KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jun 19: Juneteenth at Old Sturbridge Village
Sat, Jun 20: Family Matinee at the Ballet - Connecticut Ballet, June 20
Sat, Jun 20: Father’s Day Weekend at the Shore Line Trolley Museum
Sat, Jun 20: Riverfront Recapture Bridging Freedom: A Juneteenth Celebration
Sun, Jun 21: Father's Day "A LEGO Brickumentary" Screening - at
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mon, Jun 22: Pollinator Week at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Wed, Jun 24: The Next Girl Up Summer Tour:
HARTFORD
Wed, Jun 24: Firefly Frolic at Roaring Brook Nature Center
Fri, Jun 26: 2026 Wooden Boat Show at Mystic
Seaport Museum
Sat, Jun 27: Lyman Orchards Raspberry Festival
Sat, Jun 27: 2026 Mystic Pride -
Downtown Mystic CT - Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce
Fri, Jul 3: Opening Night Pickle Festival - Bozrah Farmer's Market
Sat, Jul 18: 2026 U.S. Classic - USA Gymnastics at XL Center
Fri, Jul 24: Old Lyme's Midsummer Festival
Wed, Jul 29: The Next Girl Up Summer Tour: NEW HAVEN
Sat, Aug 1: Nature Awareness Family Program at Indian Rock Nature Preserve |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: "The best thing about your newsletter," said a reader who met me in person at an event last June, "is the sheer number of things to do, and the fact that they're just packed in there, all in one handy place." "Thanks!" I said. I may have glowed a little. "And the worst thing about your newsletter," she continued, "is the guilt trip. I know
you don't mean to lay that on us. We can't do it all, so it means we read about so much we can't do. Especially in summer." She was right, in one sense, of course. June and July are the most packed months of the calendar: Kids are out of school, families are ready for fun, and our communities respond. Each local organization gets to post its own events on our calendar for free, and many are featured in this newsletter, so what's happening is right there in front of
you. But I get it! And I hereby remove the guilt. Ego te absolvo. Of course, good families try to expose their kids to great things, but no one has the time, money, or energy to do it all. This stuff needs to be spread out over a childhood, not packed into a single summer, much less a single weekend. So make a family bucket list for Summer 2026. An easy way to do that is to take our annual survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids, which is open through June 20; it has dozens of places to have fun this summer, even though you only vote for your top 3! And you should also use our 50 Ways to Love Your Summer article for ideas that require zero technology, zero travel, and zero dollars. Above all, go easy! Remember, summer is no time for grades! The only prize is the summer that's right for your family.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
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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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Hartford area. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the people
who create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! |
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Connecticut Ballet’s June 20th 2:00pm: FAMILY MATINEE AT THE BALLET is a perfect opportunity to introduce your family to the magical world of professional ballet. Narrated by Artistic Director Brett Raphael and patterned after Leonard Bernstein’s famous New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts in the 1960s, the performance will focus on the unique life of a professional ballet dancer and sample some of the great story ballets. The 75-minute program is suitable for children ages 4-14. All seats are $35 plus ticket service fees.
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Celebrate! West Hartford is a free, award-winning community festival held every June that attracts nearly 40,000 visitors. The two-day event features a massive arts and crafts fair, carnival rides, live music, and road races, all while supporting local nonprofits and businesses. It’s a long-standing tradition designed to foster community spirit and raise funds for local charitable programs. Read more about us and our mission to support the community through this cherished event.
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Join us for a Fun and Relaxing Playtime Session! Guests of all ages are invited to take a gentle walk alongside one of our friendly goats, enjoying the fresh air, scenic views, and unforgettable moments. Whether you're snapping photos, sharing smiles, or simply soaking up the joy of animal companionship, this outdoor experience is a perfect way to connect with nature and the herd.
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First Fridays are Dollar Night Fridays! Come enjoy an affordable Friday night at the Museum. $1 per person over 12 months old. Pre-registration not required.
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The Town of Cromwell Farmers Market is held on Friday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m. at Riverport Park beginning on Friday, June 5 and running through Friday, September 4. The beautiful Riverport Park is conveniently located on the Connecticut River at the junction of Route 9. The Town of Cromwell Farmers Market aims to support the local economy, enrich the quality of life in our Town, and promote the public health and environmental benefits of eating local.
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Step into a living legend at Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire, where history, spectacle, and adventure come together. This season is bigger than ever with an added weekend and an expanded footprint, giving you more to see, more to do, and more to explore. Wander newly opened areas of the grounds filled with bold performances, skilled artisans, and immersive experiences around every corner. Cheer for armored knights as they clash in full-contact jousts. Be amazed by high-energy, circus-style acts. Savor classic faire fare like giant turkey legs and refreshing craft brews while browsing an ever-growing marketplace packed with handcrafted goods and unique gifts. Whether you love history, cosplay, or unforgettable family fun, this is a day out that delivers. Join us for a larger, longer celebration at Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire. Adventure awaits. Get your tickets now.
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Join us for our Car-nival. We will have lots of fun vehicles to explore. Trucks, cars, wheely awesome machines - some to touch or jump in to and explore, and others just to gawk at in awe!
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Come to KTM&HC for free site admission, which includes a tour of our historic museum and access to all current exhibits. And head to the Garden House for fun, free activities for visitors of all ages - this month, design your own board game!
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Hartford 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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Hartford 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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It's almost time for fruit picking! Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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