KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The Christmas I was 10, my sister and I woke up at our usual ridiculously-early hour and raced downstairs to the tree. Something was different: fewer gifts than usual, no giant boxes, no bike-shaped mystery lumps. But nestled among the smaller packages were envelopes that turned out to be plane tickets to Bermuda. We were leaving that very morning, which explained
why my parents had not objected to being awakened at 5:30. Decades later, I don’t remember what else I got that year—or most years—but I remember being bundled up and giddy, heading to the airport while it was still dark. I remember pink sand, caves, and the little cakes they served at teatime. It's all still as fresh to me as the air was at Grotto Bay Beach. That trip taught me something I wouldn’t have been able to say at the time: Presence creates
the memories, not the presents. Of course, we all want our kids to have a magical holiday. But when we think back to our own childhoods, what sticks isn’t the stuff, it’s the doing. The zoo trips, the plays, the sporting events, the concerts, the hands held during the adventures. That’s why my long-time holiday mantra is “Do it, don’t dust it.” Experiences are the gifts that last the longest, especially when we do them together. They don’t pile
up in a closet; they plant themselves in our memory. So if you’re still pondering what to give the people you love this year, consider a show, a class, a day trip, a membership, a season pass. Something that says “I see you, you matter, let's do it together." Need ideas? Head to our Local Memberships & Season Passes page! It's your ticket to the perfect gift... and it's guaranteed clutter-free.
—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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I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during…
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Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it.…
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From November 22, 2025 – January 3, 2026, 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! Work together to complete fun missions that power up Santa’s Magic Meter by building last-minute presents and dancing with the elf helper squad. Even create LEGO® hearts for children in need and designing cozy gingerbread houses for the elves to enjoy. Every mission helps keep the holiday magic alive!
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A LIVE Interactive Family Friendly Christmas Show! Our 12th Annual Christmas Show is Happening December 12th, 13th, & 14th! Every year it's a whole new hilarious storyline and it keeps getting better and better! One Weekend Only! 12/12 - Friday at 7:00 PM 12/13 - Saturday at 3:00 PM 12/14 - Sunday at 3:00 PM Home Alone, Rudolph, and It’s a Wonderful Life meet new characters and hilarious villains in a fast-paced, laugh-filled adventure for the whole family. Bring the whole family for our full length Christmas Show and join us for an unforgettable experience! We’re turning up the Christmas cheer with a live performance, hilarious characters, and a very special guest—Santa Clause himself! You’ll be laughing, cheering, and singing along as the show unfolds with: - Live Music - Interactive Fun - Christmas Games with Prizes - Early Christmas Gifts Plus, there’s something for everyone: - A Christmas Café – Sip on warm drinks and enjoy delicious festive food! - Photos with Santa –…
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Search the skies for signs of owls on an evening hike through fields and forests! Starting inside the nature center, get an up-close look at real samples of owl wings, skulls, talons, and feathers to learn how these animals thrive in the dark. Equipped with our newfound knowledge, we'll head out for a gentle hike to look for these nocturnal creatures in the wild. Along the way, we’ll listen for owl calls and keep an eye out for signs of resident Eastern Screech-owls, Barred Owls, and Great Horned Owls. Through stories and science, we’ll explore how owls hunt, communicate, and find their place in the nighttime forest.
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You are invited to the Dickens Holiday Marketplace and Craft Fair. This event is a wonderful holiday marketplace featuring approximately 50 craft vendors exhibiting and selling their creations.
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Come discover nature at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium with fewer guests, a quieter environment, lower lighting and no screens. Audubon invites people with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other sensory processing sensitivities to discover nature at the Center with fewer guests and a quieter environment, as well as lower lighting and no screens. Sensory Friendly Hours are currently offered on the 2nd Sunday of each month from 9:30 am -12:30 pm.* Audubon welcomes any support needed to make this experience the most comfortable for our guests. There will be a maximum of 12 visitors in the Nature Center and Aquarium exhibits during these hours along with trained and caring staff available to help provide a safe and enjoyable experience. Adults are asked to accompany children at all times. Register in advance for a 50-minute time slot, so we can guarantee limited occupancy. T here is no cost to register, but entrance fees are required for admission to the Nature Center and…
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Chanukah Celebration for kids, parents & grandparents with activity stations + refreshments! It's almost time to celebrate the Festival of Lights! Join us to celebrate Chanukah with other Jewish friends & families in the neighborhood. Light up the holiday with activity stations: Holiday themed arts & crafts. Perfect for kids of all ages. Chanukah Games & stories: school-aged kids can test their Chanukah knowledge and learn all about this holiday! Dreidels & Gelt: well, it wouldn’t be Chanukah without these! We will also have latkes, sufganiyot & sparkling blue lemonade for children & sparkling blue cocktails for parents! This is a great opportunity to check out other programs at the Synagogue for children & families.
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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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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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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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- Drop-In Gaming Time (All Ages) - Boston Public Library - Chinatown Branch - 2 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, Friday, December 12, 2025, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Little Innovators Big Dreams: Snow Fluff (Ages 8+) - Framingham Public Library - Main Branch - Lexington Street, Framingham, MA, Saturday, December 13, 2025, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Dickens Holiday Marketplace and Craft Fair - Reading Memorial High School - 62 Oakland Rd, Reading, MA 01867, Saturday,
December 13, 2025, 10 am - 3 pm
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, Friday,
December 12 to Sunday, December 14, 2025, see link for times
- Special Free Admission at the Harvard Museum of Natural History - Harvard Museum of Natural History - 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, Sunday, December 14, 2025, 9 am - 12 pm
- Boston Family Days At Museum of Science - Museum of
Science - 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114, Sunday, December 14, 2025, 9 am - 5 pm
- Mayor Michelle Wu's Boston Family Days- At Old State House (Boston) - 310 Washington Street, Boston, MA, Sunday, December 14, 2025, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Family Fun Chanukah Celebration 2025 - The Boston Synagogue - 55 Martha Road, Boston, MA 02114, Sunday, December 14,
2025, 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
- Visit with Santa - Main Street Mercantile - 62 N Main St, Fairport, NY 14450,
Sunday, December 14, 2025, 1 pm - 3 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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