KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Sat, Jun 13: Boston PMC Kids Ride
Sat, Jun 13: 2026 Strawberry Festival - At
Cider Hill Farm
Sat, Jun 13: City of Quincy’s 75th Annual Flag Day Celebration, Parade, & Fireworks
Sun, Jun 14: 2026 Boston Dragon Boat Festival
Sat, Jun 20: Father's Day Weekend - At Southwick's Zoo
Sat, Jun 20: Pride in Nature Festival - At Boston Nature Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
Sat, Jun 20: 2026 Community Summer Safety Event - At Lupa zoo
Sun, Jun 21: Summer Solstice Celebration on the Drumlin - At Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Mon, Jun 22: Pollinator Festival - At Cider Hill Farm
Sat, Jun 27:
Acton-Westford PrideFest at NARA Park
Sun, Jun 28: Dirtopia!
Tue, Jun 30: K-Pop Icons - The Cabot
Wed, Jul 1: America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration - Franklin Park Zoo
Fri, Jul 3: Boston Harborfest 2026
Fri, Jul 10: Animals - A Maroon 5 Sat, Jul 11: 2026 Boston Jerkfest
Sat, Jul 18: City Shorebird Festival - At Carson Beach
Tue, Jul 21: 2026 Barnstable County Fair
Fri, Jul 24: Lowell Folk Festival 2026
Thu, Aug 13: Scallopalooza 2026 at FHC - New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
Sat, Sep 12: Apple Honey Harvest - At Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: "The best thing about your newsletter," said a reader who met me in person at an event last June, "is the sheer number of things to do, and the fact that they're just packed in there, all in one handy place." "Thanks!" I said. I may have glowed a little. "And the worst thing about your newsletter," she continued, "is the guilt trip. I know
you don't mean to lay that on us. We can't do it all, so it means we read about so much we can't do. Especially in summer." She was right, in one sense, of course. June and July are the most packed months of the calendar: Kids are out of school, families are ready for fun, and our communities respond. Each local organization gets to post its own events on our calendar for free, and many are featured in this newsletter, so what's happening is right there in front of
you. But I get it! And I hereby remove the guilt. Ego te absolvo. Of course, good families try to expose their kids to great things, but no one has the time, money, or energy to do it all. This stuff needs to be spread out over a childhood, not packed into a single summer, much less a single weekend. So make a family bucket list for Summer 2026. An easy way to do that is to take our annual survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids, which is open through June 20; it has dozens of places to have fun this summer, even though you only vote for your top 3! And you should also use our 50 Ways to Love Your Summer article for ideas that require zero technology, zero travel, and zero dollars. Above all, go easy! Remember, summer is no time for grades! The only prize is the summer that's right for your family.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
|
|
|
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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Boston area. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the people who
create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! |
|
|
|
Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum for families that blends science, nature, and play. The fully accessible campus provides indoor STEM-based exhibits and a nature playscape and giant treehouse for open-ended learning explorations.
|
|
|
|
Kick-off PRIDE month with Crafted Together! Come in anytime during store hours June 4th or 5th to create rainbow accessories perfect for June and beyond! This is also a perfect opportunity to get ready for CONCORD PRIDE on Saturday, June 6th.
|
|
|
|
The Copley Square Farmers Market is Boston's biggest and busiest farmers market. Located in the heart of the commercial and cultural hub of Back Bay, the long-running Copley Square Farmers Market features over three dozen Massachusetts farmers and food producers offering a vibrant selection of delicious produce, proteins, baked goods, ready-to-eat meals, alongside a host of other locally made products. Taking place right in Copley Square, this beloved twice-weekly event takes place in one the city’s most dynamic public spaces, and is a bustling attraction to locavores from across the state!
|
|
|
|
Kick summer off in style with music, dancing, lawn games, your favorite food trucks, beer, wine, and more. The Rose Kennedy Greenway's annual young professionals fundraising event, Glow in the Park, lights up the night every June, and it’s your chance to support the Greenway Conservancy and have a blast while doing it. Funds raised at Glow in the Park support the Conservancy’s work to connect neighborhoods and people through nature, public art, and community-led programming in ways that are sustainable, equitable, and welcoming.
|
|
|
|
Southwick’s Zoo is proud to recognize the dedication and compassion of healthcare professionals during Medical Professionals Weekend. As a thank-you for the essential care you provide to our communities, licensed medical professionals are invited to enjoy complimentary general admission all weekend long. Take a well-deserved break and spend the day exploring the zoo, enjoying fresh air, scenic paths, and the incredible animals that call Southwick’s Zoo home.
|
|
|
|
Meet live animals up close. Touch a snake, see an owl, meet an alligator. Live shows and hands-on fun supporting a local animal sanctuary. Get ready for an unforgettable family experience with live animals, hands-on encounters, and live entertainment, all in support of a great cause focused on conservation, animal wellbeing, and the natural world. Meet fascinating animals up close, including snakes, an alligator, and even feathered friends. Enjoy live shows from engaging family entertainers and explore interactive experiences from over a dozen organizations. Activities will be happening throughout the entire event, giving families plenty to see, do, and discover at their own pace.
|
|
|
|
Epic weekend in Amesbury! Join us for a day of performances and outdoor activities featuring bands and instructors from Amesbury's Zach Field Drums & Music. Enjoy FREE family-friendly music, musical themed obstacle courses, contests and games. Plus, food and drink! Schedule coming this spring! Free festival entrance.
|
|
|
|
Oysterfest is back this summer! Join us at Cisco Brewers New Bedford for New Bedford Oysterfest 2026: a showcase of the local aquaculture scene, brought to you by Cisco Brewers, New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, and Explore New Bedford. Indulge in fresh oysters, shucked for you by the growers of some of the region’s best! Sip on craft beers or small batch cocktails as you enjoy live music right on the water. Ticketholders will have a two-hour window to enjoy the event, either from 12:00pm to 2:00pm or 2:30pm to 4:30pm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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,…
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
