Multi-platinum hip-hop artist Flo Rida, international pop star Zara Larsson, award-winning Disney Channel actress Laura Marano, Entertainment Weekly’s “One To Watch” Jordan Fisher and breakout pop band Forever In Your Mind will team up with tennis icons Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the 21st Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Presented by Hess. The star-studded event kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 27 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Disney Channel star Joey Bragg will co-host the event along with Fisher and Marano. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Presented by Hess will kick off the 2016 US Open, which runs from Aug. 29 to Sept. 11, 2016.
“Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day is a special day for families to enjoy the best of tennis and musical entertainment," said Gordon Smith, USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. “This annual tradition will be further enhanced as all grounds activities take place throughout the newly transformed grounds, and the stadium show takes place under the our new state-of-the-art retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time.”
From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., kids and their families can enjoy an exciting array of free tennis games, live music and attractions taking place throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the live tennis and music show will feature fun exhibition matches and skills competitions with Djokovic, Federer and Nadal, as well as musical performances by Flo Rida, Larsson, Fisher, Marano and Forever In Your Mind.
Arthur Ashe Kids' Day will also be broadcast nationally by ABC on Sunday, Aug. 28, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m (ET).
Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has launched many of music’s biggest acts including Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, Backstreet Boys and Hanson.
Proceeds from Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day benefit the USTA Foundation, which helps fund the National Junior Tennis & Learning Network (NJTL), a nationwide group of more than 500 nonprofit youth-development organizations that provide free or low-cost tennis, education and life-skills programming to more than 225,000 children each year. The NJTL was founded 47 years ago by Arthur Ashe, along with Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder.