KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Fri, May 22: Family Campout - Town of Cornelius Parks & Recreation
Sat, May 23: MeckDec Day 2026
Thu, May 28: Rooted Rhythm Concert Series - Anne Springs Close Greenway
Sat, May 30: Sensory Friendly Saturday
Sat, May 30: DRUMSTRONG 20th Annual Charity Rhythm Fest
Thu, Jun 4: Juneteenth Celebration and Storywalk© - Lake Norman State Park
Thu, Jun 11: Swanee Children's Theatre Series - Peter Pan
Fri, Jun 26: Hickory Crawdads Home Game
Sat, Jun 27: Pickin’ on the Porch - Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Sun, Jun 28: Celebrate America - Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Tue, Jun 30: SPLASH! Water Parade at Carowinds |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. So please click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. If you're interested, check out the 2025 list here to see
who won last year. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Young Adventurers Camp offers a nurturing environment for early learners, with themed activities, water days, crafts, field trips, lunch, and optional rest time. Traditional Camp provides K–8 campers a classic summer filled with activities, trips, treats, and flexible schedules, plus leadership opportunities and optional tutoring. Specialty Camps for grades 1–8 deliver immersive, week-long experiences in cooking, STEM, coding, arts, music, and theater. Athletic Adventurers Camps keep K–8 campers active through sports programs led by skilled coaches. All camps emphasize fun, growth, and confidence, with full-day options including meals and engaging experiences tailored to each child’s interests and developmental level.
|
|
|
|
In May 1771, an armed band of backcountry farmers known as the Regulators clashed with Royal Governor William Tryon’s North Carolina militia on the very ground now preserved as the Alamance Battleground State Historic Site. This spring, join us as we honor the 255th anniversary with a special reenactment and commemoration. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for details on how you can experience history brought vividly to life.
|
|
|
|
The 2026 Charlotte Asian Festival and Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival are set for Saturday, May 16 at Ramsey Creek Park on Lake Norman (Cornelius, NC). This annual family-oriented event is a celebration of Asian cultures. We welcome the Asian and non-Asian community in and around Mecklenburg County and throughout the Carolinas. The festival celebrates Asian cultures, diversity, ethnicity, roots and history.
|
|
|
|
Join us for an exciting program of music featuring the talented musicians of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras! Under the direction of conductor Ian Passmore the Youth Symphony will present the Intermezzo from Puccini's Manon Lescaut and Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet. The Youth Camerata will perform music from the hit movie Gladiator and the rousing 1812 Overture. The Youth Philharmonic and Youth Ensemble will perform an exciting mix of new and classic works.
|
|
|
|
An all-inclusive event features 25+ Culinary Partners showcasing Italian and Italian-American cuisine and beverages during a Grand Tasting experience. Guest can anticipate Live Performances, Chef Demonstrations, Car Exhibit, Art Show, an Italian Village Market and more in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, NC. Spring Cocktail Attire is encouraged. Children ages 12 & under free with adult supervision; exclusive rates for young adults ages 13-20. Net proceeds goes to Nevins Inc.
|
|
|
- Free Fun Fridays at Johnston YMCA - Yscholars, 3025 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205, Friday, May 15, 2026, 10:00am
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Charlotte - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Saturday, May 16, 2026, See link for times
- Cornelius
Jazz Festival - Smithville Park, 17738 West Catawba Street, Cornelius, NC, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 6 pm - 10 pm
- Free Stories Under the Stars Series - 401 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7 p.m.
- LNP: Animal Meet & Greet - Drop-In - Quest at Latta Nature Preserve, Sample Road, Huntersville, NC, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
- Free Museum Admission for Active Duty Military Families - NC Museum of Dolls, Toys & Miniatures, 440 South Salisbury Avenue, Spencer, NC 28159, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00AM to 04:00PM
- Free Community Mental Health Fair - Matthews United Methodist
Church, 801 S Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9AM-12PM
- SCNP: Animal Care Behind-the-Scenes - 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:30pm to 2:30pm
- LNP: Insect Investigations - Quest at Latta Nature Preserve, Sample Road, Huntersville, NC, Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
|
|
|
|
The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Charlotte area 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Charlotte 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.
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
