Let's Play America to mark milestone 50th Play Day on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026

Let's Play America is marking a milestone this month: on Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 1-5 p.m. at Piney Branch Elementary School (7510 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD), the organization will host its 18th Annual Play Day — and its 50th Play Day overall since the movement began in 2009. The free, family-friendly event also falls on Grandparents Day this year, adding a special multigenerational theme to the celebration.

Let's Play America was founded in July 2014 by Pat Rumbaugh and Daniel Nakamura on a simple idea: everyone deserves time to play, every day. The organization's roots go back even further, to 2009, when Pat and Daniel helped found TakomaPlays!, a grassroots group of play advocates in Takoma Park. That group organized free play events and successfully petitioned KaBOOM! to designate Takoma Park a Playful City USA — a title the community held every year until the national program ended in 2017. Building on that success, Pat and Daniel launched Let's Play America to bring the same vision to communities across Maryland and the country. Today, the organization is often cited as a model for how communities can advocate for and promote accessible play for people of every age.

This year's Play Day brings a full lineup for kids and grandparents alike: Kidokinetics activities, a DinoRock live performance, games and crafts, a Touch-A-Truck display, a Mattel gift giveaway, and refreshments — all free to attend. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to get in on the fun themselves, not just watch from the sidelines, which is central to the organization's philosophy that play isn't just for children.

With the event landing on both a 50th milestone and Grandparents Day, there's a strong hook here for a story on community wellness, multigenerational connection, and the value of unstructured play — especially timely given ongoing conversations about screen time and disconnected communities.

I'd love to connect you with Pat Rumbaugh, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Let's Play America, for an interview ahead of or during the event. She's a compelling, energetic voice on the value of play for people of all ages and can speak to the organization's decade-plus track record and its plans for growth.

Pat Rumbaugh, MA
Co-Founder/Executive Director, Let's Play America
301-928-9962
theplaylady@gmail.com

More information and photos are available at letsplayamerica.org, on Facebook, and on Instagram. Communities interested in starting their own play group can learn how here: letsplayamerica.org/home/create-your-playday/. Those interested in supporting the organization's work can donate at letsplayamerica.org/donation/.

Please let me know if you'd like to attend, schedule an interview with Pat, or receive additional photos or background.

Thank you for your consideration!

Best,
Judith Evans
202-841-0987
evansj2003@yahoo.com