KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Fri, Dec 26: Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland
Sat, Dec 27: Kwanzaa
Celebration at Martin Luther King Jr Recreation Center - Denton, TX
Mon, Dec 29: Kwanzaa Storyteller at Watauga Public Library
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Year's Eve Party- The Colony Public Library
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Year's Eve at Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Sat, Jan 17: Dallas Area Train Show at North Texas Council of Railroad Clubs
Mon, Jan 19: MLK Jr. Day
Celebration in Denton at MLK Jr. Rec Center
Mon, Jan 19: Bricks 4 Kidz Camp Jan. 19th All Day at Bricks 4 Kidz Texas - Plano, Frisco
Tue, Jan 27: Open House at Pantego Christian Academy
Fri, Jan 30: Disney’s The Lion King in Concert at Will Rogers Auditorium
Tue, Feb 17: New Family Information Meeting at Christian Life Preparatory School
Thu, Feb 26: Fort Worth Music Festival at Fort Worth Stockyards |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice—Robert Frost’s “darkest evening of the year.” It’s when we in the Northern Hemisphere most appreciate human inventiveness: We flip a switch, and light floods the room. It feels like magic, but it’s not. It’s the result of generations of curious, determined humans trying to make life better, brighter,
safer. That’s why my family celebrates Lightbulb Day every December 21. It’s our homegrown holiday honoring the inventors and problem-solvers whose insights fuel our lives. We toast our favorite technologies, learn some history, imagine the future. Past years’ MVPs include contact lenses,
antibiotics, the internet, veterinary science, and the Covid vaccine. This year’s front-runner: artificial intelligence. Last weekend, I had breakfast with a friend and her 13-year-old daughter, Lily. Lily said she loves math and science but struggles with how her teachers approach the humanities, especially writing. When I showed her how AI can help her learn in the way she learns best, her face lit up. So I went home and wrote a how-to article for Lily, her mom, and any of
you with kids in middle school or older: How Students Can Use AI to Learn to Write (Without Giving Away their Brains). AI isn’t here to think for us. It’s here to help us think more effectively with our own minds. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to our kids.
In this new AI age, the real danger isn’t the technology itself, it’s the temptation to hand our brains over to it and say, “Here, you do all the work.” So this Lightbulb Day, I’m raising an Erlenmeyer flask, not just to the great inventors of the past, but to Lily, and to every young person learning to think with tools rather than letting tools do the thinking. Because the real magic isn’t flipping the switch; it’s understanding where the current comes from, and
imagining what we’ll power with it in the future.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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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I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
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Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
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Get ready for the ultimate adventure as you scale the 30-foot peak of the mighty Everest Slide! Once you reach the top, take your pick of paths and race down the winding slopes for an unforgettable rush of adrenaline. With room for tons of climbers every hour, this towering attraction is guaranteed to be the main event thrill everyone’s talking about!
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Would you like to learn how to play chess or practice your chess skills with others? David Lamas will be teaching kids how to play chess and sharing his knowledge about this challenging game.
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Celebrate the season with A Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas! This high-energy show will have you feeling festive and your feet tapping. Featuring favorites like Elton John, The Eagles, Pat Benatar, and Mariah Carey, this show is suitable for most audiences. Runtime: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes including intermission.
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Prairie Lights is the premier holiday light park in Texas located at Lynn Creek Park on Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie, Texas. Prairie Lights 2025 will feature a state-of-the-art light tunnel, a REIMAGINED magical walk-thru forest, CAPTIVATING animated light displays, carnival rides, photos with Santa, holiday shopping, and more!
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Anastasia: The Musical, brings the legendary story of the lost Russian princess to life in a breathtaking stage production filled with romance, adventure, and unforgettable music. Inspired by the beloved animated film, this epic tale follows Anya, a brave young woman seeking to uncover her past, as she travels from revolutionary Russia to the dazzling lights of 1920s Paris.
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For over 30 years, North Central Ballet’s Nutcracker has enchanted Fort Worth audiences with dazzling performances, lavish costumes, and opportunities for young dancers to shine.
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PNO was a hit, soooooo...this year, to allow our parents planning time, we've decided to offer our fun PNO every 3rd SATURDAY of each month! $20 will get your kids a slice of pizza and a drink in addition to all the great fun we have to offer. We will also have snacks, drinks, and candy for sale! If your kid sleeps early they can come for the earlier part of the night, if you don't plan to go out until later, you can drop them off later OR they can stay the whole time! At $20 for the night, regardless of how long they stay, you can't beat that deal and you can't find a sitter who will entertain them the way we can at the same rates - even with 3 kids it's still a great deal! JOIN US AND DON'T FORGET TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND THEIR FRIENDS!
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is a progressive rock band founded as an outlet for the many rock operas late rock industry veteran, producer, composer, and musician Paul O’Neill was writing. TSO was created to push the boundaries of what was possible for a band to create – both musically and visually. Paul O’Neill dreamed of a different kind of “band” that is not limited by the confines of traditional rock acts and instead established one with multiple singers who could inhabit the various characters he was writing into his rock operas.
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Teens can get cozy at the library with a cup of cocoa and an afternoon of festive fun! Join us as we decorate gingerbread cookies and ornaments — perfect for gifting or keeping for yourself. Bring your holiday spirit and your creativity!
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Bring your blankets/pillows and warm up with a children’s holiday movie on the Library’s big screens. Popcorn and drinks are complimentary. Open for all ages. No registration required.
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The Colony Christmas Spectacular light show is choreographed to music and can be seen every evening starting on Dec. 7 from 5:30pm to 10:30pm Sunday - Thursday and 5:30pm to 10:50pm Friday - Saturday. Tune your radio to 99.9FM to enjoy the music. For more information, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 972-625-1106.
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This winter, step into the enchanting Fort Worth Botanic Garden at Christmas in the Garden, brought to life with the dazzling artistry of Sony Music. Wander through breathtaking light displays, indulge in festive flavors, and create moments that shine brighter than any gift beneath the tree.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions in and around Fort Worth. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Dallas - Fort Worth - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 12/18/2025 to 12/20/2025, See link for times
- Winter Wonderland - Epic central, State Highway 161, Grand Prairie, TX, USA, Friday, December 19, 11 am- 1 pm
- Oh Snap! Cookies & Cocoa - Burleson Public Library, 248 Southwest Johnson Avenue, Burleson, TX 76028, Friday, December 19, 2:30-3:30 pm
- Holiday Movie - Colleyville Public Library, 110 Main St, Colleyville, TX 76034, Friday, December 19, 2-4 pm
- Preschool Storytime - East Berry - Fort Worth Public Library - East Berry, 4300 E Berry St, Fort Worth, TX 76105, Friday, December 19, 10:30-11:15 am
- Brick Builders - Golden Triangle - Fort Worth Public Library - Golden Triangle, 4264 Golden Triangle Blvd,
Fort Worth, TX 76244, Friday, December 19, 4:30-5:30 pm
- Family Movie Matinee (All Ages) - Mansfield Public Library, 104 South Wisteria Street, Mansfield, TX 76063, Friday, December 19, 2-4 pm
- Poco Poco Kids Music Time For Homeschoolers - Fort Worth Public Library - Golden Triangle, Golden Triangle Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, USA, Friday, December 19, 1:00PM - 3:00PM
- Christmas Spectacular Light Show - The Colony Fire Department, 4900 Blair Oaks Drive, The Colony, TX, USA, Friday, December 19 to Sunday, December 21, 5:30 - 10:30 pm Sunday - Thursday 5:30 - 10:50 pm Friday - Saturday
- Christmas in the Square - 8874 Coleman Blvd, Frisco Square, Frisco, TX 75034, Friday, December 19 to Sunday, December 21, 6-10
pm
- Whistle Stop Christmas - Hulen Park, West Westhill Drive, Cleburne, TX, USA, Friday, December 19 to Sunday,
December 21, see website
- SaturYAY - Kaleidoscope Park - 6635 Warren Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034, Saturday, December
20, 10 am- 4 pm
- Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio - Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd,
Fort Worth, TX 76107, Saturday, December 20, 1-1:45 pm
- Open Studio: Found Objects Accessories - Dallas Museum of Art, Saturday,
December 20 to Sunday, December 21, 12:00 PM
- Snapology at Benbrook Public Library - Benbrook Public
Library, Mercedes Street, Benbrook, TX, USA, Saturday, December 20, 2- 3 pm
- Shape Building - East Berry - Fort Worth Public Library - East Berry, 4300 E Berry St, Fort Worth, TX 76105, Saturday, December 20, 2 pm
- Story Time for Tots (18mo-3Y) - Mansfield Public Library, 104 South Wisteria Street, Mansfield, TX 76063, Saturday, December 20, 10:30-11 am
- Family Story Time
- Golden Triangle - Fort Worth Public Library - Golden Triangle, 4264 Golden Triangle Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76244, Sunday, December 21, 2-2:45 pm
- Chess Club - Grapevine Public Library, Municipal Way, Grapevine, TX, USA, Sunday, December 21, 12:30-2:30 pm
- Everest Climb N Slide - Grand Prairie City Hall, West Main Street, Grand Prairie, TX, USA, Sunday, December 21, 2-6 pm
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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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KidsOutAndAbout's 2025 holiday events list for Fort Worth -ways to make the holidays special in our area for 2025. Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
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The Fort Worth area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in
festive activities.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth 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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