KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Thu, Jun 25: Glow-in-the-Dark Night at Broadway Driving Range and Miniture Golf
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 Wed, Jul 22: Zoomagination: Lantern Festival at the Buffalo Zoo
Thu, Jul 23: Kids Night Mini Tours at the Martin House
Fri, Jul 24: The Genesee County Fair
Fri, Jul 24: Pajama Night, Bisons Family Campout & Fireworks at Sahlen Field Buffalo Bisons vs. Rochester Red Wings
Sat, Jul 25: Dream Builders Parent and Me: Intro to Cricut Machines
Sat, Jul 25: Stargazing in Hamburg
Sun, Jul 26: Annual
Galbani Italian Heritage and Food Festival of Buffalo!
Sun, Jul 26: Christmas in July!
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The summer I was 5, my parents took our family to Cape Cod for a week. In Provincetown, we bought a kite, then headed to the dunes in North Truro, where my sister and I spent hours running full-tilt up and down the bare white hills. We’d scramble to the top, turn, and launch ourselves downward, legs windmilling, hair flying, lungs full of salt air and triumph. Invariably, we’d
fall, slap into the soft, sun-warmed sand, pop back up, and do it again. Tumbling down the dunes was gravity. Sand was friction. The kite tugging on our arms was air on the move. We didn't have words to describe these phenomena—we were little kids, not tiny physicists with notebooks. A decade later, my calculus teacher would give me the words and symbols to process motion conceptually, but experiences like this had already taught my body that I was an actor in the physics of
the world. My body understood. Summer is the perfect time for kids to learn motion from the inside out. Motion is in amusement park rides, in waves bobbing ducks and inner tubes up and down at the lake, in trains pulling you forward in one dimension and airplanes moving you through three. It’s in bikes and swings and Frisbees and trampolines and slip-and-slides, in tumbling through the days without realizing that learning is happening. As tour guides to our
kids’ universe, we can point gently: Feel how the swing slows at the top? Notice how the wave lifts you before it lets you down? See how leaning changes the bike’s path? But the point is not to turn summer into physics class. The point is to help kids notice how the world feels as they move through it. The equations can come later; now is the time for motion, and for the emotion that accompanies it. Summer’s gift is the body’s memory: wind, water, speed, balance, falling, landing, and getting up
to run again.
—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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Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries provide free, safe community spaces where children of all ages can develop a lifelong love of reading and discovery in a variety of fun and engaging ways. Today’s 37 Library locations offer easy access to hands-on enrichment programs, as well as serving as hubs for parents/guardians to connect with trusted resources, services, and other caregivers. Filled with more than just traditional and downloadable books, libraries offer MakerSpaces, board and card games, LEGO clubs, book clubs, cooking clubs, toddler times, storytimes, teen activities, and more! Library cards are free, borrowing is free, programs and Wi-Fi are free, and everyone is always we
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Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg, New York will be open daily throughout the summer starting this Saturday, June 27 through Labor Day. This one-of-a-kind day trip blends excitement, discovery, and the joy of connecting with wildlife hands-on. Take a guided safari bus or self-drive thru tour of the 63-acre park and come face-to-face with majestic animals from around the world. You’ll encounter towering bison and graceful elk, camels, zebras, and other exotic species. Select a COMBO package to include a discounted visit to the Small Animal Adventure walk thru and petting zoo. Perfect for all ages, the adventure is closer than you think! Reservations recommended. Order tickets online.
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Are you ready for summer? Summer starts next week, and Stutelage Camps are kicking off an exciting season of learning, creativity, and fun! With flexible half-day options, families can mix and match camps to fit their schedules while kids explore engaging themes like STEM, art, cooking, and more. Our programs are led by certified teachers and professional educators who know how to keep kids both happy and challenged in a safe, supportive environment. Whether your child loves building, creating, experimenting, or making new friends, there’s something for everyone. Spots are filling quickly, so now is the perfect time to finalize your plans and get ready for an unforgettable summer! Check us out in East Amherst, Clarence Center, Williamsville, Kenmore, Grand Island, Lancaster, Orchard Park, and Hamburg. Register Here: bit.ly/campregistrations
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Kicking off summer concert season, head to Cazenovia Park every Thursday in June! Featuring live bands, local beer and seltzers, local food and more. In front of the Casino in Cazenovia Park. FREE!
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Stop by anytime between 2:30 - 4:00 PM to decorate your own free kite and test it out in the park! Kite flying is weather dependent. Meet at Shelter C which is by the playground and parking can be accessed on Witmer Road. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the program. Registration is required for all programs. This is a passive program, you may stop by anytime between 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM. Programs are free. Parking is limited and parking fees may apply.
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KENMORE DAYS is the longest-running community event in Kenmore. It started in the 1970s, when the Kenmore Merchants Association (now Kenmore Business Association) sold tickets to Crystal Beach, Canada. Later, the event moved to the Village, with carnival rides set up in the Municipal Parking lots and on Lincoln. After the Village Centennial, the event was moved to Mang Park to centralize all of the fun.
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We’re celebrating our 7th year at Canalside in style! Our 7th Birthday Celebration presented by Rich Products is taking place June 26-29! Stay tuned for a full schedule and list of activities!
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From Thursday, June 25th through Saturday, June 27th the Boston Free Library is hosting a 3 day Pop Up Book Sale of gently used library materials. Adult hardcover books, paperbacks, nonfiction, CDs, DVDs, and children's books all priced between $0.25-$1.00. Saturday, June 27th will be fill a box/bag for $2.00. All proceeds benefit the Boston Free Library.
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Radio Control pilots from Western New York will be showing their model airplanes, jets, helicopters, and flying them throughout the day. There will be a noon show with some of the best pilots showing their skills. Flying starts at 10:00 am
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Visit our Botanical Gardens on select dates for a unique art-making experience inspired by the lush greenery and vibrant plant life of our conservatory. Through themed art activities, immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and textures of the Botanical Gardens while crafting your own botanical-inspired craft. Bring your imagination to life, all needed materials are provided. Join us for a relaxing, fun-filled day of art, nature, and creativity.
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A WNY Arts & Crafts tradition, now marking 50 years of Roycrodft Renaissance in the heart of East Aurora: The 2026 Roycroft Summer Festival runs from 10 a.m until 5 p.m. on Saturday June 27 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday June 28 at the Classic Rink, located at 41 Riley Street in the Village of East Aurora. The Classic Rink is an open air roofed venue that provides protection from elements and ensures a comfortable experience for attendees that includes ample parking. With the festival centrally located in the village, patrons can park once and take advantage of everything East Aurora has to offer, including Main Street shops and restaurants.
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Join us on the fourth Saturday of the month from 1:30–3:30 pm for a creative afternoon of reading, exploring, and making art! Each session includes: A featured children’s book, A guided gallery tour inspired by the story, A hands-on artmaking activity, and more! Registration is required.
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Take a Behind the Scenes tour of the Farmstead and meet our heritage breed sheep and chickens. Participants will learn about our flock's unique wool fibers, engage in a hands-on activity with wool from our flock, feed our sheep and chickens across the Farmstead, and receive a bag full of Hog Island Sheep wool to craft with at home. Hog Island Sheep wool is unique in its properties. It is described as dense and springy. It creates a fluffy yarn with exceptional heat insulation. Come meet our farmstead friends and learn more about this special wool!
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Calling all bookworms! Join us for our third annual Children's Book Festival presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield at Canalside on Sunday, June 28th from 10:00am-1:00pm.
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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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