KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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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:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're still packing
lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are moving through it
together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator,* February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build
Strong Communities
*Rochester, NY ☺️ |
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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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Kroger Delivery helps busy families reclaim time and reduce stress by delivering fresh groceries and household essentials straight to the doorstep, within the one-hour timeframe that fits your busy schedule. Conveniently shop from your phone to add favorite
items, reorder past products, and save with digital coupons. A Boost membership provides fee-free delivery on qualifying orders and extra fuel rewards, to keep costs predictable. Refrigerated trucks preserve freshness for produce, dairy, and frozen items, while professional drivers handle everything right to your doorstep. Visit Kroger.com to enjoy the convenience of delivery without sacrificing quality for fresh, making weeknight dinners, packed lunches and healthy snacks quick and
easy.
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Join the guided walk and photo birds as we count the species for 2026. Walk begins Sat. at 7am then join Dr. Billy Teels for an education talk at the Opal Durant Community Center. Second day count will begin Sunday morning at 7am. You can also join the
national count from your own backyard!
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The City of Richardson, the CORE District and the Dallas Chinese Community Center invite you to join us for the 2026 Lunar New Year festival, celebrating the Year of the Horse.
Fun for all ages, this free event will feature stunning dragon and lion dances, musical and martial arts demos, art making, calligraphy, specialty booths and cultural performances.
The event will be held at DFW Chinatown - the epicenter of Asian culture in the Dallas metro area featuring a fantastic mix of restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and cultural centers.
Immerse yourself in a traditional Asian experience from the moment you step foot into the neighborhood.
The event will be held at DFW Chinatown, located in the Richardson CORE District at 400 North Greenville Avenue.
Free parking will be available at the DART - ARAPAHO CENTER STATION (200 Woodall Dr, Richardson TX 75081) with free shuttle continuous shuttle service to transport you to and from the event.
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This is not a come and go, but a come and paddle event. Try out a canoe and testthe waters along the Trinity River. No registration required. First Come, First Served. $5 (with paid admission). CASH ONLY
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The queendom is back! SIX returns to Bass Hall February 10-15 in all its girl-power glory, just in time for Galentine’s Day. Don’t lose your head!
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The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is the longest-running Black Rodeo in the United States and was founded in 1984 by Lu Vason. It was born of the need to give Black cowboys a platform and keep these traditions alive. This show has developed the next
generation of rodeo stars and brought the sport to a new generation of fans. The rodeo is currently produced by Valeria Vason-Cunningham.
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Don’t miss your opportunity to compete for the gold…. err… chocolate in this first annual Chocolate Olympics. Show off your muscles and athletic skills as you squeeze the sauce, sort the M&Ms and taste different chocolate candy with skill and precision.
Make sure you stick around for the parent chocolate pudding eating contest!
Note: All children must be with an adult.
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You’re invited to a sweet and silly Valentine’s tea party at the library! Our special guests are encouraged to dress their fanciest as they enjoy tea-inspired activities, a light snack, and plenty of Valentine-themed fun. A delightful way to celebrate
friendship, whimsy, and creativity. Our littlest guests will require registration for entry. Grown-ups will be asked to stay for observation, though adult registration is not required.
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Join us on Saturday, February 14, at 10 a.m. for a Valentine's Day Storytime! We will read books, sing songs, and do a craft together. All ages are welcome to attend.
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Valentine's Day is right around the corner! Come out and celebrate with our Valentine's Day dance. We will have music, food and refreshments for you as you celebrate with your family.
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All aboard this STEAM-based storytime! Explore with your child as they tap into their innate curiosity to discover the world around them.
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Share the love this Valentine's Day and join us at our Valentine's Party! We will have games, crafts, and snacks all themed for caring and sharing, perfectly suited for you to have a lovely time.
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Love video games? Play with friends and chat with other gamers at the library. Teens may use our systems for free play or bring their own hand-held devices.
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- ASP - Valentines Day Social w/Parents - Southside Community Center, East Rosedale Street, Fort Worth, TX, Friday, February 13, 2026, 4:30-5:30 pm
- Book Babies - 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prairie, TX, Friday, February 13, 2026, 11-11:45 am
- Little STEAMers - Betty Warmack Library, Bardin Road, Grand Prairie, TX, Friday, February 13, 2026, 11-11:45 am
- Little Explorers - Arlington Public Library - George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, South Center Street, Arlington, TX, Friday, February 13, 2026, 10-11:30 am
- Family
Storytime - Arlington Public Library - Southeast Branch, Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard, Arlington, TX, Friday, February 13, 2026, 10:30-11:15 am
- Love Bug Cookies - Azle Memorial Library, 333 W Main St, Azle, TX, Friday, February 13, 2026, 4:30 pm
- Bounce Time (Age 0-3)- Colleyville Public Library - Colleyville Public Library, 110 Main St, Colleyville, TX,
Friday, February 13, 2026, 10:15-11:15 am
- Teen Gaming Club- Diamond Hill/Jarvis - Fort Worth Public Library - Diamond Hill/Jarvis, 1300 NE 35th St, Diamond Hill, Fort Worth, TX, Friday, February 13, 2026, 4-5 pm
- Palentines Trinket Dish - Wedgwood Library - Fort Worth Public Library - Wedgwood, 3816 Kimberly Lane, Fort Worth, TX, Saturday, February 14, 2026, 2-3 pm
- Passport to Lunar New Year: Tết in Huế, Vietnam - Vivian J. Lincoln Library, 8829 McCart Ave, Fort Worth,
TX, Saturday, February 14, 2026, 2-3 pm
- Galentine's Day - La Gran Biblioteca, South Freeway, Fort
Worth, TX, Saturday, February 14, 2026, 4-5 pm
- Chocolate Olympics - 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prairie, TX, Saturday, February
14, 2026, 1-2:30 pm
- Anime Club - Fort Worth Public Library - Clifford Crossing, 9336 Clifford Street Suite 120, Fort Worth, TX, Saturday, February 14, 2026, 1-2 pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Fort Worth area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Fort Worth 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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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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