KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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!
Tue, Jul 28: Kids July Cooking Club at Concord Library
Wed, Jul 29: Nature & Dinosaur Stories: Special Story Time with The Wondermakers In-Person
Wed, Jul 29: Wonderful Wednesdays At Burchfield Nature & Art Center
Thu, Jul 30: Benjamin Berry: Circus for All
Fri, Jul 31: Help Neuroscientists Learn About Our Brain Development!
Sat, Aug 1: DIY Sports Swag Workshop
Sun, Aug 2: America 250 Celebration at Old Fort Niagara
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When I was a kid, a giant azalea bush stretched across our backyard, exploding into glorious pink blossoms in early May. In summer, it became something even better: a secret hideout that my sister and I named the Humble Abode. We hollowed out the dead branches behind the bush and dragged in little chairs and treasures and our dollhouse family. The Humble Abode barely qualified as
a fort, and it wasn't even secret; I'm sure my parents knew when we were back there. But it was a great kids-only space. A few weeks ago, I wrote about five summer lenses through which to plan summer: music, motion, making, nature, and food. Making—the lens for this week—reminds kids that they are not merely consumers of the world, but contributors to it. They can push value into existence. They can turn sticks, cardboard, fabric, tape, mud, blocks, gears,
sand, and flour into something that wasn’t there before. Especially for younger kids, making with the hands gives the brain evidence. I did that. I made that. I can make things happen. Summer is perfect for this because summer has time and room for mess. Pull out the science kits, the rocket kits, the LEGO bins, the soap-making sets that arrived at Christmas and then sat politely in the closet. "Upcycle" old boxes, fabric, toys, crayons, paint, buttons.
Let your kids build backyard forts, fairy houses, marble runs, cardboard cities, obstacle courses, blanket tents, museum towers, and whatever else the day and their imagination suggest. Of course, glue will drip. Sand will migrate. The kitchen table may briefly disappear under invention. (If the clutter gets overwhelming, consider a trip or two to your local science museum or maker space to save your sanity.) After all, you can’t make omelets without breaking eggs. And
you can’t make a maker without giving a child some space, some tools, some trust, and permission to begin.
—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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Bird Kingdom is the World’s Largest Free-Flying Indoor Aviary. Discover hundreds of tropical birds as you explore the pathways throughout the multi-level rainforest. Meet friendly parrots and exotic animals at Bird Kingdom’s Animal Encounters. Lorikeet Landing provides an unforgettable experience where you may feed and interact with the playful Lorikeet parrots. Open every day of the year, with excellent reviews landing Bird Kingdom in the Tripadvisor Hall of Fame. Seniors enjoy a 50% discount Tuesdays all Year! Nature lovers plan your trip at Birdkingdom.ca. Located on the river, a short walk from the beautiful Niagara Falls.
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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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Walden Galleria’s 2026 Summer Kids Club is BACK for the summer, so get ready for a great lineup of events that kids (and parents) will love! Kids Club events will be held from July 7th to August 18th every Tuesday, featuring activities at Urban Air Adventure Park, Dave & Buster’s, LEGO, Regal Cinemas, Nickel City Reptiles & Exotics, Silent Disco Buffalo and more! For a day filled with FREE activities this summer at Walden Galleria, REGISTER HERE: https://www.waldengalleria.com/summer-kids-club-2026-%e2%98%80%ef%b8%8f%f0%9f%98%8e-at-walden-galleria/
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Here at Green Acres Ice Cream, the porch will be glowing! Get your FREE GLOW BRACELET with every menu item purchased! Before or after your ice cream, enjoy some GLOW-IN-THE-DARK MINIATURE GOLF. This is a FUN family event for everyone. Glow-in-the-Dark Night starts at DARK and goes through 11:00 PM. If Glow-in-the-Dark Miniature Golf gets rained out, Green Acres Ice Cream will close at 10:00 PM.
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New Take and Make Crafts drop every Monday morning. Make them in the library, or take them on-the-go to make elsewhere. Take and Make Crafts are always for all ages (baby through adult!), but vary in difficulty levels. Take and Make Crafts are available on the holds shelf during open hours throughout the week while supplies last. First come, first served. Open hours: Mondays 10am-6pm Tuesdays 9am-5pm Wednesdays 12pm-8pm Thursdays 10am-6pm Saturdays 10am-6pm
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Join us for summer Story Time on the Farm! Weekly themed story times and special activities, included with regular admission or a season pass! Reading at 10:30am , followed by a simple activity or craft.
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On July 3rd the Park is open late so your family can enjoy yourselves until it's time to get your spots for Fireworks over Lake Ontario in Olcott which begins at 10! In honor of the July 4th holiday, it will be open 12:00 - 6:00 pm the rest of the weekend. Magic Show at 2 pm both days. All rides are 25¢; kiddie rides are for children no taller than 52 inches. Smoke free park, shoes required.
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Join us at Canalside for 4th of July weekend as we celebrate the return of the World's Largest Rubber Duck! 4th of July Weekend at Canalside is presented by Buffalove Apparel.
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A summer night at Buffalo’s Outer Harbor with JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, celebrating the spirit of America through music. From sweeping orchestral favorites to iconic themes, Western New Yorkers can gather together for a powerful celebration of America250, culminating in a glittering fireworks display over Lake Erie.
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Bring the family and join us for our 4th of July Carnival at The Great Pumpkin Farm! Enjoy amusement rides, family friendly games, great food, vendors, & live music!
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Celebrate 250 years as we explore the park for bald eagles on the 4th of July. Meet at the Evangola State Park Nature Center. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the program. Registration is required for all programs. Dress appropriate for the weather. Programs are free. Parking is limited and parking fees may apply.
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Without 1759, there would have been no 1776. Discover how the French and Indian War set the stage for the American Revolution and American independence! 1759 was a year of victories for the British. The first of these great victories in North America happened right here on the Niagara Frontier as British forces and their Indigenous allies lay siege to French-held Fort Niagara. Experience the drama of the historic conflict that took place in July of 1759. Witness artillery bombardments, battle reenactments, a French attempt to relieve the Fort and lift the siege and much more. Wander through acres of period merchants and artisans and learn about the critical role the Six Nations played in the conflict.
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Wander the Wild and explore Hawk Creek Wildlife Center with a self-guided tour! Enjoy a relaxed visit free of the hustle and bustle and crowds of normal event days. Go at your own pace, visiting with Hawk Creek’s animal residents, and chat with our team of naturalists. A great option for when you have friends or family visiting from out of town and you want to introduce them to Hawk Creek!
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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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Nothing says SUMMER quite like going to an amusement park with your family! We've put together a great list of ones you can visit within driving distance of Buffalo. So, pack the sunscreen, load up the car, and head out on a grand adventure!
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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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