Dallas weekly e-newsletter |
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Sat, May 23: Kid Fishing Derby
Sat, May 30: Downtown Block
Party
Thu, Jun 4: The Addams Family Musical
Sat, Jun 6: Dallas Pride 2026
Sat, Jun 13: CAC Birthday Bash
Sat, Jun 13: Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration
Fri, Jun 19: Little Elm Juneteenth Concert Presented By Cowboy Car Wreck
Fri, Jun 19: Juneteenth 2026
Sat, Jun 27: Ennis Freedom Fest in the Park
Sat, Jul 4: Fireworks on Main 2026
Wed, Jul 15: Hamilton
Fri, Jul 17: James and the Giant Peach Jr. |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. This year, we are excited to partner with Texas Lifestyle Magazine and DFW Motherhood on the survey... We'll all be shouting about the winners for 2026, so please make your voice heard all over Texas! Click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. You can check out the 2025 list here to see who won last year. |
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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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Get ready to experience unbelievable family fun at the fascinating Ripley’s Believe It or Not! with five awesome indoor attractions under one roof. Discover wonder in our Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium and marvel at hundreds of rare and unusual artifacts and interactive fun. Mingle with your favorite celebrities at Louis Tussaud Palace of Wax. Experience the thrill of riding the movies on our 7d moving theater or find your way through the exciting Ripley’s enchanted mirror maze with countless selfie opportunities. Last, test your skills at the all new Ripleys Power up video game experience. Ripley’s Grand Prairie is your one-stop destination for hours of family fun! $3 off Combo Ticket! https://www.ripleys.com/grandprairie/
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Learn robotics building, programming and 3D modeling while having a blast this summer at Magikid Robotics, home of robotics champions in North Dallas! From May 25 to August 14, Magikid Highland Park offers one-week camps for students ages 4–14, providing a fun, high-energy environment where students tackle real challenges and unleash creativity. Weekly camp themes include VEX and Humanoid Robotics, Drones, Solar Explorer, Coding with Minecraft and Roblox, 3D Modeling & Printing, and Unity Game Development, all tailored to different skill levels. NBC DFW describes us as “a beacon of educational excellence in the Park Cities/North Dallas area” and commends us for “shaping the next generation of tech leaders".
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Calling all storytellers! Step into the spotlight with Shakespeare Dallas this summer. Choose from Summer Camp, where beginners bring a short Shakespeare play to life, or Shakespeare Lab Mainstage, a fully produced performance program for students in grades 8–12. Build confidence, sharpen your skills, and work alongside professional artists. No experience needed—just curiosity and a passion for storytelling. Whether it’s your first time on stage or your next big step, there’s a place for you here. Please visit https://www.shakespearedallas.org/ to learn more and register today!
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We offer a variety of fun and educational themes for Campers aged 3 - 8! Campers will be immersed in the Spanish language and culture while enjoying hands-on activities related to each camp's theme. Full and part-time programs are available to meet your needs.
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It’s all about the music…and then some Three days at Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival will fill your soul with various tunes! A total of six stages, including the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Stage, Texans Credit Union Stage, CityLine Stage, Karbach Love Street Stage, as well as the Singer Songwriter Stage and Hill Hall inside the Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts feature national and regional headliners, singer-songwriters, classic tribute bands, and local artists. Over 100 musicians and bands to be exact!
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Experience the heart of downtown Rowlett this May at Live on Main - Spring Series, a weekly concert and market series held every Friday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Each night features a unique theme, bringing together live music, local artisans, and a vibrant community atmosphere for the perfect evening out. Whether you're here to dance, shop the curated market, or grab a bite with neighbors, there’s something new to discover every week on May 1st, 8th, and 15th!
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Each May, in honor of our Public Works, Police and Fire Departments and Military Appreciation Month, experience fun exploring, climbing and touching the various work vehicles used by the City of Anna. This event will be located at the Municipal Plaza. Free bounce houses and activities will be provided. Food trucks will be on site. Get ready to be amazed as a spectacular lineup of vehicles from the Public Works Department, Police and Fire Departments, Parks Maintenance and many more roll in to captivate your imagination! Please be aware, this event is loud due to lots of honking horns and sirens. Please bring ear protection if necessary.
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Join us for Opening Day at Hawaiian Waters The Colony on Saturday, May 16th from 11:30 AM–6 PM – or get in early at 11 AM with your 2026 Platinum Season Pass – plus another full day of fun on Sunday, May 17th from 11:30 AM–6 PM. Then we’re open daily starting May 23rd, just in time for nonstop slides, waves and lazy river days all summer long!
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We have certified Ride Leaders who excel in teaching the foundational skills needed to mountain bike safely. Once you complete the pre-ride skills course, our staff will guide you through the trails at Oak Cliff Nature Preserve. Beginner and experienced participation is encouraged. All Ages, Adults and Youth 7+!
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Join us at Dallas’s biggest car-free social bike ride on May 16, 2026! Dallas Bike Ride features an easy-to-navigate course perfect for first-time riders and avid cyclists alike. Riders can cruise at their own pace past Dallas’s most iconic sights, enjoy live music throughout to keep you moving, several well-stocked rest stops to relax and refuel with snacks, and a celebratory Finish Festival near City Hall with live entertainment, food trucks, a beverage garden, and more. Be sure to sign up for emails at DallasBikeRide.com to stay up to date on the latest news and promotions and be entered to win $500 to make the most of your ride weekend!
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Get ready for an action-packed weekend as the World Wake Association brings its Regional Championship to Little Elm Beach. This premier wake sports event is set to transform the Lakefront™ into a high-energy competition stage, drawing athletes and spectators from across the region. Recognized as the global leader in wake sports, the World Wake Association hosts top-tier events that showcase the progression, skill, and excitement of competitive wakeboarding and wakesurfing. The Regional Championship features a full range of divisions—from rising amateurs to elite competitors—all battling for the opportunity to advance to the National Championships.
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Wander through a luminous world of imagination and see the wild in a whole new glow. Explore larger-than-life lanterns and towering sculptures inspired by wildlife and nature. Along the way, immerse yourself in captivating performances and interactive experiences – making each night an illuminating adventure!
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On Friday evenings in May, Flower Mound residents can relax and listen to a variety of family-friendly music with family and friends at the Concerts in the Park Series! The free concerts are held at Heritage Park (600 Spinks Rd.) and begin at 7 p.m. Please note, glass and alcohol are prohibited on park property. Overflow parking for the event is at the Community Activity Center (1200 Gerault Rd.).
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Friday Night Flicks, an exciting outdoor movie series, is making its way back to the Commons at Agora, featuring three fantastic films: Coco, The Parent Trap, and Captain America: The First Avenger. Bring your family and friends to watch your favorite movies, grab a bite to eat and a sweet treat from a variety of food trucks, challenge each other in all the yard games, take a dip in the splash pad, and a spin around the playground!
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Prepare for Adventure and Step Back in Time for the Time of Your Life into the 16th century world of the iconic Scarborough Renaissance Festival filled with lively entertainment, amazing artisanship, and interactive fun for everyone!
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Feel the rush of the game as you test your reflexes, measure your kicking power, and explore the brain-body connection that drives top performance. Packed with interactive challenges, real-world science, and behind-the-scenes innovations, this experience shows how curiosity, creativity, and teamwork make the world’s favorite game possible. With FIFA World Cup 2026™ bringing global attention to North Texas, Soccer: More Than a Game celebrates soccer’s power to connect cultures, inspire innovation, and unite communities around the world.
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Janel Nansenn, MA, is an educational therapist and the founder of Read-A-Rific®, a reading comprehension program and Texas PDSES vendor. Nansenn's work has transformed the lives of struggling readers. Over the course of her career, she has helped thousands
of struggling learners achieve success both academically and personally.
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- Live on Main 2026 - 3908 Main St, Rowlett, TX, Friday, May 15, 2026, 6-9 pm
- Flower Mound Concerts in the Park - Heritage Park, 600 Spinks Rd, Flower Mound, TX, Friday, May 15, 2026, 7 pm
- World Wake Association Regional Championship - Little Elm Beach, West Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm, TX, Friday, May 15, 2026 to Sunday, May
17, 2026, see website
- Friday Night Flicks - Commons at Agora, Agora Way, Corinth, TX, Saturday, May 16, 2026, Park opens at 6 pm, Movie begins at 7 pm
- Touch-a-Truck - 120 W 7th St, Anna, TX 75409, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10 am-1 pm
- Eggscellent Eggs - Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Farm to Market Road 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 1 pm
- Lights, Camera, The Lawn: Zootopia 2 - 303 Main St, Little Elm, TX, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Dallas area 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Dallas 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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