KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Wed, Dec 31: Noon-Year's Eve at the Buffalo History Museum! Sat, Jan 3: The Haha Show! — Improv Comedy for the Whole Family!
Wed, Jan 7: Wednesday Mornings with Ms. Paige at Feelings Rock with Ms.
Paige
Sat, Jan 10: HuddleUP Football Winter Lessons
Wed, Jan 14: Isaías Craft Café at Isaias Gonzalez-Soto Branch Library
Thu, Jan 15: Third Thursday FREE ADMISSION at the Buffalo Zoo presented by M&T Bank
Fri, Jan 16: Mozart’s Mass With the BPO
Sat, Jan 17: Feed the Fish at the Botanical Gardens
Mon, Jan 19: Kids Day at the Botanical Gardens
Wed, Jan 21: Afternoon Cozy Crochet at Town of Collins Public Library
Sat, Jan 24: Owl Moon at Genesee Country Village & Museum
Sun, Jan 25: Make Your Own Glass Windchime at Corning Museum of Glass (Ages 4+}) |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Peace can come in many textures during the holidays. For some, it’s the energizing bustle of concerts and community events, or the warmth of a crowded house full of voices and motion. For others, it’s the stillness of a walk through snow-covered woods, a soft blanket at home, or the quiet company of someone who understands them. It shifts from person to person, and sometimes even
from one day to the next. Peace can be internal, external, or, at its best, a bit of both: a sense that life makes sense, within and around us. It’s easier to feel when we’re free from hardship, but even in the midst of challenge, it’s sometimes possible to find a quiet kind of peace when we know we’ve done our best with the time and energy we’ve been given. Peace can be elusive for parents; after all, we're the ones in charge of figuring out how to make the
family rhythm and flow work for everyone, and what brings peace to our kids may look nothing like what brings it to us. Maybe your son needs to be out with friends while you crave stillness. Maybe your daughter is hoping to hide in a corner with a book while you're in full-on glitter-and-cookie mode with all the cousins. Parenting is the art of balance, of helping everyone in the family thrive by seeing who they really are and doing our best to honor it. It's not easy, and it's never perfect,
but we try. When kids feel known—when they hear “I see that you love this, that you need this, and I’ll help you find your way to it”—they flourish. That sense of being understood can be its own kind of peace. So as the season winds to a close, I wish you whatever kind of holiday rhythm helps you feel most like you. And I hope you’ll find moments to offer that same gift to those around you. When we make space for each other’s version of peace, it’s more
likely to find its way into the room.
—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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Do your kids know that utilities like water and electricity aren’t free? Show them the bills—it’s a great way to help them connect daily actions with real costs. Try simple swaps to save energy and money: Wear a sweater instead of turning up the heat, shovel snow for exercise, go sledding instead of to a movie, and turn off the tap while brushing. Only wash dirty clothes, run full laundry or dishwasher loads, and reuse craft supplies from home. Show your kids how much you’ve saved—and let them choose a fun way to spend the extra cash! Click the graphic for youth bank account info.
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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.
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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.
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JOY TO THE WORLD! The Christmas season is a time when we open our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus with family, friends and other members of our community. We are hopeful that you will join us at OLV National Shrine & Basilica. In addition to the traditional Masses – both online and in-person – you are cordially invited to the following special events in honor of the Shrine’s ongoing Centennial Celebration: NATIVITY SET EXHIBIT (Nov. 30 - Jan. 6) - IMore than 100 nativity sets from around the world, and if you came last year - don't worry - the 2025 exhibit is all new! STAINED-GLASS WINDOW EXHIBIT (Nov. 30 - Jan. 6) – See them up close and have your breath taken away by their beauty. Learn about the Buffalo-based artist who created them and the local team working to restore them. You can see both of these great exhibits after Mass or when you are here for one of our Holiday Performances.
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Spend Christmas Eve morning at Swain Resort! Santa will be here for pictures and a pancake buffet. Kids ski free!
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Experience the Martin House in a whole new light! Join us for a special 90-minute, docent-led Candlelight Tour offered exclusively on select evenings in December. With the house softly illuminated by dimmed lights and the warm glow of candlelight, this immersive experience highlights the beauty, mystery, and architectural drama of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie masterpiece during the holiday season. Visitors will explore the following areas: Visitors will explore all three floors, which include the following areas: Darwin Martin's Home Office, Staff Dining Room, Ballroom (basement level), Guest Suite of rooms, Pergola, which connects the Martin House to the conservatory, Conservatory, Carriage House, including our Museum Store This tour is not wheelchair accessible. There is stair-climbing involved. Behind-the-Scenes tours are not intended for children under the age of 8.
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Celebrate the holiday season at WinterFest, an immersive holiday experience for the whole family! With festive light displays complete with millions of shimmering lights, family activities, new live entertainment, holiday-inspired comfort food and beverages, and select attractions, cozy moments are sure to be had with friends and family all winter long!
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Family-friendly improve played as a sport! Our high-energy, short-form improv show has two teams of professional comedians improvising games, songs, jokes, and scenes while a referee calls fouls and fields suggestions from you, our Loyal Fans! Loyal Fans will vote for which team they like best and our Voice will declare an ultimate winner for the evening! Best of all, this show uses humor that is appropriate for people of any age. We're clean enough for your kids to enjoy and funny enough to have adults laughing out loud.
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‘Tis the SEA-son at the Aquarium! Join us for YuleTIDE Days, three days of post-holiday happenings with your favorite aquatic animals. Enjoy frosty-themed animal feedings, festive sea lion presentations, and even an appearance by a SCUBA diving gingerbread person! Create arctic animal crafts and count the candy canes hidden in exhibits. It’s all included with general admission!
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Spend winter break at The Strong! Enjoy hands-on play with American Dairy Association North East’s winter farm pop-up, view winter decorations in the beautiful Dollhouses Unveiled exhibit, and create a carboard home to add the winter village!
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Go on a Balloon adventure under the sea! Airigami is taking visitors on a balloon adventure under the sea! Join us December 27 to help Airigami create a balloon sculpture of an iconic piece of art from the Corning Museum of Glass that will take you to a whole new (watery) world. Join Airigami and Museum staff in the Gather Gallery, where they will guide participants in blowing up and attaching balloons to a frame. As the day stretches on, visitors will be able see to the sculpture develop, grow, and come to life. Inspired by the Blaschka Sea Creatures, the balloon sculpture emphasizes fun, wonder, and creativity!
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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.
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Come to the North Collins Library to participate in our holiday scavenger hunt. Find the hidden items in our library, decode the secret word and win a prize!
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Join us for a walk to view the Niagara River and War of 1812 Cemetery, and to see the lighthouse and Old Fort Niagara from the parking lot. There will be a tour of the Officer’s Club to view the paintings and visit the museum displays. Participants should dress for the weather as wind can be brisk off Lake Ontario. Path to be taken is level. Limited seating is available in the officers club. Meet at Officers Club and the hike is 1 mile long. Registration required on Eventbrite.
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Kids can learn 6 basic crochet stitches. For children with their adults. The fourth Saturday of the month at 10:30am from September - May, not on holidays. Please call 716-892-8089 or register in person at 2580 Harlem Rd Cheektowaga, NY 14225.
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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 Outdoor Ice Skating at Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza - Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY, 12/26/2025, varies, see below
- Buffalo Holiday Market At the Richardson-Olmsted Campus - The Richardson Hotel,
444 Forest Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 12/26-12/28/2025, varies, check schedule
- Open Studio - Burchfield
Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY, 12/27/2025, 10:30-2:30
- Free Community Art
Classes - Locust Street Art, 138 Locust St, Buffalo, NY, 12/27/2025, Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-6:30pm, Saturday 1-5pm
- Kids Crocheting at Anna Reinstein - Reinstein Memorial Library, 2580 Harlem Rd, Cheektowaga, NY, 12/27/2025, 10:30 - 11:30 am
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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.
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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 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.
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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.
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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!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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