KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Feb 20: Baby Dino Days at Great Country Farms at Great Country Farms -
Bluemont, VA
Sat, Feb 21: Berliner Helicopter Weekend at College Park Aviation Museum
Sun, Feb 22: Owl Walk and Talk at Hidden Oaks Nature Center
Thu, Mar 12: Cinderella at The Puppet Co. Playhouse
Fri, Mar 13: Awesome Con 2026
Thu, Mar 26: SEEC Enrollment Tour: American
History Center at Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center
Sun, Mar 29: National Harbor's Annual Sakura Sunday
Sun, Apr 12: Virginia Osprey Festival in Colonial Beach
Fri, Apr 17: Rockville International Night at Rockville Civic Center Park
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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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Omnium Circus delivers a unique blend of thrills, chills, fun and laughter! Join us where everyone is in on the action in a spirited limit-defying & life-affirming spectacle with award winning artistry, memorable music, and a heartwarming story. Our new
show features America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer- Mandy Harvey, Malik Paris, a Deaf dancer and ASL performance artist, and top talent from across the nation. You’ll enjoy 2 Guinness record holders, the world's fastest female juggler, a record-holding hair hang artist with a PhD, and the comedy antics of Monday and Riley. Experience jaw-dropping performances of skill, dexterity and comedy, while creating memories your family will treasure forever.
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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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The Pigeon and his friends have landed at the National Children’s Museum in The Pigeon Comes to Washington, DC! A Mo Willems Exhibit. Children and their families can explore their own creativity, exercise their imagination, and bask in the belly laughs sure
to arise with every surprise and discovery. Join a colorful cast of characters in this whimsical world of author Mo Willems, on display in our Visiting Exhibit Hall through May 10, 2026.
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The Hylton Performing Arts Center believes that children should experience the arts early and often. That's why we offer performances designed for children, offer half-price Hylton Presents tickets for kids, and designate the performances most suitable
for all ages as family friendly. Our Hylton 2025-26 Family Series features Click, Clack, Moo, and much more. Join us!
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Based upon the Walter de La Mare short story "Lord Fish" written in 1927. This show features elegantly crafted Bunraku-style puppets with elaborately built miniature castle and interior sets. Framed in a beautiful, large black theatre stage, this show was
originally built for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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Discover the powerful intersection of American history and the rise of railroading—how the rails did not just transform transportation, but sparked the growth of industries across the nation. Together, we’ll uncover how the railroad opened the door to
freedom: freedom to prosper, freedom to explore, and freedom to pursue a new life.
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Join us for activities and collections to mark Washington’s Birthday as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Explore The Two Georges exhibition and learn about the parallel lives of George Washington and George III. Make your own sculpture to take home
inspired by the exhibition.
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The sap is rising and the maple trees are tapped. Now its sugaring time! Bundle up to brave the weather and watch and learn as sap is boiled down into delicious, sweet syrup over an open fire. Sample the delicious combination of maple syrup over cornbread,
made from Colvin Run cornmeal. While supplies last. This is an outdoor event, please dress appropriately.
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Join us in celebrating Black History Month with a concert by the renowned Jubilee Voices, part of the Washington Revels. Founded in 2010, the ensemble performs throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, preserving African American history and
traditions through unique programs that infuse history with a cappella music, drama, spoken word, and dance. Recommended for all ages.
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We will read a story, sing songs, and dance. Children and their grownups are encouraged to actively engage and participate in the ways that work best for them. This can include moving around the room rather than sitting down, communicating with sign
language or AAC devices, and more! Content is designed for children ages 0-5,but children of all ages are welcome to attend with a caregiver. Online registration is required as space is limited.
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A beautiful, movement-based show that revisits the classic film The Red Balloon and will delight audiences of all ages and speakers of all languages. Nothing can go right for the old man, whose days are gray and dreary, until he is visited by a friendly red
balloon. In the playful physical style of 1930’s silent movies, the old man–an adult version of the boy in the film – regains his youthful spirit.
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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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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 Dallas 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 Detroit Metro 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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