KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, May 8: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - Celebration Performances
Sat, May 9: Barnyard, Band & Booze at Green Meadows Farm
Sun, May 10: Mother's Day at Clark's Elioak Farm
Wed, May 13: Family Program: Sorting and Shaping Seeds at United States Botanic Garden Conservatory
Sat, May 16: Mount Rainier Day Festival 2026
Sat, May
16: Gaithersburg Book Festival Sun, May 17: Family Concert: Vivaldi's Four Seasons
Sat, May 23: Strawberry Jubilee Fest at Great Country Farms
Mon, May 25: Falls Church 44th Annual Memorial Day Parade & Festival
Fri, May
29: Annapolis Irish Festival
Fri, Jun 5: Elmo's Got the Moves - June 5, Capital One Hall, Tysons |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When they were handing out high school yearbook awards, some of my classmates unofficially, though cheerfully, voted me Least Likely to Become a Professional Cheerleader. I couldn’t really disagree: After all, I was a nerd before being a nerd came into fashion, much more comfortable in a library than at a pep rally. So much for teenage
predictions! Yesterday, my daughter Ella turned 25, which means KidsOutAndAbout turns 25, too. When Ella was imminent, and her sister Madison was one-and-a-half, I was realizing just how many incredible experiences for kids and families were all around us in Rochester, NY. Back then, before web calendars were a thing, finding out about stuff happening meant you had to know where to look. So during maternity leave from my old technology consulting firm, I
decided to build a place to make invisible opportunities visible, to celebrate the people who create them, and to build audiences for these great things. We’ve grown to a dedicated team of 20 people doing work that matters, serving 52 regions with 15 million readers per year and 750,000 weekly newsletter subscribers. So yes, I’m a professional cheerleader, and I love it. I love this. I love that my job is to help build an audience for the remarkable experiences
people are bringing to life. I love that our mission is to shine a light on the concerts, camps, classes, festivals, trails, museums, libraries, theaters, and local treasures large and small that become family stories and memories. Far from slowing down, we’re heading into hyper-drive for our Silver Anniversary, so stay tuned! Thank you for being part of the journey, and for giving us so much to cheer about.
—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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Creator Camp is excited to return to the DMV for Summer 2026! Featured on Shark Tank, our camps are designed to inspire the next generation of digital innovators in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We offer specialized tracks in filmmaking, YouTube content creation, animation, and game design. Our hands-on approach ensures that every camper leaves with a project they are proud of and skills that last a lifetime. With weekly sessions running from June to August, there’s no better place for your child to explore the intersection of art and technology. Sign up now for a summer of creation!
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Get ready to race at this exclusive LEGO® F1® -themed ‘Build the Thrill Event’ only at LEGO® Discovery Center Washington, D.C. now through May 25th! Grab your pit pass and drivers briefing and choose your team. Get hands-on with LEGO® bricks to create a minifigure driver and build an ultimate race car, before putting them through their paces! Will you take pole position? Then take on build challenges to beat the clock, before taking part in an awesome race! Plus, visit LEGO® F1® in MINIWORLD, what scenes will you spot? Rev those engines and join in the LEGO® F1® fun now!
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Make it a summer of creativity and fun with Brooklyn Robot Foundry! Each week of this popular Summer Circuits program features a cool theme, with special robot projects, crafts, games, outside time, and more awesomeness. Yes, kids will learn about circuitry and other STEAM-tastic wonders, but most of all they'll get silly and have a great time! Pick one theme or try all four - each day kids will get to build a unique robot and take it home with them for more fun! These fun-filled weeks for rising 1st - 5th graders run from June through August from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day (Extended day is available).
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Give your kids something to get excited about and start them on Music Lessons (In-Person or Online) with the International School of Music! Voted best for Music Lessons, International School of Music has a team of nurturing and patient instructors who will customize lessons to students’ goals so each child can progress at their own pace and learn the music they love! From the Early Childhood Music Program to private Music Lesson Program, the International School of Music offers an award-winning instruction in all instruments and voice whether they play classical, rock, pop, jazz, or folk! ISM’s fun, engaging and personalized lessons help students bring structure into their lives, confidence, concentration, and self-expression that last beyond the music lessons! Call/Text: 301-396-7497 or contact them here to schedule YOUR music lessons today and save 50% off registration by 6/15! LEARN MORE: https://ismw.org/
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Teen homeschoolers (ages 14+) are invited to be part of an exciting event by volunteering at the ACLI Capital Challenge on May 6, 2026, at Anacostia Park! This unique race brings together teams from the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches, along with the media, and volunteers play a key role in making it all happen. Opportunities include helping with parking flow, cheering runners at the finish line, assisting with awards, supporting the timing team, and serving water stations both on the course and at the finish. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt, refreshments, and community service hours (upon request)—a great way to give back, gain experience, and be part of an inspiring day! Sign up today! Learn more about the ACLI Capital Challenge: https://capitalchallenge.com/
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Campers will step into our magical school of witchcraft and wizardry for the week, crafting their very own magic wands, witch and wizard hats, and other fun magic-themed crafts.
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Join us for Galaxy Rebels Weekend on May 3rd & 4th! Come be a hero at a Children’s Museum not so far away! On May 3rd & 4th, visit Port Discovery Children’s Museum for fun that visitors from all planets and galaxies are sure to enjoy. With activities ranging from building a laser sword to hero training, everyone is sure to find something that will put a smile on their face.
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Mark your calendars for May 3rd, 2026. Shipgarten invites you to our Cinco De Mayo Kids and Family Festival with Encanto! Step into a world of family-friendly fun at Shipgarten, Tysons Corner top restaurant for families! Join us on Sunday, May 5th, from 12PM to 6 PM, as we invite you to enjoy a day of excitement as we are having Encanto Host the Kids and Family Festival. Bring the whole family for an unforgettable experience! For your little ones Shipgarten has FREE face painting and arts & crafts, allowing their creativity to shine. The fun doesn’t stop there – we’ve got live music, great drinks, moonbounces, and a full outdoor playground to ensure everyone has a blast. Dogs are more than welcome at Shipgarten, whether on-leash or in our off-leash dog park. Treat your furry friends to Pup Cups and Kongs filled with peanut butter for a delightful family treat.
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Enjoy our friendly farm animals, homegrown plants and produce, savory barbecue, live music and more at the Corner Market! Our spring season has been evolving for almost a decade, and we have gradually streamlined our greenhouse operation. Spring & Summer at the Corner Market combines the best of our greenhouse operations with seasonal produce crops and so much more!
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Celebrate the 14th Annual Running of the Chihuahuas presented by Pacifico and emceed by Tommy McFly. The fun-filled and free event features the iconic Chihuahua races, a Pacifico Beer Garden, a DJ, and a giant inflatable Chihuahua for photo opportunities. Stop by the Tito's Chihuahua Lounge on Transit Pier for a cocktail made with Vodka for Dog People. The highlight of the afternoon, the races feature over 150 Chihuahuas racing in groups of eight on a sixty foot racetrack. All the action is captured on a huge video screen and the winners take home pet-friendly gifts, prizes, and more! All race proceeds benefit Rural Dog Rescue – a non-profit organization dedicated to pulling dogs from high-kill rural shelters.
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Learn more about your place in the world through explorations of nature and culture. Come celebrate Amphibian Week with a special kickoff event at The World & Me inside Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center! Join us Saturday, May 2nd, as we learn about amphibians with our friends from the US Geological Survey and more! Families with learners of all ages will be invited to explore different stations, see live amphibians, and explore play, art, and related museum collections.
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All Aboard for a Rockin’ Good Time! Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour is hitting the tracks and bringing the beat to heritage railways across the country! Hop on board for a real train ride with Thomas, strike a pose at photo ops and snag something cool at the exclusive gift shop. Then, keep the beat going at the Music Corner, packed with lawn games, hands-on activities, and music-inspired fun that’ll have the whole family dancing!
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - DC Metro area - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 05/01/2026 - 05/03/2026, See link for times
- First Fridays in Manassas - , 9027 Center Street, Manassas, VA, USA, 05/01/2026, 6 pm - 9 pm
- Observe the Sun with Smithsonian National Air and Space
Museum - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Jefferson Drive Southwest, Washington, DC, USA, 05/01/2026 - 05/02/2026, 12 pm - 3 pm
- 14th Annual Running of the Chihuahuas - District Wharf - , 735 Water Street Southwest, Washington, DC 20024, United States, 05/02/2026, 2
pm - 5 pm
- Farmers Market SW at District Wharf - , 735 Water Street Southwest, Washington, DC 20024, United States, 05/02/2026, 9 am - 1 pm
- Solomons Maritime Festival at the Calvert Marine Museum - Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons Island Road South, Solomons, MD, USA, 05/02/2026, 10 am - 4 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the DMV 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the DMV 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 DMV 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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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