Crayola exhibit at Camp North End closes due to heat-related issues

CHARLOTTE — A traveling, state-of-the-art interactive exhibition that made its Southeast premiere in Charlotte was forced to shut down early due to heat-related issues, a spokesperson with Crayola IDEAworks said Tuesday.

The exhibit set up shop at Camp North End in May and was supposed to stay open through Labor Day weekend, but that date got moved to July 31. Now, it’s done.

“With the oppressive temperatures recently, the venue’s air conditioning system could not keep up with the demand, and the decision to close the 17,000-square-foot touring exhibition was made July 18,” according to a news release.

“It’s an old building, so I imagine it gets pretty hot,” a nearby business owner told Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura.

A spokesperson for Crayola IDEAworks told Channel 9 the exhibition only had a few days left and refunds would be issued and processed within 7-10 business days to anyone who pre-purchased tickets for future dates at Camp North End.

It was a frustrating surprise for Ryleigh Alleman, a nanny who showed up with the two kids she watches.

“They love doing art and things like that, so I was hoping they could run around and have all the fun,” she said.

Just a few days ago, kids there broke the world record for the largest coloring page -- 1,040 square feet. It’s projects like this Alleman says she’s bummed to miss out on, especially in the heat of summer.

“It’s hard sometimes and the kids do not like to be outside for too, too long in the heat,” she said.

Charlotte was the second stop on a multicity, worldwide tour for the immersive experience.

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