KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Mon, Feb 16: School's Out Engineering Camp (Grades K-5) at Buffalo Museum of
Science Mon, Feb 16: Aviation Exploration February School Break Camp - EAST AMHERST at Stutelage Innovations
Mon,
Feb 16: 2026 Polar Bear Days at the Buffalo Zoo Mon, Feb 16: Walden Galleria Winter Kids Club Feb 16-20, 2026
Tue,
Feb 17: 716 Days at Aquarium of Niagara
Fri, Feb 20: Kindergarten Readiness Series at Parent Network of WNY
Sat, Feb 21: Get Outside This Winter: Orienteering at Cazenovia Park
Sun, Feb 22: Monster Jam Freestyle Mania at the Keybank Center Mon, Feb 23: FREE Kid's Theatre Classes by 2nd Generation Theatre Academy at Isaias Gonzalez-Soto Branch Library
Sat, Feb 28: Williamsville Soup Stroll at Garrison Park
Sat, Feb 28: Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Musical at TOY at Theatre of Youth (TOY)
Sun, Mar 1: K-Pop Demon Hunters Kids Rave at Buffalo Iron Works Sat, Mar 14: Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) in Concert | Film with Live Orchestra at the BPO
Sun, Mar 15: Puppet Festival
Mississauga at Crane Creations Theatre Company |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're still packing
lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are moving through it
together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator, February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—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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What do high-flying acrobatics and engineering have in common? Find out at Engineers Week featuring Acrobatic Science Live Feb. 15-21 at the Buffalo Museum of Science! Drop in to any of the five daily shows with WeFlip Entertainment and see the principles
of physics brought to life on stage! Plus, take part in engaging Engineers Week activities and demonstrations with special guests throughout the museum. Extended hours with 6:30 show on Friday, Feb. 20. Shows included with February Break admission and FREE for BMS Members!
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Walden Galleria’s Kids Club program is BACK…only it’s cooler this time! Winter Kids Club 2026 is a series of FREE events & activities during February break week, starting Monday, February 16th through Friday, February 20th. Kids and families can enjoy
FREE morning events with Nickel City Reptiles & Exotics, Urban Air, The LEGO Store, Regal Cinemas and more! Each child must be registered in advance for each event and must be accompanied by an adult. Events details & registration can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/winterkidsclubwg26
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Polar Bear Days at the Buffalo Zoo is back! Come celebrate these incredible creatures and support polar bear conservation during the winter school break. Enjoy discounted admission and family fun every day! This year’s Polar Bear Days stretch is from
February 16-20 and each day will include: $5 off Buffalo Zoo admission, $1.50 Hot chocolates, Activities, keeper talks, Sabres tickets giveaway every day, and MORE! Get your discounted Zoo tickets online or at the gate: http://bit.ly/3ZakBWl
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Bring your families down to Mayville for the annual Winter Fest! Starting with the Opening Ceremonies Friday evening, where we'll light the ever-burning Bonfire and not stopping until the sun sets on Sunday. Check the schedule for special activities
including fireworks, sledding, the Ice Castle, wagon rides, ice-ball bowling, hockey, the annual pet parade, face painting, food trucks and MORE! You don't want to miss this! Parking and shuttle information is available on the website.
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Playtopia at Canada One Outlets is having their Grand Opening! Friday February 13th, 2026 at 3:30pm
Join us for a fun day! Discount coupon available for the day!
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Join us on Valentine’s Day and leave a real-life "like" next to your favorite piece in our collection.
Museum guests who visit on February 14 will get a heart-themed sticky note to "show us the love." Place your heart next to your favorite piece in the collection, but choose wisely—you'll only receive one!
We cannot wait to see what our guests really "heart." After all the hearts have been collected, we will tally the results for a “favorites” list that we'll share with you. Go ahead—leave us a like this Valentine's Day! PS: KIDS 17 AND UNDER ARE ALWAYS FREE!
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ROBIN WRIGHT & CARY ELWES star in this beloved romantic adventure about a beautiful princess and the gallant hero who rescues her from an evil villain.
This modern romantic-comedy-fantasy-adventure has become one of the most beloved movies of all time. Supporting roles include Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest with brief cameos from Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Peter Cook.
Tickets $8
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A special Saturday morning session for our littlest listeners, age 0-5, with their caregivers. Join BPO musicians and community partners for fun musical activities designed specifically for tiny ears and growing minds.
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Learn how soldiers survived the winters on the Niagara Frontier. Living history programs and weapons demonstrations throughout the day.
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Join Ranger Nikki for a nighttime walk searching for our quietest nocturnal bird, the owl. Learn owl calls and some interesting facts about the species we have here in our parks. This program will start inside with a short seminar about owl species and how
they are the first species to mate every season. After, we will head out in hopes of catching some owls calling out looking for love!
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- Free Outdoor Ice Skating at Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza - Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY, Fri 2/13 - Sun 2/15, varies, see below
- Toddler Time - Lackawanna Public Library, Buffalo, NY, Fri 2/13, 10:30 AM
- Free Community Art Classes - Locust Street Art, Buffalo, NY 14204, Fri 2/13, Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-6:30pm, Saturday 1-5pm
- Mayville Winterfest - The Village of Mayville, Mayville, NY 14757, Fri 2/13 - Sun 2/15, varies, see schedule
- Glass Snow Family at Corning Museum of
Glass - Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY 14830, Sat 2/14 - Sun 2/15, 9 am - 5 pm
- AP Gorny:
Different from the Rest - Buffalo & Erie County Public Library – Central Library, Buffalo, NY, Sat 2/14 - Sun 2/15, Central Library's hours
- Family Game Night at Great Escape Adventures - Great Escape Adventures, Buffalo, NY, Sat 2/14 - Sun 2/15, varies, see
below
- Pint-Sized Picassos at the Central Library - Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Buffalo, NY, Sat 2/14, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
- Family Board Game Day at Kenmore Library - Kenmore Branch Library, Kenmore, NY, Sat 2/14, 9:30 am - 5 pm
- Singulls (Ages 8+) at Niagara Falls State Park - Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls, NY 14303, Sat 2/14, 11 am
- Want to Build a Snowman and Drink Cocoa at Letchworth? -
Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427, Sat 2/14 - Sun 2/15, 12 - 2 pm
- Tune the Tale - Lackawanna
Public Library, Buffalo, NY, Sat 2/14, 11:00 AM
- Finding Love in the Dead of Winter (Owl
Edition) at Ellicott Creek Park - Ellicott Creek Park, Tonawanda, NY, Sat 2/14, 7 - 9 pm
- 3rd
Sunday Kite Fly at Gratwick Park - Great Lakes Kitefliers Society, N. Tonawanda, NY 14150, Sun 2/15, 12 - 4 pm
- MYO Gelli Printed Collage Birds - Birds on the Niagara Festival 2026 - Locust Street Art, Buffalo, NY 14204, Sun 2/15, 11:30am
- Young Adult Book Club - Lancaster Public Library, Lancaster, NY 14086, Sat 2/14, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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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 Buffalo area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues 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 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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