KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Wed, Dec 31: New Year’s Eve Family Bingo at Huntsville Public
Library
Wed, Dec 31: Rockin' New Year's Noon! at Children's Museum Houston
Wed, Dec 31: Kid's New Year's Eve Holiday Countdown at Hockley CC at Tracy Gee Community Center
Tue, Jan 6: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Fri, Jan 9: Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi In Concert at Jones Hall
Fri, Jan 16: Cirque Kalabanté at The Grand 1894 Opera House
Mon, Jan 19: MLK Day Day Camp- K2 Academy and K2 Campus
Mon, Jan 19: 2026 MLK Unity Parade at Kauses 4 Kids
Fri, Jan 30: Humble Rodeo
Sat, Jan 31: Bookworm Book Festival
Sat, Feb 21: Annual Go Texan Parade at Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Area Chamber of Commerce
Sat, Feb 21: Mardi Gras! Galveston
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Peace can come in many textures during the holidays. For some, it’s the energizing bustle of concerts and community events, or the warmth of a crowded house full of voices and motion. For others, it’s the stillness of a walk through snow-covered woods, a soft blanket at home, or the quiet company of someone who understands them. It shifts from person to person, and
sometimes even from one day to the next. Peace can be internal, external, or, at its best, a bit of both: a sense that life makes sense, within and around us. It’s easier to feel when we’re free from hardship, but even in the midst of challenge, it’s sometimes possible to find a quiet kind of peace when we know we’ve done our best with the time and energy we’ve been given. Peace can be elusive for parents; after all, we're the ones in charge of figuring out
how to make the family rhythm and flow work for everyone, and what brings peace to our kids may look nothing like what brings it to us. Maybe your son needs to be out with friends while you crave stillness. Maybe your daughter is hoping to hide in a corner with a book while you're in full-on glitter-and-cookie mode with all the cousins. Parenting is the art of balance, of helping everyone in the family thrive by seeing who they really are and doing our best to honor it. It's not easy, and it's
never perfect, but we try. When kids feel known—when they hear “I see that you love this, that you need this, and I’ll help you find your way to it”—they flourish. That sense of being understood can be its own kind of peace. So as the season winds to a close, I wish you whatever kind of holiday rhythm helps you feel most like you. And I hope you’ll find moments to offer that same gift to those around you. When we make space for each other’s version of peace,
it’s more likely to find its way into the room.
—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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ARE YOU READY to witness the Phenomenomaly? Enjoy Radio Tave like never before. Phenomenomaly is an interactive experience filled with mysterious characters, glowing creatures, giant puppets, and custom music. Phenomenomaly also features local performers, each of whom will bring their own twist to the experience on select dates. No two performances will ever be the same! Phenomenomaly is included with General Admission tickets.
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The Astros are proud to present Astros Light up the Park presented by Houston Methodist! Houston’s newest and most unique holiday celebration launches at Daikin Park on November 22 and runs through January 4. This immersive experience is designed for people of all ages and will offer a magical blend of lights, sounds and holiday joy with an Astros twist!
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Plan a holiday escape to Rice Village and experience the charm of Ice Village, Houston’s happiest rink. From Now – January 4, lace up for skating under the stars, capture festive photo moments, and visit Santa on weekends from November 29 through December 21. Make it a day trip — dine, shop, and celebrate the season at one of Houston’s most beloved destinations.
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This Winter Break, join Museum educators and artists to explore works of art from the exhibition Art and Life in Imperial Rome: Trajan and His Times. Art-making activities and knowledgeable educators help spark discovery and create family memories to last a lifetime.
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A Walk-thru Event at Paul Hopkins Park - With Free Admission, Parking and Shuttle Service Open Nightly from November 29th Thru December 30th, 2025 - 6:00pm-8:30pm (Weather Permitting) We will be closed on December 24th & 25th
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Balloon Museum presents Pop Air | Art is Inflatable — the international touring exhibition where air becomes art through the vision of leading artists from around the world.
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On Saturday, December 27th, join us for Weather Wonders with Meteorologist Maggie shows at 10:30am,11:30am, 12:30pm, and 1:30pm. This show shares the enlightening exploration of the water cycle, cloud formation, and the fascinating world of weather patterns.
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Give the gift of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet! to the whole family. Celebrate America’s favorite Christmas tradition with an international all-star cast that blends world class ballet with whimsical puppets, lavish costumes and stunning acrobatics! Share the tradition of pure Holiday magic and Tchaikovsky’s timeless score with friends and family of all ages. Don’t miss this chance to create memories of a lifetime: get tickets now!
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We invite you to celebrate with us. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates Family, Community & Culture. 9th Annual Missouri City Area Kwanzaa Community Celebration Your entire family is invited to join us for the 9th Annual Missouri City Area Kwanzaa Community Celebration! Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates Family, Community, and Culture. Kwanzaa was created by Seba Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor & Chair, Africana Studies, CSU Long Beach, and Executive Director of the African American Cultural Center (L.A.), and was first celebrated in December 1966 during the Black Freedom Movement. The Hub and Hinge in which the holiday turns is the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) a value system used for Black community development all over the World African Community.
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Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Small Business Saturday from SHAPE Community Center. On December 26, 2025, we invite you to the First Night of Kwanzaa Celebration, UMOJA Unity, at the Third Ward Multi Service Center, where you can enjoy live music, drumming, food, and a vibrant vendor market filled with local small businesses. SHAPE has always believed that when small Black and Brown owned businesses thrive, our whole community thrives, and this Kwanzaa marketplace is a beautiful expression of that legacy. As we continue our Together Building Back Better restoration campaign after the fire, your support helps us keep creating spaces where culture, commerce, and community come together. Come shop with our vendors, celebrate unity, and, if you are able, make a donation at shape.org to help us restore SHAPE so we can keep lifting up small businesses and families for generations to come.
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A holiday season favorite at the MFAH, Kid Flicks is a compilation of fun, artful, inspired, and thought-provoking short film compilations presented in partnership with New York International Children’s Film Festival. These award-winning short films offer a chance to explore new frontiers from around the world, across the street, and the ever-expanding boundaries of our own perspectives. Little Kid Flicks is designed for ages 5 and up. Big Kid Flicks is designed for ages 8 and up.
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Jump into the vibrant world of Read, Move, & Groove at The Little Gym, a fantastic fusion of literature and lively motion tailored for our young gymnasts. As your child dives into mesmerizing tales, they're also introduced to a symphony of movements, from twirls to tumbles, making each story an active adventure. Key Features: Interactive Storytime: Dive deep into exciting tales that spark imagination. Physical Fun: Boost coordination, balance, and agility through engaging movements. Rhythmic Delights: Experience the pulse of music and dance as stories unfold. Unleash the potential of words and wiggles at The Little Gym! With Read, Move, & Groove, every page turned is a step, jump, or jive in the right direction. Join us and let your little one’s imagination soar while their feet find the rhythm of adventure.
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- Dickinson Festival of Lights - FM 517 Road East, Dickinson, TX 77539, Friday, December 26, 2025, 6-8:30 pm
- Little Kid Flicks - 1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77005, Friday, December 26, 2025, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
- Big Kid Flicks - 1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77005, Friday, December 26, 2025, 2-3 pm
- Greater
Houston Kwanzaa Umoja Celebration - Ennis Street, Houston, TX, Friday, December 26, 2025, 5-10 pm
- Yoga on the
Lawn - First Colony Mall - 16535 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77479, Saturday, December 27, 2025, 10-11 am
- Malcolm Purvis (Magnolia) Library: Saturday Family Movies & Fun - 510 Melton, Magnolia, TX 77354, Saturday, December 27,
2025, Movies at 10 am and 2 pm
- Dickinson Festival of Lights - FM 517 Road East,
Dickinson, TX 77539, Saturday, December 27, 2025, 6-8:30 pm
- Dickinson Festival of Lights - FM 517 Road East, Dickinson, TX 77539, Sunday, December 28, 2025, 6-8:30 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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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. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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KidsOutAndAbout's 2025 holiday events list for Houston: 101 ideas for local holiday fun in our area. Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. Plus, activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Houston 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 winners in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Houston area: Houston, The Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sugar Land, and beyond. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, plus 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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