YTV partnership opens IndyCar Paddock for free to kids 12 and under all weekend

Toronto, Ontario – Honda Indy Toronto, in partnership with YTV, celebrates 20 years of the iconic TV series and character SpongeBob SquarePants with free access to the NTT IndyCar Series Paddock for children 12 and under all weekend. YTV is the Official Kids TV Partner for the 33rd edition of the summer motorsports festival, which starts this Friday, July 12 and runs until Sunday, July 14 at Exhibition Place.

SpongeBob will also be on hand to serve as the grand marshal of the Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto featuring the NASCAR Pinty’s Series on Saturday in honour of the hit TV series commemorating its 20th anniversary this year.

That’s not all for the new features of family fun this weekend at the Honda Indy Toronto. Thunder Alley, Enercare Centre and OLG Winners’ Circle will also feature all new fun and rest zones, live entertainment and interactive activities for spectators of all ages to experience.

“Festival goers and first time visitors are going to be amazed with all that we have going on this weekend. It’s a schedule jammed with fun on track and off,” said Jeff Atkinson, Honda Indy Toronto President. “We have offered general admission for free to children 12 and under, but now YTV is accelerating the family value of the Honda Indy Toronto by opening the paddock for free to our youngest fans. It will be nearly impossible to do all that we have planned this weekend.”

Expanding on the great activities offered in Honda World and the Honda SpeedZone within Thunder Alley, the Family Rest Zone is a new hot spot on the west end of Thunder Alley just inside turn 4. The turfed, enclosed area will have a sandbox, yard games, sidewalk chalk, colouring murals and Adirondack chairs to kick back and relax. Special guests like SpongeBob SquarePants and Metrolinx Go Bear will visit this area throughout the weekend.

The OLG Winners’ Circle, in addition to trophy celebrations after each race all weekend long, is now also the place for live entertainment. Throughout the weekend, The Ben Show variety act will juggle dangerous objects and bowling balls, plus ride unicycles and will encourage audience interaction. The interactive family musical performers Team T&J also perform there on Sunday.

To keep the energy up and action hopping throughout Thunder Alley all weekend long, DJ Andre 905 will pump tunes from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and new event host Todd Lewis will interact and engage with fans to share the experience and ensure everyone is having a great time. Plus, newly added Archers Arena will provide archery lessons, and there is even a combat archery range and archery tag to put those newly learned skills to a safe, fun test.

Then, on track, it’s not just the race cars flying at speed or Stadium SUPER Trucks jumping on track, the eight-member Sky Hawks will fall from the sky and jump onto the track during pre-race ceremonies on both Saturday and Sunday, a captivating experience for all ages.

Finally, all weekend in the cool climate of Enercare Centre’s Atrium will be an additional family zone, with colouring and games, and the Mad Science FunStations offering free, fun, science-based projects to complete, plus small toys and blocks and a rest area.

The weekend starts with Honda Fan Friday offering general admission compliments of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation by festival-goers to Make-A-Wish® Canada. All Honda Indy Toronto spectators are encouraged to use Toronto’s GO Lakeshore West Train to Exhibition Station for the easiest commute without the worry of traffic or parking. Go Transit has a special offer of general admission plus round trip fare at hondaindy.com/GO. Children 12 and under are admitted free throughout the event when attending with a ticketed adult and can also ride Go Transit for free. For complete ticket pricing and event information, visit hondaindy.com/familyfun.

ABOUT HONDA INDY TORONTO
Honda Indy Toronto is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 2.89-kilometer, 11-turn temporary circuit using the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays and activities, and supports local charities. Fan Friday offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation.

Over $690,000 has been raised in nine years for Make-A-Wish® Canada. As one of Ontario's largest annual sporting events with the first race held in 1986, it has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers including past champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens, and more.

Honda Indy Toronto is owned and operated by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which also promotes three additional IndyCar races, Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (March 8-10, 2019), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (July 26-28, 2019) and Grand Prix of Portland (August 30-September 1, 2019).

For more information, visit hondaindy.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @HondaIndyToronto or follow the event on Twitter @HondaIndy and Instagram @HondaIndy using #indyTO.