KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Thu, May 14: Night Out for Kids! Pizza & Paint
Sat, May 16: Matinee Show: Laser Beatles - miSci | The Museum of Innovation and Science
Sat, May 16: Maker May Balloon Blowout
Sun, May 17: Not So Common Players present "Some Enchanted Evening"
Thu, May 21: 64th Annual Town of Rotterdam Memorial Day Parade
Fri, May 22: Owl Prowl
Tue, May 26: Pokémon Event - Colonie
Sun, May 31: Glens Falls Dragons Home Game
Wed, Jun 3: Girls Ultimate Frisbee Camp
Thu, Jun 4: Alive at Five 2026
Sun, Jun 7: GemFest 2026
Sat, Jun 20: Juneteenth 2026 - Underground Railroad Education Center
Fri, Jun 26: Family Fridays 2026 - Berkshire Botanical Garden
Sat, Jun 27: Lindy Cares Color Run |
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 Capital District, Boston, or New York City, 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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Come see a dozen of the world’s most talented four-legged performers, in an uproariously funny, comedy dog spectacular that is leaving audiences everywhere howling for more! The all-star lineup includes a Guinness World Record holder, and an America’s Got Talent fan favorite, and a host of amazing rescue dogs that will dance, prance, flip, and skip their way right into your heart. Deemed “A must see” by The Washington Post, "Mutts Gone Nuts Unleashed" is sure to win Best in Show! Reserve your tickets today!
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This summer, give your child a space to explore, experiment, and create at the Arts Center! Our Summer Art Camps offer an immersive experience for young artists ages 6–12. Each weekly session is a new adventure—from "Mixed Media Magic" to "Sculpture Secrets"—guided by professional instructors who prioritize curiosity over perfection. Campers will dive into hands-on projects, learn new techniques, and build confidence through visual storytelling. Each week culminates in a Friday "Mini-Gallery" show for family and friends. Space is limited, so register early to ensure a summer filled with color and discovery!
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The 78th annual Albany Tulip Festival will be held in the historic Washington Park, the 81-acre "crown jewel" of the City on Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10, 2026. Tulip Festival is Albany’s signature spring event. Featuring annual traditions rooted in the city’s rich Dutch heritage, nearly one hundred artisans selling their handmade crafts, a fine arts show, delicious food, the KidZone family fun destination, two stages of world-class live entertainment and more than 140,000 tulips in 150 different varieties, the Tulip Festival is a sparkling showcase of local culture and business. For GPS directions to the main park entrance, use 1 New Scotland Ave, Albany NY 12208.
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The growing season has begun and we need your help! Guests will learn how generations of Mabees could feed themselves as we plant our rye, corn and veggies. We’ll go from seed to table as we grind our own flour and bake our own bread. Admission is free for Family+ members of SCHS, otherwise $10 per family. Parents/caregivers must remain with their child for the duration of the program. This is not a drop-off event.
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Berkshire Botanical Garden’s SpringFest will be held Saturday, May 9— a full day of family fun with free admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Designed as a celebration of the season and of community, SpringFest features food trucks and enough children’s activities to keep the youngest visitors happily busy for hours. Little ones can enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, classic lawn games, and more. A traditional Maypole dance adds a whimsical, old-world flourish to the day’s lineup. Guests can wander the Garden’s 24-acre campus, taking in the brilliant display of spring bulbs and flowering trees. The Visitor Center Gift Shop will be open for browsing, offering garden-inspired gifts perfect for Mother’s Day. SpringFest also serves as a moment of accomplishment and transition, as BBG hosts the graduation of the Horticulture Certificate Program. The ceremony is followed by a reception hosted by the Herb Associates, a dedicated volunteer group that has been crafting herbal…
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Celebrate Mom with a full day at Bailiwick Ranch & Animal Park! Free zoo admission and a complimentary rose for every mom (while supplies last). Spend the day shopping local vendors at the Indoor Spring Craft & Yard Sale Market inside our indoor arena, visiting the animals, and enjoying time together in the fresh spring air. Bring the whole family and make it a Mother’s Day to remember.
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It's spring, and that means some of our favorite places to go are opening for the season! Check out our list of amusement parks, ice cream shops, adventure parks, and more! Hooray for spring!
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Dodi & Diana at theREP A fictional couple collides with an infamous story of fame. “A tense,
engrossing, and astute study of the mysteries of a marriage.” —The New Yorker “A needed corrective to a sexist fairytale.”—Theatremania The marriage of Jason and Samira has hit a crisis. He’s a white Wall Street banker and she’s a budding actress of Egyptian descent. After Samira plays a cringe-inducing role as a terrorist on a television show, she may finally break out as a star. But Jason fears their relationship will be burned by the glare of the spotlight. A smart, steamy dance of
power and intimacy ensues as the lovers await a cosmic convergence that will illuminate their fate. |
- Wiggly Wanderers 9:30am - Moreau Lake State Park, Old Saratoga Road, Gansevoort, NY, Friday, 05/08/2026 to Sunday, 05/10/2026, 9:30 AM
- Total Teen Takeover - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area - 21 Delaware Ave, Albany, Albany, NY 12210, Friday, 05/08/2026 to Sunday, 05/10/2026, 4:00PM-8:30pm
- Graphite Range Community Forest Walk - Graphite Range Community Forest - Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park; Office Location, Scout Road, Gansevoort, NY, Saturday, 05/09/2026, See website for details
- Albany Tulip Festival 2026 -
Washington Park, Albany, NY, Saturday, 05/09/2026 to Sunday, 05/10/2026, See website for details
- Free Buddhist Temple Tours Upstate New York in Sullivan County Catskills - Kadampa Meditation Center New York, Sweeney Rd, Glen Spey, NY, Saturday, 05/09/2026 to
Sunday, 05/10/2026, 1:30PM
- Spring Fling Craft Fair! - Walker's Farm, Home, & Tack - Walker's Farm, Home & Tack - U.S. 4, Fort Ann, NY, Saturday, 05/09/2026, 10 am - 4 pm
- Not So Common Players present "Some Enchanted Evening" - Not So Common Players - 14 Clifton Common Ct, Clifton Park, NY, Saturday, 05/09/2026 to Sunday, 05/10/2026, Thursday - Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m
- Mineral Springs Tour - Saratoga Spa State Park, Creekside Classroom, Geyser Loop Rd, Saratoga Springs, NY, Saturday, 05/09/2026 to Sunday, 05/10/2026, 11:00 AM
- Sunday School -
Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Delmar, NY - 85 Elm Ave, Delmar, NY, Sunday, 05/10/2026, 9:45 am
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Albany area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more. Our
guide puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Charlotte area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Capital Region? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock secrets, and complete your mission-all before time runs out!
Whether you're escaping a spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
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Have a wonderful weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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