KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Sun, Dec 28: Kwanzaa Community Festival: Roots and Rhythm: Living Kwanzaa 365 at Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Mon, Dec 29: Snowy Luminaries (Ages 6+) at Zionsville Nature Center
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Year's Eve! - Hamilton East Public Library-Noblesville Library
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Year's Eve at Lincoln Park - Zionsville, IN
Wed, Dec 31: Winter Open Activities at Indianapolis Public Library - Central Library
Wed, Dec 31: Family New Year's Eve (All Ages) Crossing at Indiana State Museum
Thu, Jan 1: luminary First Day
Hike at Arbuckle Acres Park
Sat, Jan 17: Mario Kart World Tournament (Ages 12+) at
Johnson County Public Library-Indiana - White River Branch
Mon, Jan 19: FREE
DAY! Martin Luther King Jr. Day (All Ages) at Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Wed, Jan 21: MLK Jr. Dream Canvas at Johnson County Public Library-Indiana - White River Branch
Sun, Feb 1: Get Ready for Kindergarten Week at Johnson County Public Library-Indiana - White River Branch
Fri,
Feb 6: Winder Wonderland Dance - At Cool Creek Nature Center
Fri, Feb 20: Anime Crossroads
2026
Sat, Feb 21: Sappy Saturday at Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation
Thu, Feb 26: Teen: Fantasy Fitness with Stevie Deal - At Beech Grove Branch
|
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice—Robert Frost’s “darkest evening of the year.” It’s when we in the Northern Hemisphere most appreciate human inventiveness: We flip a switch, and light floods the room. It feels like magic, but it’s not. It’s the result of generations of curious, determined humans trying to make life better, brighter,
safer. That’s why my family celebrates Lightbulb Day every December 21. It’s our homegrown holiday honoring the inventors and problem-solvers whose insights fuel our lives. We toast our favorite technologies, learn some history, imagine the future. Past years’ MVPs include contact lenses,
antibiotics, the internet, veterinary science, and the Covid vaccine. This year’s front-runner: artificial intelligence. Last weekend, I had breakfast with a friend and her 13-year-old daughter, Lily. Lily said she loves math and science but struggles with how her teachers approach the humanities, especially writing. When I showed her how AI can help her learn in the way she learns best, her face lit up. So I went home and wrote a how-to article for Lily, her mom, and any of
you with kids in middle school or older: How Students Can Use AI to Learn to Write (Without Giving Away their Brains). AI isn’t here to think for us. It’s here to help us think more effectively with our own minds. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to our kids.
In this new AI age, the real danger isn’t the technology itself, it’s the temptation to hand our brains over to it and say, “Here, you do all the work.” So this Lightbulb Day, I’m raising an Erlenmeyer flask, not just to the great inventors of the past, but to Lily, and to every young person learning to think with tools rather than letting tools do the thinking. Because the real magic isn’t flipping the switch; it’s understanding where the current comes from, and
imagining what we’ll power with it in the future.
—Debra Ross, publisher
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
|
|
|
|
Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Step into a world of wonder this holiday season with Metropolitan Youth Ballet’s enchanting production of The Nutcracker! Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on a magical Christmas Eve adventure — from a festive party to a thrilling midnight battle, through the sparkling Kingdom of Snow and into the deliciously whimsical Land of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy and her sweets from around the world dance for you!With dazzling costumes, Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score, and inspiring performances by MYB’s talented pre-professional dancers and special guest artists, this is more than a performance — it’s an experience you will treasure for years to come. Every ticket includes access to the Land of Sweets Shoppe, Sugar Plum Boutique, and Cast Meet & Greet to capture magical photos with your favorite dancers! December 19-21 at STAR Bank Performing Arts Center, Zionsville. my-ballet.org/nutcracker
|
|
|
|
Don’t miss one of the most iconic oratorios of all time as Handel’s Messiah is performed by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. This source of the familiar Hallelujah Chorus is one of music’s most powerful messages of faith. Featuring the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir under the direction of Eric Stark, artistic director, who also conducts the concert.
|
|
|
|
Do you love Anime or Manga? Want a group of people to talk with? We will select an Anime show to watch together, do crafts, and try some fun, authentic Asian snacks together. Bring a friend and come ready to talk about all things Anime!
|
|
|
|
Celebrate the start of winter break with an enchanting evening by the campfire. Toast marshmallows, enjoy gooey s’mores, and welcome the start of a new season as the Winter solstice approaches. All participants must register.
|
|
|
|
Get ready for a super fun day at our Winter Jubilation! It's like stepping into Santa's very own workshop, all planned by our awesome house elf, Jazzy Frostchester! You can paint cool ornaments and make the yummiest cookie decorations ever! Plus, guess what? Santa's here to take super cool photos with, plus we are having a huge snowball fight! So, grab your gloves and get ready for some snow fun! * don't worry about gloves, our snowballs are not real*
|
|
|
|
In honor of Las Posadas and the commemoration of the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem, our special programming will include a variety of festive music taking you on a holiday journey, ranging from mariachi bands to Latin pop singers. Families can gather and connect over holiday activities including ornament building, etc. We’ll even have a seven-star pinata (symbolic of the star which is said to have guided the three wise men of biblical tradition to the newborn Jesus) on display for the perfect family photo opp!
|
|
|
|
Since 2008, the Indy Winter Farmers Market has provided a venue for Indiana’s sustainably-minded family farms and food producers to sell products throughout the fall and winter, improving the community’s year-round access to fresh, local food. Our goal is to help bridge the gap between the community, local farmers, and food producers. In its 16th season, The Indy Winter Farmers Market is the longest-running and only winter market in downtown Indianapolis. Hosted at the AMP Food Hall & Marketplace, 16 Tech has been a key in-kind supporter over the past three years – and is now proud to carry on its legacy as the market’s official operator. Saturday markets will have many vendors, including local farmers, food producers, and artisans. Find items like fresh produce, smoothies, bakery goods, cookies, jewelry, material goods, skincare products and more! Come out to the Indy Winter Farmers Market every Saturday from 9am – 12:30pm, until April 25th. With over 50 vendors, there is a…
|
|
|
- Winter Break Campfire - At Elm Street Green - With Zionsville Parks and Recreation - Zionsville Parks & Recreation - 1100 W Oak St, Zionsville, IN 46077, Friday, December 19, 2025, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Christmas
in the Village - Santa House Selfies - With Zionsville Chamber of Commerce - Zionsville Chamber of Commerce - 1100 West Oak St, Suite 214, Zionsville, IN 46077, Saturday, December 20, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, 11 am – 3 pm
- Santa's Workshop - At Raymond Park/Indy Island Aquatic Center - 8575 East Raymond Street, Warren, Indianapolis, IN 46239, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 9:00 am - 9:45 am
- Winter Board Game Blitz- At McCloud Nature Park - With Hendricks County Parks and Recreation - Hendricks County Parks
and Recreation - Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
- Indy
Winter Farmers Market - At The AMP at 16 Tech - 1220 Waterway Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Indianapolis - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, Saturday, December 20, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, See link for
times
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 Indianapolis. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Indianapolis area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in
festive activities.
|
|
|
|
|
(This list is always a work in progress: We update it continually through the season, so check back frequently!) KidsOutAndAbout is Indy's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Indianapolis 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
2025's Best Places for Kids in the Indianapolis area! Here are the Top 20 places to take kids in and around Indianapolis, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Of course, there is LOTS more to do locally "out and about"! Get great ideas here at
KidsOutAndAbout.com!
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
