KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, May 15: 2026 Copley Square Farmers Market at Copley Square Farmers
Market
Sat, May 16: Coggeshall Farm Sheep & Wool Festival Sun, May 17: Story Pirates Live! -
Chevalier Theatre
Sat, May 23: Family Paddle at Dusk - Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Sat, May 23: Powisset Pals: Guided StoryWalk with Mia Wenjen and Kiddos in the Kitchen! (Ages 7-11) - The Trustees of Reservations
Sat, May 23: Fruitlands Fairy Forest Sat, May 30: Unicorn Spa Day - At The Good Witch of Salem
Sat, May 30: Fruitlands Fairy Forest - At Fruitlands Museum
Wed, Jun 3: Children's Playgroup: June Series - At Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens
Fri, Jun 5: 2026 Glow in the Park
- At Rose Kennedy Greenway - With Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Sat, Jun 6: Farm & Field Festival featuring Zach Field Drums & Music - At Cider Hill Farm
Sat, Jun 6: Meet Live Animals! Family Event Supporting RRS Oasis Animal Sanctuary |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: There’s a sign on the New York State Thruway heading west that marks 70 miles to where I live. For Rochesterians driving back to Western New York from the east or southeast, that marker elicits both a sigh of relief and a groan: You’re close, especially relative to where you started. But in that final stretch, each mile is somehow psychologically
longer. Over the years, this became a useful metaphor in my family: You're pushing through to the end of a project, you'd love to see the finish line, but the murky distance between you and that goal is in your way. "Ugh, it's those last 70 miles," one of us will say to the person suffering, and we'll all nod sympathetically. At this time of year, families with kids in school are experiencing those last 70 miles: The end of the school year is in sight, yet
not quite here. The energy reserves are low, and the end point seems stuck in the distance. We feel like we’re sprinting but not getting closer fast enough. As in any journey, that’s precisely when it’s worth keeping in mind that these last miles may feel long, but they’re also the most meaningful: They become the lens through which we look back at the whole experience, so these final steps really count. Remembering this can provide the last surge of energy to press
forward. So whatever final 70 miles you and your kids are facing, remind yourself and the people traveling with you that if you put your best self into it now, the rewards will feel sweeter, and the memories of success will help fuel you next time. You’re on the last leg. You're almost there. And you have lots of company.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
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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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Get ready for Story Pirates Live in Medford, MA on May 17th! Featuring fan-favorite songs from the multi-award winning The Story Pirates Podcast and improvised sketch comedy based on ideas from kids in the audience. The Story Pirates believe that all kids are creative geniuses, and they’re ready to prove it with their fast-paced, hilarious and inspiring show for the whole family. Featuring Eric from The Story Pirates Podcast, plus a cast of the funniest Story Pirate actors, singers, and comedians around. The Story Pirates, best known for their flagship podcast with more than 100 million downloads, are a family media company that amplifies the words and ideas of kids. The award-winning The Story Pirates Podcast takes stories submitted by kids and turns them into sketch comedy and songs with help from celebrity guests like Kristen Bell, John Oliver, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sara Bareilles, Seth Meyers, and more. Story Pirates have also produced the Looney Tunes podcast and co-created…
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Discover picture book magic through making, playing, and imagining together in this magical program for all ages!
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Looking for family-friendly things to do in Salem? Visit The Good Witch of Salem on Essex Street near the historic Witch House for magical experiences designed for children and families. Stop in for a Spell and decorate a witch hat at the Good Witch of Salem’s Spell Studio.
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Now through May 10: Wicked Tulips hosts the largest u-pick tulip events in New England at two locations: North Kingston, RI and Preston, CT! You can tiptoe through acres of tulips and experience the sights, sounds and smells of spring. Bring home a fresh-picked bouquet of amazing tulips.
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Parent’s Night Out – Drop the Kids, Enjoy Your Night! While you take the evening off, we’ll keep the kids entertained! Join us for a fun-filled Parent’s Night Out where kids can enjoy a mix of Minecraft (including Minecraft Education), Robotics, board games, and other interactive activities! You enjoy your night—we’ve got theirs covered.
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Celebrate Mother’s Day Weekend with a meaningful family outing at Southwick’s Zoo. Treat the moms, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers in your life to a spring day filled with fresh air, scenic paths, and unforgettable wildlife experiences. As a special thank you, moms will enjoy $15 general admission all weekend long, making it the perfect opportunity to spend quality time together while exploring everything the zoo has to offer.
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Wetlands are home to many fascinating creatures, including beavers. These elusive animals are mainly active at dawn and dusk. As the sun sets, we will visit wetlands in search of beavers, explore an active beaver lodge, and listen for the slap of a tail on the pond. While walking through the wetlands we can also listen for frogs, search for turtles and maybe even spot a Great Blue Heron on the hunt.
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Celebrate Motherhood and all that it contains with this special hike to visit the Appleton cow and calf herd. Meet these Mamas and their babies as they spend their morning grazing in our beautiful pastures. Coffee and pastries will be provided by our team so you can “graze” alongside the cattle and enjoy the physiological benefits of being outside in the open air in the presence of these loveable creatures. This event will begin at the white farmhouse, where you will meet our Livestock Manager and fellow Mom, Zoe MacKay. Zoe will lead you on a hike to the Great Pasture, where you will learn about the Appleton cattle that call these fields their home and the farming practices of the Trustees. The group will be allowed to enter the pasture alongside the herd to be surrounded by their presence. While these animals are not bred for human interaction, they are well socialized through the daily handling of our livestock team. They may or may not allow themselves to be touched- they…
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Celebrate the season at our Annual Spring Market! This year’s event features our beloved seedling sale alongside a vibrant art fair showcasing handmade crafts and original artwork from local makers. Bring Mom for a relaxed day out, or pick up beautiful flowers and seedlings for the perfect gift. Enjoy fresh, locally brewed coffee and tasty snacks as you browse. It’s the perfect way to spend a spring day—shop, snack, and soak in the season!
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Free! We've ALL really come to look forward to the days when Matt and Amy come to Cider Hill Farm to share their love, hard work and beautiful pack of alpacas. These New England ranchers care for animals, land and people. They're back this season with 2 alpacas from their herd along with their mobile pop-up shop selling socks, sweaters and more made from natural fibers. Rain date: Sunday 5/10.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Boston - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10, See link for times
- Friday Storytime At Mill Cafe - The Mill Cafe, 14 Mill St, Arlington, MA 02476, Friday, May 8, 3:30 - 4:15 pm
- Free Open Houses at the Betsey Williams
Cottage - Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, USA, Friday, May 8, 10:00 am - 3:00pm
- Littles & Lattes With Arlington Family Connection - At Mill Cafe - Arlington Family Connection - The Mill Cafe, 14 Mill St, Arlington, MA
02476, Saturday, May 9, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
- World Migratory Bird Days at the Museum of Natural History - Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, USA, Saturday, May 9 to Sunday, May 10, 10:00AM-4:00PM
- Mayor Michelle Wu's Boston Family Days- At Old State House (Boston) - 310 Washington Street, Boston, MA, USA, Sunday, May 10, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Lilac Sunday - At the Arboretum - Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University - 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, Sunday, May 10, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
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View our local Boston area 2026 summer camp guide for kids! Pick the dates you want to explore on our calendar and see what summer camps are available. Hundreds of local summer camps: day camps, overnight camps, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts &
crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more!
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Boston area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're escaping a
spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist,…
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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