KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Mar 3: Pokémon Event at Colonie Center Shopping Mall
Thu, Mar 5: Lords of the Sound: The Music of Hans Zimmer - Palace Theatre
Sun, Mar 8: Purim Carnival at Schenectady Jewish Community Center (SJCC)
Fri, Mar 13: Daisy Glasses & Slate Coasters Paint & Sip at Art in Mind Creative Wellness Studio
Sat, Mar 14: Celtic Heels- Saturday Morning Family Show at The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
Sat, Mar 14: Cathead Bread Basket Workshop at Shaker Heritage Society
Tue, Mar 17: Wicked Sing-Along at Clifton
Park-Halfmoon Public Library
Sat, Mar 21: Maple Weekend at Sugar Oak Farms
Sun, Mar 22: Maple Weekend at Brower Road Sugar
House
Mon, Mar 23: Parenting with Pride Support Group - Saratoga Pride at Presbyterian-United Church of
Chris
Sat, Mar 28: Glow for Galactosemia- Silent Disco Fundraiser at The Arts Center of the Capital Region
Sat, Apr 4: Easter Bunny Express - Catskill Mountain Railroad |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The February my daughter Ella was 1, she caught a cold that lingered for months. There were short stretches of relief, but mostly there was congestion, disrupted sleep, and a level of crankiness that turned my sunny baby into someone I barely recognized. The clouds around her felt constant, and one day, I caught myself labeling her in my head as “the crabby one.” But
of course, if I had a perpetually runny nose and no way to manage it, I’d be irritable, too! I needed to remember this wasn’t her personality, it was a season. What we needed to get through it was distraction: something fun to do "right now" and also fun things to anticipate. Aside from those who live in paradise pockets like San Diego, most of our readers are in the thick of a particularly dreary winter. The world feels heavy and gray, energy
runs low, and it’s easy to fixate on how dispirited we feel. But we need to remember that this isn't our personality, it's a season. What we need to get through it is distraction in the moment and also something positive we can place on our horizon. My family is counting down to the March 20 release of Project Hail Mary, which stars Ryan Gosling. The movie is based on the novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. You don't have to be a science nerd to love Weir's books
(although science nerds DO love Weir's books), because in all of them, the real hero is human ingenuity—curiosity, flexible thinking, doing what needs to be done even in extreme circumstances. When things are going awry, the answer isn’t despair, it’s problem-solving, and I always emerge from a Weir book feeling spiritually lighter. While I immerse myself in Weir and Gosling, you, of course, should do YOU! Let the art or sport that grabs you and your kids be your launch ticket
to optimism now, and lift you to fun in the future. We're glad to provide the fuel!
—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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Is your 12–14 year old looking for something hands-on this season? Saratoga Joinery's youth woodworking class is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for middle schoolers to step away from screens and build something they'll actually be proud of. Over four 90-minute
sessions, students will construct their own small wooden bench from start to finish — learning real skills like safe tool use, design thinking, and practical construction along the way.
The class is led by Preston Sweeney, a middle school engineering teacher at Saratoga Springs Maple Avenue Middle School who brings both professional expertise and a genuine passion for making woodworking fun and accessible for young people.
No experience is necessary, and all materials and safety equipment are provided — so all your kid needs to bring is their enthusiasm. Spaces are limited, so grab a spot before they're gone!
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Let’s Sing Taylor - A Live Band Experience - the ultimate tribute to the music of Taylor Swift. Coming to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on March 28th! We can show you incredible things, including the most faithful and lively covers of Queen
Taylor’s expansive and sacred catalog. Taking the country by storm, we’re bringing the communal experience of celebrating Taylor’s music in a live setting to Swifties near and far.
So, let the games begin. Calling all Swifties to sing your hearts out and sport your Taylor- inspired attire. You can show up at our party any time.
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Explore 250 years of Shaker history in the Capital Region on February 28th from 10am - 2pm! Discover how Ann Lee and her followers began building a home in the woods north of Albany that grew into a movement that spread across the country and has endured
centuries. Experience live demonstrations, get hands-on with activities, and view rare historic Shaker footage. Special collections will also be on display, offering a closer look at the art, craft, and daily life of the Shakers. Celebrate this remarkable legacy and see how their influence still resonates today!
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Experience the sweetest weekends of the year! Maple Open House Weekends invite you to step onto the farm, explore New York’s rich sugarmaking traditions, and taste pure maple syrup in all its delicious forms, fresh from the source. Visit verified maple
producers on March 21-22 & March 28-29, 2026, and see firsthand how maple sap transforms into liquid gold. Don’t miss this chance to savor the region’s freshest maple delights! Click here to find participating producers.
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Blippi is coming to your hometown in the all-new Be Like Blippi Tour! Join Blippi and Meekah live on stage at the Palace Theatre on Sunday, MARCH 8 at 3pm, in a high-energy live show packed with music, laughter, and surprises. This brand-new interactive
adventure invites families to put on your orange glasses and unlock the spark of curiosity inside us all—showing that everyone can Be Like Blippi! Tickets Start At Just $19.50.
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Create your own adorable mushroom!
Work with local artist Mallory Zondag and learn how to sculpt with wool through that art of needle felting. During this three hour workshop you will learn how to work with wire to create an armature, how to cover it with wool, how to use the tools to form the wool into some fantastic fungi and finally how to mix and blend colors to bring your wooly mushroom to life!
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The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the return of Saratoga County Restaurant Week! Choose from a variety of participating restaurants throughout Saratoga County, each offering unique menus for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner!
Restaurant Week was launched with the intention of spotlighting Saratoga County as a premier dining destination.
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Widely considered a masterpiece, this timeless classic challenges American ideas of power, intolerance, and justice. In the Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts, a servant girl accuses a farmer’s wife of witchcraft. One accusation spirals into many,
uncovering a web of bigotry and deceit that changes their lives forever.
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Summer Minecraft Camps are Selling Out!
Is your child (ages 6-13) obsessed with Minecraft? STEAMwhiz turns screen time into brain power with our 2026 "Galactic" STEM curriculum! Students will master MC Modding (Sci-Fi Gadgets!), coding Mars Rovers, and Redstone engineering, returning to school sharper and more confident.
Warning: The 2026 STEAM season is moving much faster than predicted. Our most popular Summer weeks are already on waitlist status, and remaining sessions (June 29th – August 7th) are filling daily.
Secure your child's summer schedule now to avoid going on the waitlist and missing out on their preferred weeks.
Register now: steamwhiz.com/summer2026/
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Explore 250 years of Shaker history in the Capital Region! Discover how Ann Lee and her followers began building a home in the woods north of Albany that grew into a movement that spread across the country and has endured centuries. Experience live
demonstrations, get hands-on with activities, and view rare historic Shaker footage. Special collections will also be on display, offering a closer look at the art, craft, and daily life of the Shakers. Celebrate this remarkable legacy and see how their influence still resonates today!
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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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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- Barbie™: A Cultural Icon Exhibition at the New York State Museum - Albany, NY, Fri-Sun, 02/27/2026-02/28/2026, 10 am - 2 pm
- Reading with Greta at Troy Public Library - Troy Public Library - Troy, NY, Sat, 02/28/2026, 11 am to 12 pm
- Winter Reading 2026 - Clifton Park, NY, Sat, 02/28/2026, 9:00AM
- Concert: New York Dulcimer Orchestra - Clifton Park, NY, Sat, 02/28/2026, 2:00PM-3:00PM
- Open House - Apple Blossom
Bunch - Saratoga Springs, NY, Sat, 02/28/2026, 9 am - 12 pm
- Quiet Sketch: A
Gallery Drawing Series - New York State Museum - New York State Museum - Albany, NY, Sat, 02/28/2026, 10 am
- Shaker Day: Celebrating 250 Years of Ann Lee in the Capital Region - New York State Museum - New York State Museum - Albany, NY, Sat, 02/28/2026, 10 am - 2 pm
- Sunday School - Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Delmar, NY - Delmar, NY, Sun, 03/01/2026, 9:45 am
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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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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Albany 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 of ideas!
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2025's best places to take kids in the Capital District as voted by New York 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 Albany 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 wonderful weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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