KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Wed, Jun 24: Family Fishing Program at Como Lake
Fri, Jun 26: Kenmore Days
2026
Fri, Jun 26: Explore & More’s 7th Birthday Party
Fri, Jun 26: Story Time at Kelkenberg Farm
Sat, Jun 27: WWII Weekend Train Ride at Arcade & Attica Railroad
Sat, Jun 27: 50th annual Roycroft Summer Festival
Sat, Jun 27: Farmstead Experience Day at Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village
Sun, Jun 28: 3rd Annual Canalside Children's Book
Festival
Tue, Jun 30: Kids June Cooking Club at Concord Library
Wed, Jul 1: Movie Nights at Canalside
Thu, Jul 2: Kid’s Rock The Boat
Thu, Jul 2: 2026 Independence Day Carnival
Fri, Jul 3: 4th of July Weekend at Olcott Beach Carousel Park
Fri, Jul 3: Sound & Sky on the Waterfront
Tue, Jul 7: Erie County Fair 2026 - Early Bird Tickets July 7 - August 7
Fri, Jul 10: Mini-Makers at the Burchfield Penney
Fri, Jul 10: Queen of Heaven Carnival
Sat, Jul 11: Superhero Train at Arcade & Attica Railroad
Sat, Jul 11: 2026 Perry Chalk Art Festival - 20th Anniversary
Sat, Jul 11: Canalside Mural Fest
Sat, Jul 11: 2026 Taste of Buffalo
Tue, Jul 14: Kenmore Children's Concert Series
Tue, Jul 14: 2026 Annual Williamsville Old Home Days
Sat, Jul 18: The Genesee County Fair 2026
Sat, Jul 18: 2026 Hamburg Burgerfest
Sat, Jul 18: Life Under Logs Hike at Tifft Nature Preserve
Sun, Jul 19: Canal Fest on the River!
Sun, Jul 19: Waldfest July 20 - 24: Fashion Lab NY Summer Fashion Camp: Fashion History & Sewing for Teens
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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 Buffalo 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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Our 16th Annual Artpark Fairy House Festival will be held on Saturday, June 20, from 11AM to 3PM. This years theme is "Under the Sea!" Set in Artpark’s Lower Park, the Fairy House Festival is an event filled with hands-on art activities and featuring a woodland tour of numerous Fairy Houses locally designed and built by professional Artists, families and community groups. All ages can delight in dancing with bubbles and wondering through the woods to find Fairy Houses.
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Come 'Celery-brate' the return of summer with us and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Our favorite Celery will be on hand with special activities throughout the game, including a Celery Meet n' Greet form 5:00-5:30pm. Additional details are to be announced. All Honda fridaynightbash! games include the $4 Craft Beers & Food Specials during the Resurgence Brewing Happy Hour (5-6:30p) and a postgame Fireworks Show!
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Step into our Tropical Orchard for an extraordinary experience with live butterflies! Reserve your spot now!
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Junior History Buffs is a program at The Buffalo History Museum that engages children ages 4-11 in age-appropriate history lessons, songs, stories, crafts and games. short program, or “Circle Time,” is instructor-guided and includes songs, a brief lesson about local history and a story. After this, self-guided activities can be enjoyed by the whole family such as a craft, interactive artifact explorations, and games related to the exhibits.
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Visit Buffalo, in partnership with Buffalo Waterfront, will host three USA Soccer Watch Parties at Canalside to celebrate the FIFA World Cup 26™ group stage matches between the U.S. Men’s Nation Team and Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye. The FREE public screenings of the June 12, June 19 and June 25 matches are sponsored by Empire State Development’s New York State Community World Cup Grant Program.
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Walk the Destination Dinosaur trail to experience massive, moving dinosaurs like the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, the powerful Triceratops, the fierce Giganotosaurus and more than a dozen other life-size animatronic dinosaurs. Spot them flying overhead, hiding in the foliage and grazing along the dino path. Be sure to make memories with special photo opportunities, get hands-on with our fossil dig pit and enjoy our educational dino show happening daily at 12 and 2 p.m. at Center Stage!
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The objective of the Fredonia Italian Heritage Festival (aka Festival Italia) is to provide a family fun event celebrating the community and regions rich Italian heritage, history and cuisine, while showcasing some of our local craft and wine vendors, while driving foot traffic to the Village of Fredonia helping the local businesses.
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Unleash your inner artisan at the Evangola Nature Center! Make your own soap using a glycerin soap base, fun molds, and wildflowers. (children 8+ with parent/guardian supervision)
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Fathers Ride Free When Accompanied by a Purchased Fare! Fathers ride free on Arcade Railroad! Enjoy a round-trip train excursion. At the halfway point, you depart the train at Curriers Station, where you can do a self-guided tour of the museum. Kids’ activities and concessions are offered. Restrooms are also available. Important Notice: Please make sure to purchase all tickets together in one transaction to guarantee your group sits together. The seats you purchase will be the seats you ride in for that train ride.
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Young wildlings! Pair up with your parent or an adult friend and challenge them to a feral afternoon of wilderness survival skill challenges! Together, you will learn how to make fire, build shelter, tie knots, find wild edibles, and go fishing! Families rotate through stations together and receive a small prize upon completion. Adult supervision required at all times. (event will be indoors if weather is inclement).
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All are invited to enjoy free general Museum admission and explore together at Independent Health’s Community Health Day! Guests are invited to participate in a variety of fun and interactive happenings with a focus on health and wellness throughout the Museum.
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Enjoy a summer carnival on Old Falls Street with a variety of games, rides, food trucks, and more! All-day ride wristbands: $30 ($5 off local discount!) Ride tickets: $1.50 each or $30 for 30 tickets family pack (Rides are typically 3-4 tickets per ride. Food and games can be purchased with cash. Friday: 5-10pm | Saturday: 12-10pm | Sunday: 12-8pm
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It's almost time for fruit picking! 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.
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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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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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