KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Austin Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: I’m a sucker for songs in 6/8 time, no matter the music style. I don’t know why that ONE-two-three-FOUR-five-six swinging rhythm so captures me whether it’s fast or slow, but there’s no denying that it does. And I might not even notice this rhythm, but for one little fact: I’m a thoroughly mediocre cellist. I took cello lessons from age 8 to age 14; during
those years, I graduated from “truly bad” to “moderately acceptable,” at least acceptable enough to play in orchestras where my individual sound would be drowned out by the better kids’ playing. But even as unskilled as I was, I know I am happier as an adult for having played: I can understand music from the inside. I hear patterns and styles and instruments with far different ears than I would have had I not studied music early in life. Understanding what makes your heart sing helps
you be on the lookout for more, and that makes your life better. Summer is the perfect season to help kids grow their ears. Yes, check out the big open-air concerts from your local orchestra, municipal band, or jazz ensemble. But also keep an active ear out for the smaller stuff: free concerts in parks, weekly community series, festivals, buskers, church lawn performances, library gigs, and whatever band happens to be playing near the funnel cakes. When you hear something,
name it: bluegrass, salsa, soul, swing, zydeco, classical, funk, folk, rock, rap, mariachi. Kids don’t have to like everything, but knowing the names of things helps them understand what they do like, and gives them handles for finding more of it later. A couple of tips: If you know you're headed in the direction of something new, play a sample of the style before you leave so kids have a hook on which to hang the experience. While you’re there, help them notice one thing: the
bass line, the drummer, the singer’s breathing, the way people move. That will help the music swirl around in their minds long after the last note fades. Remember, music isn’t only on stages. It’s in carousels, movie scores, worship services, elevators, malls, ballparks, and the ice cream truck coming around the corner. So as tour guide to your kids’ universe, don’t ignore the invisible! Point your ears toward the music, tune everyone's radar, and grow.
—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. |
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 Austin 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! |
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Join Texas Science & Natural History Museum to celebrate all things dino! Enjoy family-friendly educational activities, explore the museum’s interactive Discovery Center and newly updated Paleontology Gallery, and bring fossils for in-person identification by a paleontologist. Check out a 33-foot cast replica of a full tyrannosaur skeleton and see a wide assortment of paleontology specimens. Plus, get 20% off select dinosaur-themed merchandise in the Museum Store! All activities included with admission.
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Mt. Playmore Show your little ones how much you love them by letting Mt Playmore throw them an epic birthday party! You can focus on spending time with your kids, and Mt Playmore will take care of the rest. Every party package includes 90 minutes in a reserved party room, a party host (who will serve, coordinate, clean up, and provide an unforgettable birthday party experience), pizza, soft drinks, utensils, online invitations and RSVP system, ALL DAY admission for your group, and a reserved table on the main floor after the party is over. All you have to do to ensure your child has the best birthday ever is bring the cake! https://mtplaymore.com/parties/
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Manor Juneteenth Celebration honors the historic end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the emancipation of all enslaved people, ensuring freedom for those still in bondage. Join us for a day of reflection and celebration, featuring games, arts and crafts, food trucks, local vendors, live music, a Black History Display, and much more. It’s a meaningful and festive occasion for the whole community to come together and commemorate this important moment in history.
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McKenna's Father's Day Pizza & Play - Friday, June 19th from 6-8pm. Come Party with us as we throw a shindig to honor all the awesome McKenna Dad's!!! Fun awaits!!
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In collaboration with the City of Leander and Leander Public Arts and Culture Commission, the City of Cedar Park commemorates Juneteenth with a block party at Robin Bledsoe Park. This free, family‑friendly event features musical performances, food vendors, and a fun zone for all ages.
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This Father's Day Weekend climb aboard Pastries with Pop and treat Dad to a ride that’s equal parts sweet and classic. Bring your appetite, grab a pastry, and kick back with some old-school charm on the rails. No ties required, just good company and a seat saved for Pops. This train ride follows our Bertram Flyer route from Cedar Park through the Texas Hill Country. Venture over Short Creek Canyon and cross the 300-foot South San Gabriel trestle bridge before returning back to Cedar Park aboard beautifully restored vintage railcars from the 1930's through the 1950's pulled by diesel locomotive.
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Juneteenth is a national holiday in observance of the emancipation (freeing) of slaves in the U.S. This holiday started right here in Texas, where slaves were freed on June 19, 1865, three years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The Taylor, Texas Juneteenth Committee will commemorate the Federal holiday with a full-day Juneteenth Festival & Parade on June 20th, 2026 Date. This year, we are hosting a three-part celebration for the community.
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CYT Austin Presents Disney Newsies! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right!
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Celebrate the summer solstice at New Braunfels’ free Make Music Day celebration at Market Plaza from 6–8 p.m. on Sunday, June 21! Enjoy live music from Pickin’ Circles and the Mid-Texas Symphony, art activities with muralist Jenkens2D, yard games, and a community sidewalk chalk mural for all ages. The first 100 attendees will receive a giveaway featuring an Art Haus canvas bag to spray paint at the event, a Downtown New Braunfels sticker, and a free mini ice cream from Scoop Street. Bring a picnic blanket, grab dinner to-go from a downtown restaurant, and enjoy the evening with neighbors. Free parking will be available next door at NBU, with accessible restrooms and handwashing stations on-site.
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Treat Dad to an unforgettable evening at the Grand Pavilion with a free concert. Settle in with lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets as the band delivers a vibrant program. It’s a musical journey the whole family will enjoy. Public restrooms and a nearby playground make it easy to bring the kids—so come early, soak in the summer vibes, and celebrate the dads who make life sing.
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Celebrate Juneteenth at the Carver Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition! From BBQ plates and music to hands-on activations and vendors, we'll have a lil' something for everyone. Free, all-ages, open to all.
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Planning a kids birthday party in the Austin area? Here are lots of ideas for where to have it! If there is a resource that we have missed, please email us to let us know, and we'll add it promptly.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Austin 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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Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens. Here's where you can go around Austin for strawberry
picking, cherry picking, blueberry picking, raspberry picking, peach picking, and other pick-your-own opportunities for fruit.
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Enjoy the weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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