WGTE Public Media is proud to present the full 13-episode season of Finding Festivals, created by local producer and show host Haylie Robinson. The series aims to unite communities through education and entertainment as Robinson travels throughout Ohio and Michigan, experiencing and sharing the story of many well-known festivals and events. The series' first episode will air on WGTE HD on Saturday, September 9 at 10:30 a.m. and new episodes air beginning on October 14 at 10:30 a.m. on WGTE HD. Episodes will be available for streaming immediately following their broadcast premiere at wgte.org/findingfestivals.
Finding Festivals uses annual events to educate viewers on art, heritage, culture, community agriculture and history. The travel genre television program aims to spark, intrigue and inspire audiences to engage with their own community events. Season highlights include participating in an intertribal dance at the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe Annual Pow Wow, learning about women’s roles in building Jeeps during WWII and touring a historical replica of the U.S. Brig Niagara.
Host and producer Haylie Robinson states, "After independently producing 13 episodes of Finding Festivals and traveling throughout the midwest for 14 months, I discovered annual events are truly the one place community traditions are preserved, practiced and actively participated in. Festivals are a travel style and unique opportunity to get a glimpse of what the community is all about. What started as an idea at age 17 when I was a festival queen has evolved into a mission to ignite community involvement, invite all to deepen their understanding of various cultures and unite communities through education and entertainment."
Festivals are more than a weekend of fun, but a place where attendees can gather to deepen their understanding, exchange ideas and celebrate together. Though the series focuses on events in Ohio and Michigan, viewers from all over are encouraged to explore events in their own areas.
Watch past episodes of Finding Festivals here.
Learn more about the series at findingfestivals.com
About Haylie Robinson
Haylie Robinson is the owner of HayRobin Media Productions LLC and is known online as Hayliestory. Since 2016 Haylie has brought online audiences along with her on a variety of adventures from small towns to theme parks under the Hayliestory brand. She has worked in media, in various roles, for over eight years and was voted Media Personality in The Blades’ Reader’s Choice 2022 for her online content and broadcasted segments “Go 419 Spirits” on WTOL 11. Haylie Robinson is a northwest Ohio native who loves sharing the stories of her favorite places one video at a time.
To speak more with Haylie Robinson about her journey and the series please email her at hayliestory@gmail.com
About WGTE
WGTE Public Media, licensed and operated by The Public Broadcasting Foundation of Northwest Ohio, is a non-profit, noncommercial, educational TV and radio broadcaster and center of learning for northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. WGTE is proud to be a PBS and NPR member station. It was founded as a low-power educational television broadcaster in 1953. Education remains at the heart of what we do every day. From our entertaining, informative and educational programs that air on WGTE TV, FM 91 and www.knowledgestream.org to our professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers and preschool daycare providers and community engagement activities, WGTE makes northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan a better place to live. For more information, visit www.wgte.org.
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Matt Reny at 419-380-4646, or email matt_reny@wgte.org.