KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Sat, Dec 13: Santa on the Carrousel at Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum Thu,
Dec 18: Holiday Pops With the BPO at Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Fri, Dec 19: ‘Twas The Night Before...by Cirque Du Soleil at Shea's at Shea's Performing Arts Center
Sat, Dec 20: Dream Builders: Winter Wonder Lab at The Foundry
Sat, Dec 20: White Christmas, the Musial at MusicalFare
Sun, Dec 21: Breakfast with St. Nick at Genesee Country Village
& Museum
Sun, Dec 21: Christmas Tree Cake Pop Decorating Class at Buffalo Cake Pops Tue, Dec 23: ‘Twas The Night Before...by Cirque Du Soleil at Shea's
Wed, Dec 24: Tree of Life Menorah and Hanukkah Objects at Corning Museum of
Glass
Fri, Dec 26: A Christmas Carol 2025 at Alleyway Theatre!
Sun, Dec 28: Free Outdoor Ice Skating at
Rotary Rink Wed, Dec 31: Noon-Year's Eve at the Buffalo History Museum! Wed, Dec 31: Meet Me at Midnight New
Year’s Eve Party at Splash Lagoon!
Wed, Dec 31: New Year's Eve Celebration at Holiday Valley
Sat, Jan 3: Feed the Fish at the
Botanical Gardens
Sun, Jan 4: Open Skating At Canalside Wed, Jan 7: Wednesday Mornings with Ms. Paige at Feelings Rock with Ms. Paige
Sat, Jan 10: HuddleUP Football Winter Lessons
Sun, Jan 11: Glass Snow Family at Corning Museum of Glass |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The Christmas I was 10, my sister and I woke up at our usual ridiculously-early hour and raced downstairs to the tree. Something was different: fewer gifts than usual, no giant boxes, no bike-shaped mystery lumps. But nestled among the smaller packages were envelopes that turned out to be plane tickets to Bermuda. We were leaving that very morning, which
explained why my parents had not objected to being awakened at 5:30. Decades later, I don’t remember what else I got that year—or most years—but I remember being bundled up and giddy, heading to the airport while it was still dark. I remember pink sand, caves, and the little cakes they served at teatime. It's all still as fresh to me as the air was at Grotto Bay Beach. That trip taught me something I wouldn’t have been able to say at the time:
Presence creates the memories, not the presents. Of course, we all want our kids to have a magical holiday. But when we think back to our own childhoods, what sticks isn’t the stuff, it’s the doing. The zoo trips, the plays, the sporting events, the concerts, the hands held during the adventures. That’s why my long-time holiday mantra is “Do it, don’t dust it.” Experiences are the gifts that last the longest, especially when we do them
together. They don’t pile up in a closet; they plant themselves in our memory. So if you’re still pondering what to give the people you love this year, consider a show, a class, a day trip, a membership, a season pass. Something that says “I see you, you matter, let's do it together." Need ideas? Head to our Local Memberships & Season Passes page! It's your ticket to the perfect gift... and it's guaranteed clutter-free.
—Debra Ross, publisher
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Winter Wonderland at the Museum | Dec. 19 Step into a winter wonderland and explore the chilly side of science! From frosty fun to fascinating creatures of the cold, there will be science demonstrations, stage shows, games, and crafts to enjoy. All ages. Included with general admission or membership. Optional Snow Globe craft available for $6 per person while supplies last. Click on the image for more information.
|
|
|
|
Come celebrate the countdown to 2026 with The Buffalo History Museum. Can't or don't want to wait until midnight? We are celebrating with Noon-Year's Eve! This family friendly celebration will include historic timepieces and newspapers from our collection for the history buffs. And for the kids, a magician and a noon ball drop to ring in 2026. Admission is pay-what-you wish and includes all museum exhibits and the Noon Year's Eve celebration. We hope to see you and your family there.
|
|
|
|
Lace up your skates and come chill with us at the Ice presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield! Canalside's Snack Shack at The Ice is a perfect spot to grab a warm cup of hot cocoa and a quick bite to eat while enjoying a gorgeous winter day on the ice with family and friends! Age 5 and Under: Free; Children and Military: $5.00; Age 13 and Up: $8.00. Skate Rentals: $6.00; Training walker: $2.00; Lockers available. Family Season Pass: $99.00.
|
|
|
|
Join JoAnn Falletta on a captivating journey through centuries of seasonal music highlighted by soprano Sirgourney Cook performing "O Holy Night," John Jacob Niles' "I Wonder as I Wander" and Handel's "Let the Bright Seraphim" from Samson. Perfect for the whole family, this performance promises a warm, illuminating feast celebrating winter's spirit and charm.
|
|
|
|
Open to all ages, this 15-minute experience allows you to work with hot glass up close while staying on the cool end of the glassblowing iron at all times. You’ll start by choosing the glass colors you want to use and the shape of your ornament, and then partner with our professional glassblowers to create your design. You will blow into a blow hose, or use a foot pedal connected to compressed air, to inflate the glass while our experienced glassblower guides and shapes the glass with special tools. After your ornament is shaped, it is removed from the blowpipe, and it is placed in an oven to begin an overnight slow cooling process.
|
|
|
|
Featuring a dazzling display of artificial evergreen trees, adorned with energy efficient lights. Trees are decorated for the season by area non-profit groups and will be on display all month. In addition to tree viewing, guests are invited to enjoy the state-of-the-art exhibits at the Niagara Power Vista. Free admission and parking. For more information, contact (716) 286-6661.
|
|
|
|
What does a bomb cyclone, haboob, and a derecho have in common? They are all wacky weather! Explore how weather, climate, and life on Earth are connected during our family friendly programs and activities.
|
|
|
|
Tis the season for one of Western New York’s favorite holiday traditions — Breakfast with Santa at the Buffalo Zoo! Join us bright and early for a delicious breakfast buffet, festive fun, and a special meet-and-greet with Santa Claus and some of our amazing animal ambassadors. After breakfast, continue the magic with a day at the Zoo — admission is included with your ticket! For the first time ever, we will also be offering a very limited number of behind-the-scenes animal encounters for families to add to their day. These exclusive add-ons are open to groups of six guests or less. Guests must be at least four years old to participate.
|
|
|
|
Bring the whole family for an outing that will make memories to last a lifetime! Our *weekend* activities include horse-drawn hayrides back to the Christmas trees, marshmallows for roasting at the bonfire in back, cut your own trees and visits with the animals in the barn. Visit with Santa 12/6; 12/7 and 12/14 from 12pm to 4pm. There is no cost to take pictures with Santa but in the spirit of giving, we kindly ask you to consider bringing non-perishable food items or monetary donations to help support the Akron-Newstead Food Pantry. The Country Store is open every day but Monday. RESERVATIONS NOT REQUIRED.
|
|
|
|
Family Tours give families with younger children and their adults a chance to learn about modern and contemporary art together. These are forty-five minutes long and offered at 3 pm on Saturdays, and 4 pm every M&T FIRST FRIDAY.
|
|
|
|
Bundle-up to enjoy the crisp air and night sky on a guided walk in the woods. Warm-up afterwards indoors with snowflake crafts, holiday music, and delicious hot chocolate bar with marshmallows, peppermints, chocolate chips, sprinkles, and whipped cream!
|
|
|
|
What could be fancier than Christmas? Presents with elegant wrapping paper, festive decorations, Christmas cookies with sprinkles – and who could forget the tree? After all, there is no such thing as too much tinsel. Ooh, la la! This year, Nancy is especially excited. She bought a brand-new sparkly tree topper with her own money and can’t wait to decorate the Christmas tree. But when things don’t turn out the way Nancy planned, will Christmas still be splendiferous? Recommended Ages: 4 and up. Fun for the whole family! Show Run-Time is 60-Minutes, plus our post-show 10-minute talk-back. **Sensory-Friendly Performance is Sunday, December 14 at 10AM. To purchase tickets for this performance, click the link below and use code: SENSORY25
|
|
|
|
Join us for a one-of-a-kind Mini Glow Golf experience set inside the magical ambiance of the Botanical Gardens. Navigate through a 9-hole course surrounded by glowing plants. Thousands of twinkling lights will guide you through our magically illuminated greenhouses. See textures, shapes, and shadows that you’ve never noticed before as different colors bathe our plant collections in a whole new light. Escape Buffalo’s cold winter nights and enjoy a charming and calming evening at the Botanical Gardens.
|
|
|
- Buffalo Holiday Market At the Richardson-Olmsted Campus - The Richardson Hotel - 444 Forest Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213, December 12-14, 2025, varies, check schedule
- Our Lady of Fatima Festival of Lights - Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, 1023 Swann Rd, Youngstown, NY 14174, December 12-13, 2025, 5 - 9 pm
- Christkindlmarkt at Hofbräuhaus Buffalo - Scott Street, Buffalo, NY, December 12-14, 2025, Fridays: 4 - 8 pm, Saturdays: 12 - 8 pm, Sundays: 12 - 5 pm
- Make & Decorate a Graham Cracker House - Aurora Town Public Library - 550 Main Street, East Aurora, NY 14052, December 13,
2025, 11:00 AM or 1:00 PM
- Santa Land at Chestnut Ridge Park! - Chestnut Ridge
Park, 6121 Chestnut Ridge Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127, December 13, 2025, 10 am - 4 pm
- Open Studio - Burchfield Penney Art Center - 1300 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222, December 13, 2025, 10:30-2:30
- Holiday Spirit Vendor Market - Aspire of WNY's Center for Learning - Aspire of WNY's Center for Learning, December 12, 2025, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Gingerbread House Competition - Isaías González-Soto Branch Library - 280 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14201, December 13, 2025, 3:00PM-4:30PM
- Annual Winter Makers Market - The Foundry - 298 Northampton Street, Buffalo, NY 14208, December 13, 2025, 10:00am
- Live & Local Holiday Market - Big Tree Inn - 46 Main Street, Geneseo, NY, December 11-13, 2025, 11:00am-7:00pm
- Country Christmas - CountryMax Stores - Rochester/Buffalo Area, NY 14564, See map, December 13, 2025, 1:00PM to 4:00PM
|
|
|
|
Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Buffalo area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in
festive activities.
|
|
|
|
|
KidsOutAndAbout's 2025 holiday events list for Buffalo and Western New York: ways to make the holidays special in our area: Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Buffalo and WNY 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!
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
