KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Feb 7: Library Carnival at Brazoria County Library System - Clute
Sat, Feb
14: Bubbles and More Play Day at Nature Discovery Center
Sat, Feb 14: Lunar New Year Festival 2026: Year of the Fire Horse at Parker Williams Branch Library
Sun, Feb 15: Lunar New Year- Discovery Green
Sat, Feb 21: Annual Go Texan Parade at Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Area Chamber of Commerce
Sat, Feb 21: Mardi Gras! Galveston
Fri, Mar 20: National Youth Theater presents Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical
Sat, Mar 21: Heights Kids' Day of Music
Sat, Mar 28: Bayou City Art Festival at Memorial Park Thu, Apr 9: Handyman Hall Comes to Town - Cullen Performance Hall, April 9 |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Next week, my husband and I are heading to a Valentine's Evening behind-the-scenes tour of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, New York. It’s the same Frank Lloyd Wright museum we’ve
visited several times, but this version is fancily dressed for the holiday: candlelight, champagne, treats, and a fresh perspective on something familiar. That’s the real magic of Valentine’s Day: It’s one of those perfectly made-up holidays, constructed out of paper hearts, glitter, and good intentions... and it manages magically to transform our spaces, our schedules, and our spirits. As publisher, I've had a 25-year front row seat to
communities around the country who turn nothing into something every February. This year, visitors can say "I Love Thee" in a Victorian mansion in Riverside, CA while a re-enactor in a top hat explains the romantic origin of the Hershey’s Kiss. Frying Pan Farm Park in
Virginia will help kids say "I Love MOO!" with farm animal puns. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center invites everyone on a Valentine's Express Steam Train ride that is more light-hearted than steamy. And next Saturday, biologists at the California Academy of Sciences will hand out heart-shaped valentines to their African penguins—who will then present them to their mates to help line
their nests. Not all Valentine’s Day celebrations require you to get out and about, though; just muster some creativity and apply it to stuff you already have lying around the house. Cut hearts from red paper and tape them to the door. Dress in scarlet or rose or salmon pink. Light a candle at dinner while you're eating heart-shaped cheese, toast, bacon, or lasagna (here are 25 fun recipes from Food Network). When you and your kids dress up your world together, you’re not just celebrating love, you’re celebrating creativity. And they're learning the life skill of transforming ordinary stuff around them into something special. It only takes one step beyond the good intention to make it
so. Love can be grand, indeed. But it doesn’t have to be grand to be great.
—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. |
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Peppa Pig, along with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, George and new baby sister Evie, are coming to Galveston for PEPPA PIG: MY FIRST CONCERT – a fun, interactive introduction to a live orchestra for ages 18 months and older. Join Peppa and George to learn all about
the different sounds that instruments make together! Enjoy some of your favorite music from the show played by a live orchestra and discover some other exciting orchestral pieces perfect for children. Plus, some little piggies can join Peppa and her family to make music of their own! Join the Grand 1894 Opera House March 6th 12:00 PM for a fun Classical Musical Journey.
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Once Upon A Cowboy offers a fun and unique experience that will be unforgettable. At Once Upon A Cowboy, we handle every detail, ensuring a stress free and enjoyable celebration. Create lasting memories with your loved ones where fun, laughter and good
times await!
Pricing starts as low as $329. Email: events@onceuponacowboy.com to reserve your party today or give us a call at 346-587-5653.
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Get ready, Houston! Creator Camp is back for Summer 2026 with our Shark Tank-featured digital arts programs. We offer weekly camps across the Houston area focusing on filmmaking, animation, YouTube creation, and game design. Our mission is to turn screen
time into "creative time" by teaching kids how to use professional tools to build their own projects. From music production to advanced coding, our expert instructors guide campers through a fun, social, and educational experience. Secure your spot today and let your child discover the magic of content creation in the heart of Houston!
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Princesses Anna and Elsa grow up sheltered inside their castle, isolated from the world and increasingly distant from each other. When Elsa is crowned queen, the magical powers she’s desperately tried to conceal from her sister take control, and she flees
into the mountains.
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Stop by our facility to see divers clean the aquarium exhibits! You will have the chance to interact with the divers as they clean, and learn about general diving practices and the dive program at Sea Center.
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Open Dance Project’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, follows Hermia as she runs away from an overbearing father into a forest filled with hapless young lovers, a feuding Fairy King and Queen, a mischievous sprite, and an uproarious band of amateur actors. This
adventurous comedy filled with mishaps, misunderstandings, misdirection, and magic features aerial silks, acrobatics, and clever choreography that is sure to delight children and grown-ups alike!
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Join us to experience the park like it's your first time, on our Creekfield Lake Trail.
First time or 50th time at our park? Join us at our 0.5-mile paved trail to explore our diverse ecosystem. Along the trail, read and enjoy our bronze plates showcasing a few key residents. This short but highly informative guided hike will remind you why you love our park.
Meet at the Nature Center to start this hike.
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Discover how people preserved memories of loved ones before the widespread use of photography. Learn about the alternatives used during that era, such as portrait art, and about the significance of pocket-sized portraits for travelers and military
personnel. Create your own vintage-inspired keepsake to take home!
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Join us throughout February for weekly spotlights, hands-on STEM activities, and special programs honoring Black pioneers of flight and space.
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This is a once-in-a-century celebration of 100 Years of Jaw-Dropping "No Way!" moves, 100 Years of "Wow!" and 100 Years of Heart-Pounding Thrills! The Harlem Globetrotters are coming to your city with their most LEGENDARY TOUR EVER. From gravity-defying
dunks to game-changing tricks, experience the team that redefined basketball! This is history you can feel and a celebration of 100 years of over-the-top FUN with all-new surprises like the Golden Basketball by Spalding®. This is fan celebration from the moment you arrive with epic new pre-game magic, unforgettable post-game interactions, and the most fan-fueled experience in sports. This is your only chance to be part of The Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour. Don't miss your chance to be a
part of the LEGACY.
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Help us celebrate by bringing your child (and the whole family) to the library for some come-and-go crafts. Have some fun and explore the library.
All supplies are provided. Space is limited. This is a come-and-go event.
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Make some new family memories with a night out in the park! Roast hotdogs, craft s’mores, and tell tales over the campfire, then head out on a guided night hike to look for local wildlife.
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The Humble Rodeo is a tradition in Humble, Texas since 1947. It is a yearly activity that brings people of all demographics together for fun and excitement.
The Rodeo is a weekend of great competition by cowboys and cowgirls from around the US. We also host an extraordinary concert that is always sure to please. The rodeo arena has box seats and general admission and we offer dirt passes for the concert, to get that up close experience.
Both weekends are family friendly events that help the Humble Rodeo and BBQ Cook-off to raise money for the Humble School District by donating all proceeds to the Humble ISD Education Foundation.
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Toddler Time is designed for children ages 5 and under to explore the zoo at their own pace! Bring your little ones to feed a tortoise, touch a snake, watch our birds, and play with our petting zoo pals!
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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- Teen-Tween Space - Galena Park Library, 1500 Keene Street, Galena Park, TX 77547, Friday, 02/06/2026 to Sunday, 02/08/2026, 2:45-5:15 pm
- Movers & Shakers Storytime - 215 North Shanks Street, Clute, TX, Friday, 02/06/2026 - Saturday, 02/07/2026, 11 am
- Texas America250 Reading Challenge - Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 1201 Brazos St, Austin, Texas 78701, Friday, 02/06/2026 - Sunday, 02/08/2026, all day
- Lego Club - 10851 Scarsdale Boulevard suite 510, Houston, TX 77089, Friday, 02/06/2026, 4:30-5:15 pm
- Take Your Child to the Library
Day - 1702 North Main Street, Pearland, TX, Friday, 02/06/2026, 10 am- 6 pm
- "This Ain't Our First Rodeo" with Liara
Tamani - Shepard-Acres Homes Neighborhood Library, West Montgomery Road, Houston, TX, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 11 am- 1 pm
- Live at Live Oak Presented by H-E-B - H-E-B, 7575 North Picnic Lane, Houston, TX 77007, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 4-6 pm
- Lunar New Year Storytime with author Monique Truong - Bellaire Boulevard, Houston, TX, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 3-4
pm
- Wagging Tales - Katherine Tyra Branch Library, Clay Road, Houston, TX, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 10:30-11
am
- Library Carnival - 215 North Shanks Street, Clute, TX, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 12-2 pm
- Hands-on Houston: Bolo Ties - Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Agritourism Days at Blackwood Farm 2026 - Blackwood Educational Land Institute, 27144
Rock Island Road, Hempstead, TX 77445, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 12-4 pm
- Saturdays @ HPL - Flores Neighborhood Library, 110 North Milby Street, Houston, TX 77003, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 2-4 pm
- Tommy Terrific: Black History Month - Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale Road, Houston, TX 77024, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 11-11:45 am
- Tween Clay Workshop - Octavia Fields Branch Library, South Houston Avenue, Humble, TX, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 2-3:30 pm
- National Take Your Child to the
Library Day! - 620 South Brooks Street, Brazoria, TX, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 10:30-11:30 am
- Saturday Movers and
Shakers - 20514b Highway 6, Manvel, TX, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 11-11:30 am
- Super Bowl Sunday Family Brunch at
Wakefield Crowbar! - Wakefield Crowbar, 954 Wakefield Dr, Houston, TX 77018, Sunday, 02/08/2026, 10 am- 2 pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Houston 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 Houston? 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 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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