KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice—Robert Frost’s “darkest evening of the year.” It’s when we in the Northern Hemisphere most appreciate human inventiveness: We flip a switch, and light floods the room. It feels like magic, but it’s not. It’s the result of generations of curious, determined humans trying to make life better, brighter, safer. That’s why my
family celebrates Lightbulb Day every December 21. It’s our homegrown holiday honoring the inventors and problem-solvers whose insights fuel our lives. We toast our favorite technologies, learn some history, imagine the future. Past years’ MVPs include contact lenses, antibiotics, the internet, veterinary science,
and the Covid vaccine. This year’s front-runner: artificial intelligence. Last weekend, I had breakfast with a friend and her 13-year-old daughter, Lily. Lily said she loves math and science but struggles with how her teachers approach the humanities, especially writing. When I showed her how AI can help her learn in the way she learns best, her face lit up. So I went home and wrote a how-to article for Lily, her mom, and any of you with kids in middle school or older: How Students Can Use AI to Learn to Write (Without Giving Away their Brains). AI isn’t here to think for us. It’s here to help us think more effectively with our own minds. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to our kids. In this new AI age, the real danger isn’t
the technology itself, it’s the temptation to hand our brains over to it and say, “Here, you do all the work.” So this Lightbulb Day, I’m raising an Erlenmeyer flask, not just to the great inventors of the past, but to Lily, and to every young person learning to think with tools rather than letting tools do the thinking. Because the real magic isn’t flipping the switch; it’s understanding where the current comes from, and imagining what we’ll power with it in the
future.
—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 the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
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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. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
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Aurora Theatre’s Christmas Canteen returns for a swinging 30th Season! To celebrate, we are adding a horn section to trumpet in the holidays. This high-energy spectacle filled with stunning musical moments, hilarious comedy skits and dazzling dance numbers is sure to jazz up the season. Whether it’s your first time or an annual tradition, Christmas Canteen will fill your heart with cheer and leave you singing all the way home!
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Elf The Musical, inspired by the hit film, is the hilarious and heartwarming tale of Buddy, a young orphan child whose life is changed forever when he mistakenly crawls into Santa’s sack of toys one Christmas Eve. When he discovers he is human, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and, in turn, helps the Big Apple rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. This all-new tour, based on the acclaimed 2024 Broadway production, was hailed by The New York Times, which said, “The show has CRACKED THE CODE OF ALL-AGES COMEDY, the kind that will leave children…
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Build the best memories at Atlanta's top family holiday event, Holiday Bricktacular! Daily from December 12 - December 24, families can enjoy a winter wonderland of activities, festive decorations and more at LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta.
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Experience the magical sound of Celtic Woman this holiday season. Celebrate the holiday season with the celestial voices of Grammy-nominated multi-platinum Irish singing sensation Celtic Woman. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear Celtic Woman’s angelic harmonies with the thrilling live sound of a full symphony orchestra in an intimate concert setting.
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Discover Atlanta’s Ultimate Holiday Tradition: IllumiNights at the Zoo! This holiday season, Atlanta’s beloved festive event returns bigger and brighter than ever, transforming the Zoo into a dazzling nighttime wonderland. Experience hundreds of brilliantly illuminated wildlife lanterns and captivating displays that celebrate the beauty and magic of nature after dark. Looking for great holiday lights in Atlanta? IllumiNights is your must-see event! Perfect for families, couples on a romantic date night, or friends looking for unforgettable fun, this one-of-a-kind holiday lights…
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Experience all the warmth and charm of a Southern Family Christmas at Pettit Creek Farms! From beautiful Christmas lights to pictures with Santa AND his REINDEER, there are so many things to do! Take a lovely drive or hayride through more than a mile of beautiful Christmas lights. You only need to pay for one option, either the hayride or the drive thru. Patio heaters will be available to keep you warm but bring a blanket for the hayride!Meet and love on the animals at the petting zoo. You might even get a grateful kiss from a camel if you feed it a treat! Capture holiday memories and…
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A wonderfully entertaining version of the Nutcracker, to include many styles of dance, such as Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Ballroom/Latin, Contemporary, and Bollywood, as performed by students of ALL STARS Performing Arts Academy. ALL STARS Performing Arts Academy is voted Best of Gwinnett and Best of Georgia.
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Get cozy and join us for Holiday Movies on the Yard! Bring your blankets and bundle up in your comfiest clothes for a relaxing evening featuring outdoor heaters, warm drinks, and classic holiday films.
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In partnership with the Children’s Entrepreneur Market, come celebrate the season and support the next generation of business owners at our Kids Holiday Market, where local kid-run businesses shine at The Battery Atlanta! Don’t miss this joyful, family-friendly event that supports creativity, confidence, and community. Come shop, celebrate, and make magical memories together!
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Ponce City Market and Chabad Intown invite you to a traditional Menorah Lighting ceremony, held this year on The Yard.
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Get ready to carve up the ice, because Skate the Station at Atlantic Station is back! Opening Friday, November 14 with iconic decor, and festive music, and a bit of seasonal magic, it’s the perfect way to get in that holiday spirit. Skate the Station is open from November 14 through January 19!
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On select nights from November 14, 2025, through February, 28, 2026, Fernbank comes alive with nighttime museum hours indoors and WildWoods: AGLOW outdoors. WildWoods: AGLOW is a multi-sensory afterhours experience for all generations that immerses visitors into a dramatic exploration of nature through glowing and dynamic adventures, uniquely curated to highlight the living flora and fauna within WildWoods.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships. If the
information above changes or if there are venues that should be added, please email us, and we'll get those posted!
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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Atlanta area - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025 - See link for times
- Drop Off Letters To Santa - Adams Park Branch - 2231 Campbellton Road Southwest, Adams Park, Atlanta, Fulton County, GA 30311, United States, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 20, 2025 - Mon 10 am - 8 pm Tues - Sat 10 am - 6 pm
- Festival of Trees - Southeastern Railway Museum - Southeastern Railway Museum - Southeastern Railway Museum, 3595 Buford
Hwy, Duluth, GA 30096, United States, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025 - Thursday - Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm: Sunday: 12 - 5 pm
- Morningside Farmers Market - Morningside Farmers Market - 1393 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306, Saturday, December 20, 2025 - 8:00 am to 11:30 am
- Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration at Cascade Library - Evelyn G. Lowery Library @ Cascade, Cascade Road, Atlanta, GA, USA, Saturday, December 20, 2025 - 11 am - 2 pm
- Winter Break Book Kits at Dogwood Branch - 1838 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway Northwest, Atlanta, GA, USA, Saturday, December 20, 2025 - 10 am - 6 pm
- Kwanzaa Storytime with Ms. Nisbeth - East Point Branch - 2757 East Point Street, East Point, GA, USA, Saturday, December 20, 2025 - 12 - 1 pm
- Photos With Santa - Ponce City Market - Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA
30308, United States, Saturday, December 20, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 12 - 4 pm
- Grant Park Sunday Farmers Market - 1039 Grant St SE, Atlanta, GA 30315, Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 9 am to 1 pm
- Menorah Lighting at The Yard - Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308, United States, Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 4:30 - 6:30 pm
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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 in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email
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Where to Choose Your Own Christmas Trees in the Atlanta area November & December are times of contrast: The gray days outside herald the coming of the holidays, so we make ourselves warm and cozy
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KidsOutAndAbout's 2025 holiday events list for Atlanta is somewhat shorter this year than our traditional 101 ideas for local holiday fun, but there are still ways to make the holidays special in our area for 2025. Christmas concerts, lights, trees,
nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
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There are lots of places to have a birthday party in the Atlanta area! If there is an attraction that we have missed for our birthday party page, please email us to let us know, and we contact them
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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