KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Mar 14: Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) in Concert | Film with Live Orchestra at the BPO
Thu, Mar 19: Third Thursday March FREE ADMISSION at the Buffalo Zoo presented by M&T Bank at The Buffalo Zoo
Fri, Mar 20: Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat - Live on Stage at the Center for The Arts! Sat, Mar 21: DinoFEST | March 21 & 22 at Buffalo Museum of Science
Sat, Mar 21: Puppet Festival Mississauga at Crane Creations Theatre Company
Sun, Mar 22: GCV&M Maple Sugar Festival 2026 Fri, Mar 27: Opening Day at Sahlen Field Buffalo Bisons vs. Scranton/WB RailRiders
Sat, Mar 28: Maple Sugar Walk at Tifft Nature Preserve
Sun, Mar 29: 2026 Bunny Treat Trail at the Buffalo Zoo Sun, Mar 29: Kids Escaping Drugs Youth Bowling Tournament
Mon, Mar 30: Knee High Naturalists: Mammals Alive! at Letchworth
Mon, Mar 30: FREE Kid's Theatre Classes by 2nd Generation Theatre Academy at Isaias Gonzalez-Soto Branch Library
Fri, Apr 3: Botanical Bunny Days at the Botanical Gardens
Sat, Apr 4: Egg Hunt at Kelkenberg Farm of Clarence
Sat, Apr 4: SEAster at the Aquarium
Sun, Apr 5: Spring Flower Exhibit at the Botanical Gardens Tue, Apr 7: April Break Camp with Just for Kids - Sweet Home |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades: “Remember the
rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard things. It’s tempting
to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard. And I handled it. We don’t need to
manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something daunting, I think back to my mentor and
remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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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Open House this Saturday, March 7th! Every day at Aurora Waldorf School, we inspire children to love learning for its own sake, giving them a gift that will last a lifetime. With expertise, dedication, and warmth, our teachers provide a screen-free rigorous
education that fully integrates the fine and practical arts with the sciences, mathematics, humanities, movement, and athletics. Our Pre-K through 8th Grade curriculum includes global and local cultural traditions - including seasonal festivals and celebrations - and ample time outdoors on our 13-acre wooded campus. A daily, free student shuttle from Buffalo and district bussing within 15 miles are available. @aurorawaldorfschool
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We’re so excited to welcome the Easter Bunny back to his springtime garden home at Walden Galleria! Beginning on Friday, March 6th at 2:00pm, families are invited to get their picture taken and visit with Mr. Peter Cottontail himself, located on
the lower level near the Apple Store. Whether you’re young or old at heart, the professional photographers from Cherry Hill will capture the magic of the moment, ensuring you have cherished memories to treasure for years to come. ALL families are encouraged to reserve a time slot here: https://whereisbunny.com/mall/0847
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Join us at the Buffalo Zoo this summer for a wild camp experience designed for curious kids of all ages. With six themed sessions for ages 6–12 and our all-new Cub Camp for ages 4–6, there’s something for every camper to enjoy. The Zoo also offers
single-day camps, a fun and flexible way to make the most of days off from school. All Buffalo Zoo camps feature unique themes and hands-on learning through animal exhibit visits, up-close animal encounters, crafts, art projects, nature play, and interactive activities that spark creativity and a love for wildlife.
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Toddler Time is a great way to get your little one tired out for nap time! Geared for ages 2-5 with participating parent/guardian. Enjoy The Warrior Factory's obstacles for 60 minutes at a cost of only $15 (adult and child included).
Please Note: Clean shoes and waivers required for all participants. This session has limited staff supervision, you are responsible for monitoring your child.
* This class is canceled for School Holidays! Please reference our schedule for cancelations and our most current Programming.
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Blippi is coming to your hometown in the all-new Be Like Blippi Tour! Get ready to see the world more curiously as you move like, play like, and explore just like Blippi! Join Blippi and Meekah. live on stage in a high-energy live show packed with music,
laughter, and surprises, featuring fan-favorites like “The Excavator Song,” “Monster Truck,” “Dino Dance,” and “Curious Like Me.” This brand-new interactive adventure invites families to put on your orange glasses and unlock the spark of curiosity inside us all—showing that everyone can Be Like Blippi!
Children under 2 years old do not require a ticket to sit on a parent’s lap, but all other customers do.
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Climb, play, and have fun! Join us on the first Friday of every month for an evening of indoor climbing and games. Perfect for ages 7-16, with no experience needed. Whether it is their first time or they already love to climb, kids can explore, adventure,
and challenge themselves in a supervised environment. Limited Availability – booking is recommended. Walk-ins are welcome if open spots are available.
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Middle school, ugh. It’s the worst. But Greg is determined not to be at the bottom of the popularity chart. He’ll leave that to his weird neighbor, Fregley. Or maybe Greg’s best friend, Rowley Jefferson. But it’s not going to be Greg…no way. Jeff Kinney’s
popular character takes center stage as Greg’s cartoon diary becomes a hilarious and heartfelt musical. Will Greg’s plans to become popular lead him to sacrifice his one true friend? Can anyone avoid the dreaded Cheese Touch? Grab a hall pass and don’t be late for an adventure familiar to anyone who actually survived middle school. Recommended Ages: 8 and up. Show Run-Time is 60-Minutes, plus our post-show 10-minute talk-back. **Sensory-Friendly Performance is Sunday, March 1 at 10AM. To
purchase tickets for this performance, click the link below and use code: SENSORY25
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Drop in to explore some unique ways to make art. The focus is on the process, not the finished picture, so it's fun for everyone, from the most petit painters to the more advanced artists!
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Stop by our Playspace on select Saturdays for an educator-led Storytime featuring nature-themed books and props. Each session features different books designed to stimulate young minds and deepen the connection between people and plants. This program will
take place indoors and is recommended for Early Childhood, ages 5 and under. We encourage caregivers to park their strollers in House 7 before joining Storytime to accommodate space.
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Learn more about the parts of a bug in this arthropod architecture workshop! From cephalothorax to elytra, learn about the anatomy of bugs! Participants will meet our living bug ambassadors and build their own creepy crawly craft to bring home!
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March 7 is National Cereal Day! Hear the story of the breakfast cereal industry in Buffalo, presented by Explore Buffalo. Buffalo & Erie County Public Library – Central Library (1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203) | Ring of Knowledge (Main Floor) |
Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
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Join us for a deep dive into mixed media animation. You’ll experiment with combining hand drawn animation with digital images, digital illustration, and collage.
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best
experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech!
Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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- Visit the Easter Bunny 2026 at Walden Galleria - Walden Galleria Mall, One Walden Galleria, Buffalo, NY 14225, March 6-8, 2026, varies
- Book Babies - Clarence Public Library, 3 Town Place, Clarence, NY 14031, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:30 AM
- 2026 Lollypop
Farm Tails of Hope Telethon presented by Hoselton Auto Mall - Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester, 99 Victor Road, Fairport, NY 14450, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- Pint-Sized Picassos at the Central Library - Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY,
Saturday, March 7, 2026, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
- Family Board Game Day at Kenmore Library - Kenmore Branch Library, Delaware Road, Kenmore, NY, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9:30 am - 5 pm
- Yarn Club at the Eden Public Library - Eden Library, 2901 E Church St, Eden, NY 14057, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10 am - 12:30 pm
- Pokémon Club - Lancaster Public Library, 5466 Broadway, Lancaster, NY 14086, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 11:00AM - 12:00 PM
- My City Smells Like Cereal - Buffalo & Erie County
Public Library, Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
- Saturday Academy
- Southside Elementary School, 430 Southside Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14210, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9am
- Open House Saturday March 7th at Aurora Waldorf School - Aurora Waldorf School, 525 W Falls Rd, West Falls, NY 14170, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Glass Snow Family at Corning Museum of Glass - Corning Museum of Glass, Museum Way, Corning, NY 14830, March 6-8, 2026, 9 am - 5
pm
- Free Outdoor Ice Skating at Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza - Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza, Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY, March 6-8, 2026, varies, see below
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in WNY 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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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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