Two moms launch CoolKidz Expo

Two Chapel Hill moms are behind the CoolKidz Expo, which runs this Saturday and Sunday at the downtown Raleigh Convention Center.

Melanie Goldman and Amy Wann were both stay-at-home moms with backgrounds in event planning when they started talking about what was missing in the Triangle: Something that brings together great products, places and resources for kids.

The result is the expo where you'll find lots of new products for kids, including new lines from Crayola; plenty of entertainment from the kindie-music stylings of Lunch Money to the animals of Busch Gardens; and booths featuring local businesses and resources (like Go Ask Mom).

All week, I'll be featuring a few of the different exhibitors at the expo. But I thought I'd start off by introducing you to Melanie and Amy, who spoke with me the other week about the expo, how it got started and what you'll see.

"We wanted something that fell in line with the expo as far as positive and healthy lifestyle pursuits and what immediately jumped to mind was Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart," Melanie said. "Those are programs with the American Heart Association that most kids can identify with. It means something to them. We'll be having lots of raffles to benefit and raise money for those."

The expo is 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors (ages 65 plus) and $4 for kids ages 3 to 15.

Watch this video to learn more about the expo from Melanie and Amy.