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Saige and her horse Picasso
What: American Girl Events
Where: NorthPoint Mall, 1000 North Point Circle, Alpharetta, GA | 770-740-9273
When: January 2 – 4, 2013, 4 – 6 pm
Cost: Events are Free (dolls are extra;)
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Kids still out of school for the holiday? Looking for something free to do? American Girl is celebrating the debut of the newest Girl of the Year – Saige. Saige’s coming out party is a celebration of free events for American Girl fans. Here’s what you can expect and how you could win your own Saige doll.
A little about the 2013 American Girl of the Year: Saige is a spirited, imaginative girl who loves painting and horseback riding, She uses her talents and creativity to bring her family and friends together to raise money for an after-school arts program. Saige’s story is about turning passion to persuasion to promote the arts in her community.
Girls visiting the store during the debut celebration receive a doll-sized Saige t-shirt and the opportunity to participate in the following free American Girl Events:
- Saige Drawing Demonstrations: Girls will learn drawing tips from local teaching artists, who will share basic techniques while they draw horses, dogs, landscapes, and other objects inspired by Saige’s stories.
- Horse Collage & Hot Air Balloon Crafts: Girls can let their creativity soar, just like Saige, as they create a horse collage or paper hot-air balloon.
- Saige Scavenger Hunt: Girls will learn about Saige as they go on a fun-filled scavenger hunt, collecting fun facts about the new Girl of the Year along the way.
- Photo Opportunity: Girls can capture a memory of their visit by getting their picture taken alongside a colorful Saige-themed hot-air balloon display.
I love how American Girl empowers girls. In addition to the debut of their new Girl of the Year, American Girl has several initiatives to promote the doll, but also arts education and support for the arts. Here are several activities to get your girl involved in the arts:
- Elevate the Arts School Grant Contest: Starting January 1, elementary art teachers can enter to win one of thirteen grants totaling $45,000 for their schools’ art programs by submitting a digital image of a hot-air-balloon-themed art project and a written essay that conveys why the arts matter in their schools. Entries must be received via the online form by May 31, 2013.
- Soar with Saige Sweepstakes: Girls can share their artistic talents by downloading a hot-air balloon template from americangirl.com/girloftheyear and creating a colorful design using crayons, markers, or pencils. All balloon artwork sent to American Girl by April 1, 2013, will be uploaded to an online hot-air balloon mosaic and automatically entered to win one of ten prize packages.
- Saige Learning Guide: American Girl has teamed up with Americans for the Arts to create this free, downloadable curriculum, which encourages children to draw on their imaginations and discover how creative they can be. Students in grades 3 to 6 will enjoy reading Saige’s stories and doing the fun art activities outlined in this curriculum. Activities for parents to engage in with their kids are also available via Americans for the Arts’ website: AmericansForTheArts.org/go/AmericanGirl.
Want to win your own Saige doll and book set? Enter our giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Gorgeous hair and outfit. I love the artistic element to her story and encouragement of creativity.
Would love to win Saige for my little girl!
American Girl dolls and horses – two of my daughter’s favorite things. She would love this.
Oooooh! My darling daughter would love all of these activities!
My daughter loves American Girl! We will try to
Go to the store for their event and also go
Get the template for her to design her own
Hotair balloon. Thank you for the information
Sue!
I love her hair color! Matches my daughter!
I have three girls and only two AG dolls. Winning this one would solve that math problem!
My girls would be thrilled. They have been drooling over Sage in the magazine all day today! Thanks!
pick me! My daughter is just getting into American Girl dolls and would give Saige a loving home
Loved reading about Saige. Creativity is so important, and I love what Matel is doing with the curriculum and grants.
My daughter turns 8 in two weeks. Hoping to get her first AG doll! Would make Mommy’s day if it was free!
I’m fairly new to the American Girl Doll movement and had no idea they were actually so in depth! I’m impressed! My daughter just turned 7 on 12/20 and she told me she wanted an AG doll for Christmas but they were amazingly expensive and we had already finished shopping. I would love to be able to sit with her and read about Saige and see where it would take us!
I love that she is a young girl who is making a difference in her community, and that she is striving to keep the arts alive.
I like that she is creative.
I know a very special little girl who would love to have this new American Girl doll!
My daughter has asked for Saige for her birthday which is at the end of January. She is a very creative girl herself and this would be amazing if we won!
I love that this doll is creative just like my daughter.
My daughter would love Saige!
My little American Girl loves to create: artwork, mystery stories (Scooby Doo) and superheroes! She would love Saige!
What a wonderful, inspiring birthday gift this would be for my daughter!
My daughter loves Saige and draws horses just about every day.
I love that Saige sounds so much like my own daughter. She loves horses, art, and has a good heart.
I already emailed our school’s art teacher about the grant opportunity this morning, and coincidentally she had a trip planned to the store today. Thanks for all the details!
It would be such a blessing for my daughter to receive this doll!! We love everything American Girl stands for, but just can’t afford one for her. Maybe, just maybe
My 9 year old is so excited to read about Saige! She loves horses.
My twin girls LOVE horses and art! She sounds perfect!
I love the fact that this doll shows and promotes the love of art. My daughter loves art and she loves American Girl Dolls. This is a wonderful giveaway! Thank you for offering us a chance to win.
What’s not to like about her? I am an art teacher so this is just a fantastic doll and what they are doing for the arts is wonderful.
I love her hair and eyes and her art set!
Kambrea, Be sure to check out the Art grants – that is if you are an elementary school art teacher.
Carol – What a great coincidence! American Girl really does have some great programs.
Cindy, My sons have always loved creating Scooby Doo stories too!
I love everyone’s comments about the similarities between the doll and their daughter. Goes to show why American Girl is so popular. For those of you with girls who love horses, here are a few posts you might be interested in…
Booth Western Art Museum – The Sagebrush Ranch is an indoor playground and has a full sized horse they can get on. In addition, they show kids how to draw horses – an easier version and a more advanced version – both use shapes to get the outline. http://www.fieldtripswithsue.com/2011/08/booth-western-art-museum-with-kids.html
If your girls would like to go riding, I can highly recommend the Southern Cross Guest Ranch outside Madison, Ga. It’s a horse breeding facility, so there are lots of horses and colts to see, even if you don’t ride. http://www.fieldtripswithsue.com/2012/03/southern-cross-guest-ranch-a-horseback-trail-riding-retreat.html
My 5 yr old daughter would love this!
She has an awesome balloon. And an awesome horse.
Who would not love to win the new doll of the year!
My daughter would love saige. She is into American girl books but doesn’t have any dolls because we cannot afford them. I think she would love Saige because she is much like my daughter…adventurous, artistic and loves horses.
We love the American girl dolls. Empowering girls is just 1 reason!
The Saige American Girl doll is absolutely precious! My daughter would be thrilled if we won. Her older cousin has an American Girl doll but we don’t yet. This would help make her upcoming birthday EXTRA special.
My three girls and I are huge Fieldtrips w/Sue & AG fans and love horses & riding!
I didn’t know events were this weekend too. I hope to bring my daughters. They will love all the activities and I wouldn’t have known without your write up. Thanks so much!
My daughter really likes that she’s artistic, but her favorite thing would be her long hair.
I love the way AG promotes Girl Power!
My daughter loves horseback riding just like Saige
With 2 girls in our house, the anticipation of the new doll of the year has been exciting. Both are very excited about saige!
My daughter is turning 3 in March, so we’ve not yet introduced her to the world of American Girl. This would be such a fun way to do that!
I love that she likes art like my daughter. What a great giveaway!
One of my daughter’s goals is to be an artist and this fits perfectly. Thanks for the chance!
Shannon, Check the site (there is a link on the post). I don’t believe events go through the weekend – just until Friday.
Thank you Robin!
Such a great giveaway! My daughter would be thrilled with Saige, she’s been wanting an American Girl for a long time!
This is a great way to introduce my daughter to American Girls!
I would love to win this doll for my daughter. She does not have any American girl dolls. Saige is a spirited girl whose passions inspire action according to the website. I think these are qualities that are wonderful for any little girl to have!
Yeah, shes so lovely, blue eyes and dark hair like my “American Girl”.
Thank you!
My 3 girls just visited the store last week and took home their first American Girls! Would love to add this to our new collection!
All of my granddaughters have American Girl dolls and love them. I love the things they stand for! We’d love to add Saige to our collection!
My daughter loves AG and more so loves horses. The virtues that are taught through their stories are an added bonus to the beautiful dolls.
My daughter likes her because she has boots and braids!
I like Saige because she’s getting involved with her community. We (heart) American Girl dolls!
I love that she’s promoting the arts!
How fun! I am going to take my daughter to participate in the scavenger hunt today. Sue-you are so awesome! We love hot air ballons, this is great. Plus her dolls could use a good hair brushing.
Thanks Sue !
She likes art.
Such a great giveaway! My daughter would be thrilled with Saige, she’s been wanting an American Girl for a long time!
Honestly, I like her boots
I would love to win Saige!!
My 10 year old sister loves Saige, because she is a lot like her!
Oh yes, my 6 year old would love this!
My 9 year follows me around telling me all about her–a true American original!
My daughter’s birthday is coming up in a month. She would love this!
My daughter received her first American girl doll this Christmas and we love her! Can’t wait to visit the store at North Point.
great giveaway!!
we love these dolls
Saige looks like my daughter! We are so excited to celebrate her birthday at the store in a few weeks. She’s been wanting a doll for over a year now.
Thanks for doing this, Sue!
We are excited to go to the store to meet Saige and all her friends! Thanks, Sue!
Jeanna, I like your honesty:)
She is so pretty and my girls love her!
i really want a saige doll for my niece to play!!
i hope i win to give saige to my granddaughter.
Thank you, Sue. I know of a little young lady that could really use a new doll of any kind.
My niece loves American girl and loves horses just like Saige!
Honestly, I love her hair. My daughter would be thrilled to have any of these dolls though.
I love that she’s from the West
I know that seems strange, but my daughter was born in Arizona, and we have such fond memories of living out there.
My daughter would love to have Saige because she likes to paint too and love her hair.
i love that she’s an artist. thank you!
Autumn, I don’t think it’s strange to love that she is from the west. The stories will have a bit of western flare I’m sure which would be a great way to open up a conversation with your daughter about the fond memories you have of living there. I still love to hear my dad tell us stories of his days ‘living on the farm’ with my mom when they were first married. (couple of NYC kids raising cows – great stories)
American Girl dolls are great
Would LOVE to win this for my 7 year old who loves AG, horses, & art!!!
Saige loves art and horses, two things my daughter loves!
My daughter has been dreaming of an American Girl doll for some time but has not been able to choose until now… she is perfect! Love that she loves horses and is an artist…. and who doesn’t love balloons??
My daughter LOVES the arts and would love to have Saige in her collection.
My daughter would love the new AG doll!
Saige is a girl who is both physical – enjoying horseback riding – and artistic. Another example of an American girl showing girls they can be individuals!
I love that it describes her as imaginative, my 9 year old can definitely relate to that.
Would love to be able to get this American Girl doll for my wonderful granddaughter, Sydney!
My daughter loves Saige! I like her community involvement.
i love that girls still play with dolls!!
I love that she encourages both creativity and community engagement!
I love that her story sounds just like my daughter. Lover of horses and art! A very creative personality.
My daughter would love this! She only has a doll because her sweet friend gave her one that she wasn’t playing with anymore. She is the best big sister to her brother who is a CHD survivor
My daughter added Saige to her Christmas list for 2013. She plans ahead! She would love to receive her before Christmas!
My little one is just getting into dolls and she would love this one!
My girls are new to the whole American Girl Doll phenomenon… But I think Saige may be my favorite of the past few years! She seems spunky!
We love horses too!!
My daughter would love this
Another horse-loving mom here with a brunette, creative young daughter!
I love that she’s an artist.
My 5 year old is just getting into AG. She would LOVE Saige!!
My daughter loves AG dolls and also the books.
Melissa I agree. I like that American Girl shows all kinds of girls and interests.
I love that there’s a doll for everyone, from the historical collection to the My American Girl Dolls where you can create one that looks like you (your child)
My daughters and I would love this! Thank you!
My daughter loves how artistic Saige is!!
My daughter wants one of these, and being the cheap dad that I am, I would rather win it than buy it!
My daughters love the new doll of the year! My redhead was excited to see Saige with freckles. We enjoy visiting the store at North Point and had a tea party there. Great contest!
I love that she looks so much like my daughter! Oh my the girls could be twins!
Oh I subscribed with a different email address than I use on facebook, hope that’s ok. It’s my yahoo address.
I LOVE her blue eyes and freckles! My 6 year old granddaughter has both!
We like that she rides horses.
I love her creativity.
I love that she encourages kids to be creative!
I love her creativity – and I love her look!
Riki, no problem. Thanks!
I love all all the American Girl dolls are from different locations and eras! I would love this beautiful doll!
I love the new doll.
I love American Girl
i have two daughters and only one ‘big girl’ as they call her american girl doll and she’s from a yard sale at that
we’d be thrilled to win!
I love the Saige is a painter!
Love her hair.
Wow Christina, what a find to get an American Girl doll from a yard sale!
My daughter would love this!
Would love to win this doll for my daughter. She has read most of the American Girl books and is looking forward to reading about Saige.
My daughter likes her creativity and that she loves horses.
My 10 year old loves art and horses- it’s like Saige was made just for her!
I LOVE the American Girl dolls and the diversity that they bring. Saige is a terrific addition to their lineup.
My daughter love horses and art just like Saige!
My niece Makenna would love Saige, tracietrump@yahoo.com
Tracie, The the giveaway has ended. I’m sorry.
Sue – when is the drawing?
Shelley. We did the drawing.