KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
It's often said that parenting is a "thankless" job. In one sense, that's undeniably true, because it will likely be many years before the young humans you're raising—the ones who actually have a stake in the outcome of the excellent job you're doing—are in a position to thank you. So you don't hear that phrase often during the first couple of decades of parenthood.
My fervent wish
for the future is to live in a world filled with engaged, culturally literate, productive, happy people. This means that what I said above isn't precisely accurate: It's not only your kids who have a stake in your parenting success, we ALL do, because the path to that future starts NOW for the young people in your orbit. So I'm grateful that you care about getting them "out and about" to the wide variety of experiences available in your community: It will make all
the difference.
Our job here at KidsOutAndAbout.com is to help you do that as easily as possible. In 2001, I created the original version of this web platform that now connects 15 million people each year with their area's activities and resources. My team gets to see it all up-close and personal as local businesses post to KidsOutAndAbout through their free listings, and then we get to turn around and shout about them to y'all, bringing your community closer to you.
So I want to
step in for the rest of the world that's not (yet) thanking you, and say it to you today: Thank you so much for what you're doing. Raising kids is hard in any era, but no one could have anticipated all the roadblocks that a pandemic would toss onto our path.
As anyone who knows me knows, I'm endlessly looking for reasons to celebrate. So today, I'm celebrating YOU with my digital megaphone and pom-poms. You're doing a great job. Future Deb sends her thanks,
too.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes
from Deb" section of our site. |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com's 2025 holiday events list for Boston: Santa sightings, Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The
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Just a minute of your time could make a big impact. KidsOutAndAbout.com is conducting a short survey to better understand how families are navigating the fast-changing world of AI. We're asking all parents, grandparents, and caregivers-whether you're
tech-savvy or not-to weigh in.
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Children will stuff their own reindeer plush, create accessories, and learn about crystal magic! This workshop is limited to 8 children, pre-registration is required. Under age 3 may attend with the help of a supervising adult. All ages are welcome! Children age 3 and up may be dropped off with a signed Consent Form. Any child under the age of three must have an adult alongside participating. We thank you for encouraging your child to take part in magical play!
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Come experience the history of Christmas festivities at Old Sturbridge Village. Relish old traditions and create new ones as you watch demonstrations of classic Christmas projects, stroll through the decorated Village and Christmas Tree Trail, listen to stories and live music, sample sweet treats, ride the horse-drawn carryall, and more. We hope your family will join us, as we celebrate a very special time of year.
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Give the gift of NUTCRACKER! MAGICAL CHRISTMAS BALLET to the whole family. Celebrate America’s favorite Christmas tradition with an international all-star cast that blends world-class ballet with whimsical puppets, lavish costumes, and stunning acrobatics! Share the tradition of pure Holiday magic and Tchaikovsky’s timeless score with friends and family of all ages. Don’t miss this chance to create memories of a lifetime.
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As the holiday season approaches, Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive in the most fitting way for this seaport town... by US Coast Guard boat! Welcome Santa on the Sunday after Thanksgiving as he and Mrs. Claus dock at the boardwalk and begin to parade through downtown Newburyport, then gather in Market Square for the annual Christmas tree lighting and carols.
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Kick Off Thanksgiving with Goats & Good Vibes! Start your Thanksgiving celebrations in the coziest way possible—inside our charming post-and-beam barn! Join us on Wednesday, November 26th at 6 PM for an adults-only (or approved teens with prior request) Goat Yoga & Charcuterie Night you won’t forget. Enjoy a festive social hour with a delicious charcuterie board crafted by More Than Cheese, LLC. At 6:30 PM, get ready to stretch, laugh, and relax during a goat yoga session featuring our playful little goats who love to mingle (and may even hop on your back!). Our barn is slightly heated, so bundle up in warm, comfy clothes! Come for the yoga, stay for the snacks, and make joyful Thanksgiving memories with friends old and new!
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Join the elves this holiday season for Santa’s Brickmas Adventure, a new festive event filled with creativity, kindness, and holiday cheer making its global debut at LEGO® Discovery Center Boston in Assembly Row!
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Gardens Aglow is a celebration of lights that has become a treasured holiday tradition. This event features beautiful light displays throughout the gardens, festive seasonal décor, and fun activities for all. At the J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery, visit with Santa in the 1913 Ford Model T and view Heritage’s antique car collection. At the American Art & Carousel Gallery, take photos on the 1908 Looff carousel and view winter scenes from our Currier & Ives collection. Outdoors, stroll the lighted gardens with family and friends, roast marshmallows, go on a reindeer scavenger hunt, enjoy seasonal treats from Lilly’s Café and the Cape Cod Donuts truck, play with giant building blocks, warm up at a fire table, enjoy lighted tunnels, firefly lights, a model train display, and more. We look forward to welcoming you to Gardens Aglow where you can enjoy Heritage in a whole new light!
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The Boston area has many private schools and alternative education options from which parents can choose. Each has its unique benefits and advantages, so it's important to investigate carefully. This is KidsOutAndAbout's education highlight page, containing specially featured schools and also our master list of local schools. If your school is not on our list but should be, please email us at [email protected]. |
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Private Schools in the Boston area: Try it before you buy it... and even before you visit! This is KidsOutAndAbout.com's video sneak peek into local private school experiences. If your school should have a video on this page, please send a link to the school's video on YouTube or Vimeo to [email protected]. |
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Where to Cut Your Own Christmas Trees in the Boston area November & December are times of contrast: The gray days outside herald the coming of the holidays, so we make ourselves warm and cozy inside.
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- Drop-In Gaming Time (All Ages) - At Boston Public Library - Chinatown Branch - 2 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, Friday, November 28, 2025, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Free mini photo session with
Shoott! - Boston - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, Friday, November 28 to Sunday, November 30, 2025, see link for times
- Special Free Admission at the Harvard Museum of Natural History - 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, Sunday, November 30, 2025, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Santa Parade and Tree lighting - Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce - 19 Inn Street, Newburyport, MA 01950,
Sunday, November 30, 2025, 3:00 pm
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Boston area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams. KidsOutAndAbout has dozens (and dozens) of ideas!
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2025's best places to take kids in Boston as voted by Massachusetts parents! Parents vote, we do the math, and the result is the Top 20 Places to Take Kids! But there is LOTS more to do in Boston than even just this wonderful list: visit KidsOutAndAbout.com
to see our events calendar, find seasonal activities, get ideas for the perfect day trip and MORE !
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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