Back To School Blast at Smith Haven Mall

For the second year, Smith Haven Mall will host Back to School Blast, a daylong event featuring Long Island’s best family-friendly resources and essentials. On Saturday, August 29 from 12 to 6 p.m. in Center Court, the expo will offer families an abundance of information focusing on children services, products and more.

“During this back-to-school season, we are pleased to host an event that helps parents seek out resources to benefit their children and families,” commented Ann M. Schultz, director of mall marketing and business development for Smith Haven Mall. “From educational services to health and wellness, expert advice and guidance will be dispensed during the expo.”

The event, sponsored by Your Local Kids Source, will offer numerous activities for children to participate in. This includes an appearance from the Long Island Duck’s mascot, QuackerJack who will be visiting from 1 to 3 p.m.; free face painting by Tara from 1:30 to 6 p.m.; acoustic performances by Musicology Performance Center’s “AllStars” at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and a dance performance at 3 p.m. by Inspirations Performing Arts Centre. Character friends Anna, Elsa and Olaf can also be found at Inspirations Performing Arts Centre’s booth. There will be complimentary child identification kits provided by New York Life and a bone marrow drive presented by Warrior’s Odyssey. The Lanyard Ladies will assist children in making a friendship bracelet and Stony Brook Social Competence & Treatment Lab will allow attendees to make their own Rorschach inkblot.

Additional exhibitors include North Shore Eye Care, Silverleaf Resorts, Pure Essential Health (essential oils), Achieve Beyond Inc., Juice Plus+/Tower Garden, Montessori Learning Center, Engineering for Kids, Sky Zone, Take Shape for Life, Suffolk Speech, Huntington Learning Center, Evolution Youth, Primarily 2’s and 3’s Preschool, Dr. Brian Yonks/Foundation for Wellness Professionals and Long Island Science Center.

Guests also have the opportunity to sign up for the Simon Kidgits Club, a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children 3-8. The annual membership fee is $5 and includes VIP monthly treatment at Kidgits events, free goodies at all events, a special birthday gift and exclusive offers. Sign up during Back to School Blast and receive a pencil box with goodies, t-shirt, retailer discounts and a spin on the prize wheel. For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club visit simon.com/kidgits/.

For more information about the Smith Haven Mall Back to School Blast, visit the mall’s Facebook page facebook.com/SmithHavenMall or call Barbara Kaplan, the event organizer, at (516) 621-1446.