KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Wed, Feb 11: Hush Hour: Tune In, Zone Out - Allegra Westbrooks Regional
Sat, Feb 14: The Flick at Theatre Charlotte
Mon, Feb 16: Presidents Day at the Museum! - Museum of the Waxhaws
Fri, Feb 20: SCNP: Owl Prowl at Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center
Sun, Feb 22: SCNP: Animal Meet and Greet at Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center
Fri, Feb 27: NC First in Freedom Festival at
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Sat, Feb 28: African
American Heritage Festival at Charlotte Museum of History
Sat, Feb 28: Fossil Fair at The Schiele Museum of Natural History and
Planetarium
Sat, Mar 7: First day of four-week Teen Leadership course at Over The Counter improv
Sat, Mar 14: Next Level Runway - Sewing Boot Camp at Central Piedmont Community College
Sat, Mar 14: Charlotte Spring Fair 2026 at Charlotte Spring Fair
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Next week, my husband and I are heading to a Valentine's Evening behind-the-scenes tour of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, New York. It’s the same Frank Lloyd Wright museum we’ve visited
several times, but this version is fancily dressed for the holiday: candlelight, champagne, treats, and a fresh perspective on something familiar. That’s the real magic of Valentine’s Day: It’s one of those perfectly made-up holidays, constructed out of paper hearts, glitter, and good intentions... and it manages magically to transform our spaces, our schedules, and our spirits. As publisher, I've had a 25-year front row seat to communities
around the country who turn nothing into something every February. This year, visitors can say "I Love Thee" in a Victorian mansion in Riverside, CA while a re-enactor in a top hat explains the romantic origin of the Hershey’s Kiss. Frying Pan Farm Park in Virginia will
help kids say "I Love MOO!" with farm animal puns. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center invites everyone on a Valentine's
Express Steam Train ride that is more light-hearted than steamy. And next Saturday, biologists at the California Academy of Sciences will hand out heart-shaped valentines to their African penguins—who will then present them to their mates to help line their nests. Not
all Valentine’s Day celebrations require you to get out and about, though; just muster some creativity and apply it to stuff you already have lying around the house. Cut hearts from red paper and tape them to the door. Dress in scarlet or rose or salmon pink. Light a candle at dinner while you're eating heart-shaped cheese, toast, bacon, or lasagna (here are 25 fun recipes from Food Network). When you and your kids dress up your world together, you’re not just celebrating love, you’re celebrating creativity. And they're learning the life skill of transforming ordinary stuff around them into something special. It only takes one step beyond the good intention to make it so. Love can be grand, indeed. But it doesn’t have to be grand to be great.
—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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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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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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Coppélia is a fun, family-friendly ballet featuring student dancers from across the Charlotte area alongside professional artists from around the world. This lighthearted story follows Swanilda and Frantz as their curiosity leads them into the workshop of
the quirky inventor Dr. Coppélius—and a playful adventure unfolds. With lively dancing, colorful characters, and a family-friendly ticket price, this classic delight is perfect for audiences of all ages. Join us on Saturday, March 7 at 11am or 4pm, or Sunday, March 8 at 2pm.
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Step into a musical journey of Stardew Valley, with an orchestra performing brand new arrangements of the game’s soundtrack while gameplay videos play on screen! Symphony of Seasons is the new Stardew Valley concert, featuring a 35-piece orchestra
performing the most memorable music from the game and a screen above the stage playing gameplay footage, plus original content exclusively created for this concert celebrating the artistic style of the game. Curated by ConcernedApe, Symphony of Seasons is a musical journey from your first day in the valley to your arrival to the summit. Watch your farm grow throughout the four seasons, and explore the most memorable locations of the valley: from Pelican Town to the Skull Cavern, from Ginger
Island to Calico Desert, from the Submarine to the Wizard's Tower and much more.
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DCP is proud to present “Shrek the Musical, Jr.” February 6-14, 2026, at the elegant Cain Center for the Arts. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and the Broadway musical, this hour-long, family-friendly production invites audiences of all
ages into a big, bright, beautiful world where Shrek and a cast of fairy-tale misfits discover friendship, love, and self-acceptance. Don’t miss this joyful showcase of DCP’s talented Connie Company performers.
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This interactive workshop will take participants through a historical inquiry into African American family traditions. Individuals and families will collaborate to create children’s books that commemorate significant events. Participants will also be
invited to take family photos, which will be used to design family tree trading cards and photo albums. To preserve family recipes, participants can also create family recipe cards to pass down for generations to come! The traditions we develop will preserve our past as we continue to define ourselves and shape our future. Participants will also find themselves connected to a community of other like-minded families striving to ensure that their cultural family traditions continue to pay homage
and evolve.
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Join Kind Behavioral Health for a cozy morning of family fun, community connection, and winter cheer! This inclusive, sensory-friendly event is designed for children with autism and their families to enjoy a welcoming and engaging experience together.
Families can explore a provider resource fair, enjoy build-a-snowman activities, sweet treats, and participate in thoughtfully planned sensory-friendly activities in a calm, supportive environment. We can’t wait to share a fun morning with you!
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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- TTB KidZ Children's Consignment Sale - THE PARK EXPO
& CONFERENCE CENTER, Charlotte, Friday, February 6, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- SCNP: Friday Fire and S'mores (drop-in) - Stevens Creek Nature Preserve, 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, Friday, February 6, 2026, 10:30am to 12:00pm
- SCNP: Geocache Charlotte 2026 Challenge - Stevens Creek Nature Preserve, 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, Saturday, February 7, 2026, 12:01am to 11:59pm
- SCNP: Geocache Charlotte 2026 Kick-Off - Stevens Creek Nature Preserve, 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227,
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10:00am to 11:30am
- Campfire and Cocoa - 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC, Saturday, February 7, 2026,
2:30pm-4pm
- Sensory-Friendly Winterfest - 3820 Randolph Heights Dr., Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28205,
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Sustainability Saturday - 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC, Saturday, February 7,
2026, 1:30pm-3:30pm
- Paws to Read - ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center - ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC, Sunday, February 8, 2026, 2 pm - 3 pm
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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.
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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.
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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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