Debby Ryan

Jessie is coming to town.

Debby Ryan, the star of the Disney Channel's "Jessie" will be the featured guest at the upcoming Kidz Expo, set for Sunday, April 27, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

The expo, produced by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, is a daylong event for families and includes more than 100 vendor booths -- including summer camps, schools, dentists, toy stores and clothing stores.

There also will be face painting, video games, magicians and inflatable bounce houses. Two stages will host entertainment programs throughout the day. Kids can get their pictures made with such characters as SpongeBob SquarePants, Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo, among others. Prizes will be awarded, including a Disney Cruise and a pass to the Creative Discovery Museum Summer Camp.

Once you pay for admission, all other activities are free, although vendors may charge for items in their booths.

Since 2011, Ryan has played Jessie, a girl from Texas who moves to New York and becomes the nanny to four children. From 2008 until 2011, she starred in "The Suite Life on Deck," a spin-off of Disney's popular "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" sitcom. She also has made guest appearances on Disney's "Hannah Montana" and "Austin & Ally" and ABC's "Private Practice" and starred in such Disney TV movies as "Radio Rebel" and "16 Wishes."

Ryan, who'll turn 21 on May 13, was born in Huntsville, Ala., but with a father in the military, she moved around a lot and soon moved to Germany, where she lived until she was 10. Along with acting, she's also a singer and songwriter and she sings the theme song to "Jessie."

She will be at the Kidz Expo from 12:30 until 3 p.m. Attendees wanting to get a photo made with Ryan will be assigned a time based upon their arrival at the expo. The assignments are designed to keep people from standing in line for several hours. As many photos as possible will be taken during the allotted time.

Tickets to the expo are $7 each or $25 for a family four-pack. They can be bought at timesfreepressevents.com or at local McDonald's. Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Chattanooga Times Free Press Foundation.

Kidz Expo is sponsored by Children's Hospital at Erlanger, McDonald's, Comcast, Dr. Keith Dressler and Trust Federal Credit Union.