s television series are finding new ways to inspire young audiences beyond the screen. By combining hands-on exploration with the enduring lessons of Fred Rogers and the worlds of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Donkey Hodie, the experience offers families another opportunity to learn, play and create lasting memories together.
It’s a Beautiful Day to Be You: Inspired by Mister Rogers, Daniel Tiger & Donkey Hodie will be included with general admission to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and will be on display from October 3, 2026, through January 3, 2027, before embarking on its nationwide tour.