Denver KidsOutAndAbout Newsletter
December 11, 2025

Local in-person events this weekend

FREE events this weekend

Local in-person events next weekend

Big List of Private Schools

101 Ideas for Holiday Fun

Christmas Tree Farms

Post your organization and events to our site (It's all FREE!)

Mon, Dec 22: Elf in Concert | Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall
Tue, Dec 23: Tiny Tots: Celebrate the Holidays at History Colorado at Boettcher Concert Hall
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Years Celebration at The Shops at Northfield
Mon, Jan 12: Lion King KIDS (Ages 5-10) at Pickering Academy
Mon, Jan 12: First Day of Pet Party! (5 - 9 yrs) - Spring - Mondays 3:30pm - 4:45pm at Tinker Art Studio
Fri, Jan 30: The Snow Queen at Danse Etoile Ballet
Sat, Jan 31: Washington Park Early Learning Center Open House
Sat, Feb 14: 2nd Saturday at CSU Spur 

Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:

The Christmas I was 10, my sister and I woke up at our usual ridiculously-early hour and raced downstairs to the tree. Something was different: fewer gifts than usual, no giant boxes, no bike-shaped mystery lumps. But nestled among the smaller packages were envelopes that turned out to be plane tickets to Bermuda. We were leaving that very morning, which explained why my parents had not objected to being awakened at 5:30.

Decades later, I don’t remember what else I got that year—or most years—but I remember being bundled up and giddy, heading to the airport while it was still dark. I remember pink sand, caves, and the little cakes they served at teatime. It's all still as fresh to me as the air was at Grotto Bay Beach.

That trip taught me something I wouldn’t have been able to say at the time: Presence creates the memories, not the presents.

Of course, we all want our kids to have a magical holiday. But when we think back to our own childhoods, what sticks isn’t the stuff, it’s the doing. The zoo trips, the plays, the sporting events, the concerts, the hands held during the adventures. That’s why my long-time holiday mantra is “Do it, don’t dust it.” Experiences are the gifts that last the longest, especially when we do them together. They don’t pile up in a closet; they plant themselves in our memory.

So if you’re still pondering what to give the people you love this year, consider a show, a class, a day trip, a membership, a season pass. Something that says “I see you, you matter, let's do it together." Need ideas? Head to our Local Memberships & Season Passes page! It's your ticket to the perfect gift... and it's guaranteed clutter-free.

—Debra Ross, publisher

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.

How Passion Blooms at Denver Public Schools

Every day at Denver Public Schools, the DPS experience comes to life through our students, educators, families and community. Through passionate learning, personalized support, powerful impact, prestigious achievement and being proud of who we are, these stories celebrate what it means to be part of the DPS experience.

Amelia Roberts, a music and theater teacher at Trevista at Horace Mann, brings passion to life by helping students find their voices on and off the stage. Her classroom is a joyful space where young performers feel confident, supported and inspired.

Read and watch Amelia’s story and other stories of the DPS experience. DPS is now enrolling students for the 2026-27 school year, learn more about SchoolChoice and enroll today.