KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Good morning! We are re-sending this newsletter because we had some technical difficulties this morning, and the earlier version didn't include information about a bunch of great activities for this weekend. You'll find them below. - The KidsOutAndAbout team |
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Wed, Feb 18: Nature Crochet and Crafts at McDowell Nature Center
Wed, Feb
18: Taste Of Black History at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library – Beatties Ford
Road
Fri, Feb 20: SCNP: Owl Prowl at Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center
Sat, Feb 21: Jurassic Quest x Brick Fest Live @ The Cabaruss Arena and Convention Center
Tue, Feb 24: NC First in
Freedom Festival at North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Sat, Feb 28: Girl Scout
Badge Day at NASCAR Hall of Fame
Thu, Mar 5: TTB KidZ Children's Consignment Sale-NEW DATES!
Sun, Mar 8: Coppélia presented by Charlotte Youth Ballet
Sat, Mar 14: Charlotte St Patrick's Day Parade 2026
Sun, Mar 15: Charlotte Spring Fair 2026
Sat, Mar 21: Remembering the Ladies: A Living History Experience at Museum of the Waxhaws
Mon, Jun 15: Teen Summer Leadership Camp from Over the Counter Improv
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're still packing
lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are moving through it
together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator,* February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build
Strong Communities
*Rochester, NY ☺️ |
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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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Unforgettable Birthday Parties & Family Fun at Spare Time Entertainment!
Spare Time Entertainment is the ultimate destination for kids to be kids! Our mission is to Create Memorable Experiences, and when you host a party with us, we’ll go out of our way to create an unforgettable memory for your family and friends.
Each of our four customizable birthday party packages include:
Tons of Activities including Bowling, Laser Tag, Game Zone, and more.
Hand-Tossed Pizza and Soft Drinks
Celebratory Place Settings, Lights, and Music
Dedicated Party Host
This year, let our team handle all the hard work while you kick back, relax, and enjoy the celebration!
Spare Time Pineville - 9600 Pineville-Matthews Road, Pineville NC 28134 https://www.sparetimeentertainment.com/pineville/
Spare Time…
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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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Carolina Ninja Academy’s Summer Camp offers an action-packed experience for kids ages 5–12 filled with ninja training, games, skills sessions, team challenges, open gym time, crafts, and plenty of fun. Expert coaches certified in CPR and First Aid guide
campers through obstacle courses and activities designed to build strength, agility, confidence, and teamwork in a safe, energetic environment. Flexible drop-off and extended care options make the camp convenient for families, and lunch plus snacks are provided daily. With structured group activities, age-based sessions, and nonstop excitement, this summer camp is one of the most memorable and fun experiences in the Charlotte area.
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Historic Rosedale is pleased to announce a featured event for Black History Month, “The Black American Experience in the Carolinas.” This event, developed by Historic Rosedale’s African American Legacy Committee, will explore the history of Black Americans
of the area. his free event will take place from 10 am - 11:30 am on Saturday, February 14, 2026, in the large cellar of the 1815 historic house. The original cellar of the home exhibits the kitchen and laundry space of the former plantation home as well as serves as an exhibit space highlighting the work of Historic Rosedale’s African American Legacy Project.
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Join us on Lorax Lane for our first big festival of 2026 and let the good times roll! The celebration kicks off Friday, February 13 with a dazzling Masquerade Ball in Smelt Gallery (inside BMC) from 6 pm – 9 pm. Expect an evening of food, dancing, and
revelry—masks encouraged. The party continues Saturday, February 14 with a full day of Mardi Gras magic, including jester entertainment, live music, and a high-energy costume and music parade led by Boom Unit Brass Band. Come dressed to impress, bring your friends, and celebrate New Orleans–style right here at The Plant.
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Dig In! Little Explorers is designed especially for curious minds ages 0-5 and is a playful and engaging early learning program that introduces young children to the wonders of history through storytelling, music, hands-on activities, and imaginative play.
February’s activities will explore hands-on activity stations inspired by African American culture, community, and history—perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.
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Welcome to The Flick, one of the last theaters in Massachusetts still projecting 35mm films. Here in the run-down theater, three underpaid employees sweep up stale popcorn and debate about cinema. Their tiny battles and not-so-tiny heartbreaks play out in
the empty aisles, becoming more gripping than the lackluster, second-run movies on screen. Winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, The Flick is a hilarious and heartfelt cry for authenticity in a fast-changing world.
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- SCNP: Friday Fire and S'mores (drop-in) - Stevens Creek Nature Preserve, 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, Friday, 02/13/2026, 10:30am to 12:00pm
- Dig In!
Little Explorers Early Learning Program - Levine Museum of the New South - 401 S Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, Friday, 02/13/2026, 10 am - 11:30 am
- BHM Loft Scavenger Hunt: Black Artists, Innovators, & Visionaries! - ImaginOn - East 7th
Street, Charlotte, NC, Friday, 02/13/2026, All day
- SCNP: BHM Nature Series Presents: African American History - Stevens Creek Nature Preserve, 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, Saturday, 02/14/2026, 10:00am to 11:30am
- I Have a Dream
Vision Boards - North County Regional Library - Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville, NC, Saturday, 02/14/2026, 11 am - 12 pm
- The Black American Experience in the Carolinas: A Black History Month Event - Historic Rosedale - 3427 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206, Saturday, 02/14/2026, 10 am - 11:30 am
- Campfire Talks - 15222 York Road,
Charlotte, NC, Sunday, 02/15/2026, 1:30pm-3:30pm
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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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