KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Mon, Jan 12: Teen Arts, Crafts, and Cosplay Club at University City
Regional Library
Thu, Jan 15: Admissions Open House - Philips Academy
Fri, Jan 16: Kids Can Make a Difference Food Drive - North Carolina Museum of Dolls, Toys & Miniatures
Tue, Jan 27: SustainabiliTEEN! Eco-Friendly Teen Program - ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center
Tue, Feb 3: Tasty Tuesdays at Matthews United Methodist
Thu, Feb 5: TTB KidZ Children's Consignment Sale
Sat, Feb 7: Carolina Ascent FC Home Game at American Legion Memorial Stadium
Sat, Feb 14: SCNP: BHM Nature Series Presents: African American History at Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center
Tue, Feb 24: NC First in Freedom Festival - North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources
Sat, Feb 28: Girl Scout Badge Day - NASCAR Hall of Fame |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
I'm in Phoenix this week for a meeting of the American Astronomical Society, where I'm giving a talk about my new book, The Eclipse Effect. One of the best parts of being here is getting to attend the other presentations, too, which is how I found myself Monday night inside under the Dorrance Planetarium Dome at the Arizona Science Center, gazing up at a sky unlike any I’ve ever seen. Thanks to cutting-edge LED projection technology and the first imagery from the nearly-complete Rubin Observatory in Chile, the dome became a portal into the depths of our galaxy and beyond, rendered in light so vivid and
detailed it felt like we could fall in. The room was full of astronomers, researchers, educators—professionals who have dedicated their careers to explaining the universe. These were the very people who helped build the tools, who'd worked the math, who’d waited decades to see the science take shape... and even they were astonished: Their faces were lit up with the kind of awe you usually only see in children. It was a reminder that at its heart, science is about
connection. Connecting those points of light above my head, yes; connecting the dots, sure... but also connecting people—to each other, to wonder, and to what’s possible. If you want your kids to connect deeply with science—or history, or nature, or culture, or space—you don’t need a telescope on a mountain, you just need a person. So go to the museum, walk the trail, step into the planetarium. But don’t stop at the exhibit signs: Find the people! Ask them
questions. They want to talk to you! These docents, tour guides, librarians, explainers, and educators are the ones who turn information into illumination. They are the lens your kids can look through to see what their future might be. So seek the sky painters. Then stand next to your kids, look up, and be amazed together.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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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Charlotte’s largest and most organized children’s consignment sale has been outfitting families across the Southeast for 15 years, drawing shoppers from as far as Maryland and Tennessee for a can’t‑miss shopping frenzy. Filling 80,000 square feet at Independence Hall in the Park Expo & Conference Center, the sale features more than 100,000 items—clothing, toys, baby gear, books, furniture, and more—enough clothing to stretch over half a mile on a single rack. Consignors earn 60–78% of sales, far more than typical shops. With free parking, free admission, VIP presale options, and payment flexibility, TTB KidZ is the ultimate one‑stop seasonal shop.
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Welcome to the North Carolina Transportation Museum! The N.C. Transportation Museum is a historic site, once home to one of Southern Railway’s major steam locomotive repair facilities located between Washington, DC, and Atlanta, GA, and a museum featuring all types of transportation history – railroading, automotive, aviation, and more! Visitors can take a 25-minute train ride around our 60-acre site pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive and explore our displays and exhibits. We also host a variety of fun events for kids! Visit our website to learn about upcoming events, see our seasonal train ride schedule, and more!Plan your visit today for a trip into the past at the museum that moves you!
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Step into a glowing, snow-dusted wonderland with the debut of Snow Days, a one-of-a-kind indoor winter experience in Charlotte, NC, opening Saturday, November 22 and running through the winter holidays. Snow Days is a family-friendly winter experience designed to inspire awe, nostalgia and wonder—perfect for anyone looking for indoor winter activities in Charlotte or things to do in Charlotte when it’s cold.
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Get ready for the silliest Cinderella you've ever seen as the classic tale gets turned upside down. Will Cinderella make it to the ball without tripping over her own glass slippers? Will the prince recognize her even if she's wearing a disguise? With a little help from the Fairy Odd Mother and the audience as Footman and Fairies, she may find true love before the stroke of midnight. Heartfelt humor, hilarious costumes, and jokes abound in this delightfully daft version of the story we all know and love. You’re guaranteed to have a ball!
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Step out onto the trails as we explore the preserve and search the skies for our beloved winged friends. From the radiant Northern Cardinals to the majestic Red-shouldered Hawks, the list of potential sightings is endless. Along the way, we'll work on identification techniques to help everyone become better birders. Open to all levels of bird watching; BYO binoculars or borrow a pair from us.
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- SCNP: Friday Fire and S'mores (drop-in) - Stevens Creek Nature Preserve, Mint Hill, Friday, 01/09/2026, 10:30am to 12:00pm
- Unplugged at the Loft - ImaginOn: The Joe &
Joan Martin Center, Charlotte, Friday, 01/09/2026, See website for details
- Cannon School Open
House - Cannon School, Concord, Saturday, 01/10/2026, 10 am
- SCNP: Saturday S'mores (drop
in) - Stevens Creek Nature Preserve, Mint Hill, Saturday, 01/10/2026, 10:30am to Noon
- Topsy-Turvy Cinderella - ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, Charlotte, Saturday, 01/10/2026 to Sunday, 01/11/2026, See website for details
- Pineville Rainbow Reads Teen Book Club (Virtual) - Virtual Event, Saturday, 01/10/2026, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
- Campfire Talks - McDowell Nature Center, Charlotte, Sunday, 01/11/2026, 1:30pm-3:30pm
- Paws to Read - ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, Charlotte, Sunday, 01/11/2026, 2 pm - 3
pm
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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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 Charlotte 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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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Charlotte Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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