KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Fri, Jan 23: The Wizard of Oz at Casa Mañana
Fri, Jan 23: Campus Previews- Bethesda Christian School
Fri, Jan 30: Disney’s The Lion King in Concert at Will Rogers Auditorium
Fri, Feb 6: Lunar New Year Celebration at Kimbell Art Museum
Sat, Feb 7: Black History Month Celebration in Denton at MLK Jr. Rec
Center
Fri, Feb 13: Valentine's Day Dance at Southside Community Center
Sat, Feb 21: College & Career Fair at Denton Civic Center
Sat, Mar 7: TEXFest at City of Carrollton
Sat, Mar 7: Cliburn Family Concerts- Flight of the Bumblebee at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Sat, Mar 14: TRAIN-A-PALOOZA 2026 at Lone Star Hi-Railers Model Railroad Association
Thu, Mar 19: Disney On Ice presents Jump In! at State Farm Arena
Sat, Mar 21: The World's Only St. Paddy's Pickle Parade
Sat, Mar 21: Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival
Tue, Mar 24: Back to the Future: The Musical at Bass Performance Hall
Tue, Mar 24: Kindergarten Preview at Pantego Christian Academy
Wed, Mar 25: Grace Classical Christian Academy OPEN HOUSE |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
If it weren’t for a Polish pastry, I might not exist. When my great-grandmother Karolina Stelmach was a teenager in a small village in Poland, she was told she’d be entering an arranged marriage. But her heart belonged to Sylvester Nowakowski. So she left... on her own, by boat... and made her way to America. She found work in a restaurant, where
she made her family’s signature dessert: chrusciki. One day, a “distinguished gentleman” insisted on meeting the pastry chef, and he offered her a better-paying job in his own kitchen. She took it, saved enough to bring Sylvester over, and they married. Which means if chrusciki didn’t exist, neither would I. Stories like this do more than entertain. According to psychologist Robyn Fivush, interviewed on a recent episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, they help kids develop
identity, resilience, and self-worth. The more children know about their family’s past—not just the “big” stories like crossing oceans, but even the day-to-day moments and struggles—the more connected and grounded they become. Fivush and her colleagues at Emory University found that kids who know more family stories have higher self-esteem, greater emotional understanding, and a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. But it’s not just the information that matters...it’s the telling. When we sit
down and share what came before, we help kids feel like they’re part of something bigger, and that they belong. No AI can replicate that. A chatbot can write a story, sure. But it can’t tell your kids how Grandma’s meatloaf could’ve doubled as a construction material, or how two little girls in the 1950s turned a couple of ice cream cones into a front-porch endurance contest. So this year, make a point of telling your kids about your family's shared history:
about mistakes, about perseverance, about love, about dessert. Connection doesn’t have to be complicated: Just pull up a chair, pass the cookies, and pass down the stories.
—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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The annual FREE-ADMISSION KidFilm Family Festival will take place on January 17-18, 2026 at the Angelika Film Center Dallas. The program will feature twenty-three short film presentations and eight new feature films -- including the highly anticipated THE POUT-POUT FISH movie (with book author Deborah Diesen in attendance for a book signing following the event).
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The City of Irving hosts an annual observance honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The program features a special performance by Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Cherish Love, and recognition of the MLK Essay Contest winners. Admission is free and open to the public. Get ready for an unforgettable show filled with talent and inspiration!
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This Thing is Legendary®! It’s not just a slogan. It’s why the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is the most authentic western lifestyle experience anywhere – since 1896. It’s exciting, it’s fun, it’s 23 days of what makes Fort Worth the greatest city in Texas! Our rodeo action features the Best of the West Ranch Rodeo, Best of Mexico Celebración, Cowboys of Color Rodeo, Bulls' Night out and the PRORODEO Rookie Rally. The FWSSR PRORODEO Tournament tops it off in the world’s most awesome venue for rodeo – Dickies Arena. We also have livestock and horse shows, kid-friendly activities and exhibits, live music, carnival midway, shopping, great food and much more. After experiencing it all, we bet you’ll agree – This Thing IS Legendary!
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The Dallas Area Train show features model railroads, vendors and several activities for kids. Those include the Junior Engineer layout, the Mini-Diorama table and the Switching layout. Kids can see a Lego Model Railroad and get down on the floor in the large scale garden railroad room, The Dallas Area Train Show will be held at the Plano Event Center, 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX. Dates are Saturday, January 17th, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, January 18th, 2026, 10:00am to 4:00 pm.
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Mollie's furry friends are ready to read with you! These cuddly, non-judgmental listeners are always happy to lend a paw. Reading to therapy dogs is a great way to strengthen reading skills and build confidence in young readers. There are a limited number of spaces available; sign-ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call the Children’s Department for more information at 817-427-6818.
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The Unicorn’s Birthday® is a delightful, fantasy-filled symphony experience created especially for families—and thoughtfully designed to be sensory-friendly and inclusive for all. Join the FWSO for a heartwarming birthday celebration full of music, narration, fun sounds, adorable on-stage activity, colorful visuals, and gentle audience interaction. Children will love seeing friendly penguins, monkeys, ducks, and other animals come together to celebrate the Birthday Unicorn in a musical world full of imagination and joy.
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This free program introduces children (ages 12 and younger) and their adult companions to the world of art through fun gallery explorations and related studio-art projects. Space is limited.
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Barbie is the ultimate career guide having had more than 200 jobs over the last 60 years. Explore a variety of careers and learn the story of real-life women who broke barriers in their industry. Discover your career with Barbie™ You Can Be Anything™:The Experience! Barbie dolls and their accessories encourage imaginative play. The kind that teaches us no matter our gender, ethnicity, or background, we can make the world a better place by doing work that excites us, challenges us and brings us fulfillment. This exhibit has something for everyone!
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Harry Potter™: The Exhibition celebrates all things Harry Potter™ by bringing to life some of your favourite moments, characters, locations, and beasts from the film series, as well as the extended Harry Potter universe. Get up close to authentic props and costumes, practice your Quidditch™ skills, pot a Mandrake, and more in this unforgettable experience.
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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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- Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio - Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1-1:45 pm
- Read with Mollie's Friends - North Richland Hills Library, 9015 Grand Ave, North Richland Hills, TX 76180, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:30 am-12 pm
- Free
Family Festival - 42nd Annual KidFilm Family Festival - Angelika Film Center & Café - Dallas, East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX, Saturday, January 17, 2026 to Sunday, January 18, 2026, 12:00PM
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance Event - Irving Arts Center, North MacArthur Boulevard, Irving, TX, Sunday, January 18, 2026, 6
pm
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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 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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