Photo: Kilburn Live
Visiting Barbie’s Dreamhouse is now a reality!
Barbie fans of all ages will be able to walk into a human-size version of her imaginative world at “World of Barbie,” an immersive experience that celebrates everything the iconic doll’s universe has to offer. Entertainment company Kilburn Live partnered withMattelto bring Barbie’s neighborhood to cities across North America as part of a tour that kicks off this summer in Toronto. The attraction will stop in New York, Chicago and Dallas with more to come.
Other event highlights include strutting down the pink carpet, which features a row of six giant doll boxes with themes like “Western” and “Fashionista” that guests can climb into to snap a photo.
Kilburn Live
The real show-stopper is Barbie’s iconic dreamhouse. According to Mark Manuel, CEO of Kilburn Live, the life-size house will transport guests to Malibu.
Not only can visitors sit in Barbie’s modern living room and kitchen, but they can also play outside on a patio complete with a fake pool. And, of course, fans can walk into Barbie’s closet, full of her different career-themed clothing and outfits inclusive of her style over the years.
What makes “World of Barbie” stand out is that the experience is meant to be enjoyed across generations, says Manuel: “Stepping into Barbie’s real life dreamhouse, being transported to Malibu, sitting down in her camper van…there’s no age limit to that.”
There’s also an element of nostalgia in Barbie’s real-life neighborhood for grown-up fans. “You also have an older generation who’s going to walk through and be brought back to their childhood days,” he adds.
“World of Barbie” even includes a museum that chronicles Barbie’s development over the decades. Julie Freeland, Senior Director of Location-Based Entertainment at Mattel, says that part of the attraction really plays into the universal connection fans have with Barbie.
“I travel all over the world, and people have their own stories of the favorite dreamhouse they had when they were a kid or their favorite doll that they grew up with. And they pass that on to their kids,” she tells PEOPLE.
“Barbie has had so many firsts, and has had so many different careers,” Freeland said. “We hope that they leave truly feeling inspired and feeling like [they] can do anything.”
“World of Barbie” kicks off in Toronto this summer before touring U.S. cities. Visittheworldofbarbie.comfor more information.
source: people.com
