KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Mon, Jul 13: Animation Celebration! 2026 at Smithsonian - National Museum of the American Indian
Wed, Jul 15: Sunset Cinema at The Wharf
Thu, Jul 16: Summer Evening Hours at U.S. Botanic Garden!
Thu, Jul 16: Live from the Lawn—Cool Concerts for Kids: Wendy & DB
Sat, Jul 18: Fairy Festival at Clark's Elioak Farm
Sat, Jul 18: Jethro's 119th Birthday Celebration at Leesburg Animal Park
Sun, Jul 19: Shipgarten Kids and Family Festival with Moana and Maui
Fri, Jul 24: Story Time with the National Postal Museum
Sat, Jul 25: City of Manassas Mariachis Tequila & Taco Festival 2026
Sat, Jul 25:
Play like a Pro at Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Sun, Jul 26: Peach Fuzztival at Great Country Farms
Sat, Aug 1: Manassas African American Heritage Festival
Fri, Aug 7: EleFest at Smithsonian's National Zoo
Sat, Aug 8: In The Field: Community Science: Mothing by Moonlight at Locust Grove Nature Center
Tue, Aug 11: Play Date at NMNH: World Elephant
Day!
Sat, Aug 29: Maryland Renaissance Festival 2026! |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
In last week's column, I wrote about the Humble Abode, the kids-only hideout my sister and I created behind the giant azalea bush in our backyard. We dragged in chairs and treasures and made a little home in the hollowed-out
branches. At the time, I thought of it as something we had built. But of course, we didn’t create it from nothing. We were makers, yes, but we were making inside a world that was already alive. Summer is the perfect time for kids to experience that lesson up close and personal, with all their senses. The world is warm, green, buzzing, blooming, squelching, chirping, dripping, and growing almost too fast to track. Kids can smell lake water and tomato leaves, feel bark and moss
and mud, watch ants organize themselves with alarming competence, and notice that the same trail looks different after rain. Nature doesn’t need a lesson plan. It offers immediacy first: I am here. This is real. Pay attention. And then, quietly, it offers perspective. A child is legitimately the center of his or her own universe; we all are, from the inside. But Nature gently complicates that story. The robin is not singing for us. The creek does not hurry because we
are late. The sunflower turns toward the sun whether or not anyone remembers to admire it. Clouds, tides, weeds, and weather all proceed with their ancient business, reminding us that we belong to a world much larger than our schedules and preferences. That perspective should not make us feel small in a bad way, but instead help us feel rightly-sized. Humans have the wonderful ability to create, repair, improve, and beautify our little corners of the universe. But we do it
best when we understand the nature of the world we’re working within. So use this summer to include as much Outside Green Time as you can, looking up and around and in. Poke gently. Nature will do the rest.
—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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Ninja, we need you! Join our hero Kai as you take on the The True Ninja Trials! Tackle build challenges and defeat the Elemental Monsters in the Whispering Woods to help protect NINJAGO®. Train with your fellow Ninjas to unlock your full potential and get ready to GO FULL NINJA – only at LEGO® Discovery Center Washington, D.C. Now through August 16th! Experience exclusive limited-time events all year long with an Annual Pass and enjoy 12 months of unlimited LEGO® play! Come back again and again to unleash your creativity and build awesome memories together. Now only $69!
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Printmaker Chitra Sharma of Noctiluna Studio is National Children's Museum's inaugural Tinkerer-in-Residence, exploring the art of printing through different mediums and methods. Visit the Museum on select days for special workshops led by Chitra. Little artists can experiment with found objects, foam block prints, and carved foam designs to make prints on fabric. Workshops focus on different printmaking techniques, so every visit offers a new way to discover how everyday materials can become creative tools. Workshops are included with general Museum admission. Visit our website to learn more about Chitra and our Tinkerer-in-Residence workshops.
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For over 25 years, AppleTree Schools have offered tuition-free preschool in Washington, DC. With multiple locations across the city, we ensure that families have access to high quality education right in their neighborhoods. Specializing in PK3 and PK4, we provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to foster curiosity and a love for learning. Offering affordable before and aftercare services to support families extended day needs.
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Looking for the perfect Friday night outing for the whole family? FunBox Bowie launches Glow Zone Fridays on June 26 — every Friday from 7:30–9 PM the park transforms into a neon playground with black lights, glowing accessories, and nonstop fun for all ages. Tickets are selling fast and the first 50 families to book receive a special discount. Visit funbox.com/bowie to grab yours today.
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Looking for a memorable family outing this summer? Bring your favorite people and enjoy a spooky-good adventure with The Addams Family at Encore Stage & Studio located in Arlington! Tickets are $18-22. Use code KOAA26SUMMER to receive a Buy One, Get One Free ticket offer. Laugh together as Wednesday Addams introduces her "normal" boyfriend to her delightfully eccentric family, leading to a dinner filled with surprises, humor, and heart. It's a musical celebration of love, acceptance, and embracing what makes every family unique. Recommended for ages 10 and older. Make this summer one to remember by sharing the magic of live theatre together!
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Enjoy animated short films by Indigenous filmmakers, featuring colorful folktales, humorous encounters, and lighthearted lessons. This group of films will be played at our museum in Washington, DC (Level 1, Rasmuson Theater) daily at 11 AM and 1 PM from Monday, July 6 to Friday, July 17.
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Looking for something made locally by artists and craftspeople who care about their products? Check out one of our many markets held throughout the year. From jewelry to honey, everything is handmade, homemade, or homegrown with love! BUY LOCAL!
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On some of the first weekends of the month, the Green Meadows Farm will be open for a special evening event that is sure to please our farm fans. From May to October, we will have a band, various breweries, distilleries, wineries, food and more. The Animal Barn will also be open. Bring your blankets, chairs and friends. Babies and Children are welcome too. Admission charged for 2 and older (babies are FREE). Each date will feature a band and a variety of vendors selling food, drinks and fun so be sure to check here for the latest information on our scheduled dates. Please note most of our dates are on a Saturday this year!
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Kids Fishing Derby in Columbia, MD. July 11, 2026 at 8:30 am - 1:00 pm. Bring your rod & reel for some great summer fun! Event is open to all youth, and is hosted by Scouting America National Pike District.
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Step into a magical afternoon at A Royal Fairytale Experience Ball. Meet seven beloved princesses, enjoy live performances, interactive activities, dancing, photo opportunities, and special royal surprises. Perfect for children ages 2–10.
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Our popular Shark Month is back! Visit the Lab during a timed entry in July for special activities about these fascinating creatures of the sea. All activities are included with your timed entry ticket!
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Celebrate 50 years since the National Air and Space Museum opened its doors on the National Mall! Enjoy a day of hands-on science, make-and-take art, demonstrations, and more.
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Join us outside of public hours for a sensory-friendly morning to celebrate summer at the U.S. Botanic Garden. You can visit a Discovery Cart to learn about the plant science behind chocolate or get hands-on with an interactive pot-a-plant activity.
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Bananaaa! Get ready for a mischievous day of family fun at Shipgarten’s Kids & Family Festival featuring everyone’s favorite yellow troublemakers — the Minions and Gru! Join us on **July 12th** for laughs, photo ops, themed activities, music, and nonstop entertainment the whole family will love.
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2026's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Washington DC 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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Nothing says SUMMER like an amusement park! DC Metro area parents have lots of options! If there is a resource that we have missed, please email us to let us know, and we'll add it promptly. Thank
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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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Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens. Here's where you can pick fruit with your family:
Strawberry picking, cherry picking, blueberry picking, raspberry picking, peach picking, and other pick-your-own opportunities in the DC Metro area.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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