Storybook Character Adventure is a magical event happening for the second year at Gilbert House Children’s Museum. At Storybook Character Adventure, children and their families will have the opportunity to meet storybook characters in real life. Each child is given an autograph book to get signed by all of the storybook characters. They can take photos with the characters and give them hugs or high fives.

The event takes place throughout the Gilbert House Children’s Museum. Each child will end their visit by receiving a storybook.

To make this event even more meaningful, 100% of your ticket is a donation that will be matched by the State of Oregon. This means a family ticket purchased by YOU provides age-appropriate books to 9 children for a full year. Currently, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library assists 6,150 children in Marion and Polk counties as they develop their reading skills.

On September 26, 2025, please join us for the second annual Marion/Polk Storybook Character Adventure. We will have a wonderful time and make heart-warming memories!

While tickets last, they are available for online purchase. Order your tickets here!

The simplest option is to buy your tickets as a group of 4 in one registration. You are free to mingle with your friends and family throughout the event.

If your baby is under age 1, you do not need to purchase a ticket for them. All other children must have a ticket.

Storybook Character Adventure is a wonderful event geared toward children ages 1 – 8 years old and their families.

All guests must have tickets to attend. The first step that guests take is to buy their tickets. These can be printed or shown on a device. Each child will receive an autograph book to collect autographs from each character!

Our registration team will greet guests as they arrive. Please note that, due to space constraints, no strollers or wagons are permitted in the buildings.

Guests will be greeted by characters in costume as they explore the many rooms of the Gilbert House. Room hosts will assist families while taking turns collecting each character’s autograph and taking pictures.

This is a free-flowing event, so announcements are kept to a minimum. There will be music playing, and storybook characters will be mingling with guests and signing the children’s autograph books, which they will have received at check-in. In some areas, a games may be offered and in other areas, a story or songs will be shared. 

Snacks will be provided in the outdoor playground area of the Gilbert House Children’s Museum; the Museum requests that food and beverages not be consumed inside the buildings. All children will receive tickets for an Italian soda. Additional Italian sodas will be available for purchase.

The event will last 2 hours to give everyone time with characters and to enjoy the many aspects of the museum.

At 7:45, the characters will all gather at the playground to sing songs and to say goodbye to their guests. The event is officially over at 8 PM.

On their way out, children will receive a bag that includes a storybook, and other small mementos from our event sponsors.

Yes! Storybook Character Adventure is about two main things:

1. Creating a magical experience for children
2. Serving as a fundraiser to sustain the local Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program serving over 6,000 local children funded principally by grants and donations.

You are always welcome to donate to the Polk and Marion Affiliate for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library by clicking HERE. 

We are also always looking for new event sponsors! To check out our fantastic sponsorship program, email Lisa Harnisch at lharnisch@earlylearninghub.org or Cassandra Hernandez at chernandez@earlylearninghub.org.

No, this event is not hosted by the Gilbert House. Separate passes must be purchased in advance.