KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jan 16: KPop Demon Hunters Painting Party at uPaint Pottery Studio
Sat, Jan 17: Kids’ Night Out -The Flow Space Movement Center (Ages 6+)
Sat, Jan 17: Mario Kart World Tournament (Ages 12+) at Johnson County Public Library White River
Branch
Mon, Jan 19: FREE DAY! Martin Luther King Jr. Day (All Ages) - At Indiana State Museum at Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Mon, Jan 19: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration - At Newfields at Newfields
Mon, Jan 19: 44th Annual Dr. MLK Jr. Day of Celebration Featuring Bakari Sellers - At Madam Walker Legacy Center at Madam Walker Legacy Center - Indianapolis
Sat, Jan 24: ICC Community Outreach January Day of Song at Indianapolis Children's Choir Performing Arts Center
Fri, Jan 30: Batman In Concert - At Butler Arts & Events Center at Clowes Memorial Hall
Fri, Feb 13: Swimmin' Cinema (Ages 6-13) Krannert Park - With Indy Parks and Recreation at Indy Parks and Recreation
Mon, Feb 16: America's 250th Presidents’ Day: Puzzle Party - FREE Admission at
Indiana State Museum at Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Fri, Feb 20: GeoFest at Indiana State Museum at Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Sun, Feb 22: Anime Crossroads 2026 at Anime Crossroads
Sat, Mar 14: Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser - At McCloud Nature Park |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
I'm in Phoenix this week for a meeting of the American Astronomical Society, where I'm giving a talk about my new book, The Eclipse Effect. One of the best parts of being here is getting to attend the other presentations, too, which is how I found myself Monday night inside under the Dorrance Planetarium Dome at the Arizona Science Center, gazing up at a sky unlike any I’ve ever seen. Thanks to cutting-edge LED projection technology and the first imagery from the nearly-complete Rubin Observatory in Chile, the dome became a portal into the depths of our galaxy and beyond,
rendered in light so vivid and detailed it felt like we could fall in. The room was full of astronomers, researchers, educators—professionals who have dedicated their careers to explaining the universe. These were the very people who helped build the tools, who'd worked the math, who’d waited decades to see the science take shape... and even they were astonished: Their faces were lit up with the kind of awe you usually only see in children. It was a reminder that at its
heart, science is about connection. Connecting those points of light above my head, yes; connecting the dots, sure... but also connecting people—to each other, to wonder, and to what’s possible. If you want your kids to connect deeply with science—or history, or nature, or culture, or space—you don’t need a telescope on a mountain, you just need a person. So go to the museum, walk the trail, step into the planetarium. But don’t stop at the
exhibit signs: Find the people! Ask them questions. They want to talk to you! These docents, tour guides, librarians, explainers, and educators are the ones who turn information into illumination. They are the lens your kids can look through to see what their future might be. So seek the sky painters. Then stand next to your kids, look up, and be amazed together.
—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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Join us for a fun morning of messy fun! Story time this month will be all about play. We will be reading a winter story, playing with clay, making snowflakes out of clay, and enjoying a snack. This class is designed for our youngest artists, making learning easy and fun.
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Join us for an adventure with art and nature. Participants and their grown-ups will sing songs, read a story, and make art while exploring the IMA Galleries or The Garden at Newfields. This fun-filled experience is specially designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers; younger siblings are welcome. One adult is included per child. There will be activities and spaces to explore each week. Additional adults are welcome with a General Admission ticket. When the season and weather allows, Wee Wonders will be held outside. If the weather is crumby or cold, we will be inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Not ready for your art adventure to end? Tickets include General Admission so you can continue exploring after Wee Wonders. If you have questions, please email WeeWonders@discovernewfields.org
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Winter is one of the best times of the year to spot owls. Come learn about the different owls that make their home in Zionsville and head out with a Naturalist to hopefully observe some in the wild. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots. You may bring a flashlight, but you will be required to cover it with a red wrap to protect our night vision and the vision of the owls. Ages 6 & up.
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Join us for a grand adventure of story, song and first person living history about life on the Ohio River from the frontier era through the glorious age of steam. Reservations required. In addition to song and story, the audience will meet four rollicking river characters, all portrayed by actor, musician and songwriter Kevin Stonerock, including a keelboat man, a steamboat passenger on the J. M. White, a showboat barker from the 1890's and steamboat captain Ebenezer Cline. Since 1980, with over 4,000 performances to his credit, Kevin has brought history to life for thousands of young people and adults.
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Science Gets Messy Sometimes During this one-hour program, children and their families can play and learn alongside one another in our early childhood space, Firefly Landing. Little ones will build a sense of wonder as they engage in storytelling, hands-on STEAM projects, and sensory exploration related to the monthly theme. Squishy and slimy, ooey and gooey — science gets messy sometimes! Explore hands-on sensory science and your child’s inner mad scientist during this silly program. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ticketing Info
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Young children and their families are invited to an introduction to the orchestra through story, movement and live music. Teddy bears welcome! The Garden Symphony, by Victoria Griswold, is the story of a ladybug’s search through the garden for her own special song. Young children are invited to move along to music, listen to a story, and watch five musicians from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra perform. The Garden Symphony video introduces the oboe, violin, clarinet, cello, and harp. These five instruments are part of the string and woodwind sections of the symphony orchestra. Musical selections featured in the video include excerpts from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Flight of the Bumblebee, Handel’s Harp Concerto, and Pachelbel’s Canon.
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SNOWBALL FIGHT!!! Ellenberger Park is hosting our 2nd annual All-Ages artificial snow ball fight on the rink! This event will offer hundreds of artificial snowballs, hot cocoa and music! $5 at the door. Please Note-The rink is not temperature controlled so please dress accordingly.
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- Pokémon Club (grades 1-4) - At Avon-Washington Township Library - Avon-Washington Township Public Library, 498 N Avon Ave, Avon, IN 46123, Friday, January 9, 2026, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- Whitestown Winter Market 2025
– 2026 season - 6210 Veterans Drive, Whitestown, IN, Saturday, January 10, 2026, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Indy
Winter Farmers Market - At The AMP at 16 Tech - 1220 Waterway Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202, Saturday, January 10, 2026, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
- The Steamboat's A Comin'! - A Living History Presentation by Kevin Stonerock - Johnson County Public Library-Indiana - White River Branch - Johnson County Public Library, 1664 Library Boulevard, Greenwood, IN, Saturday, January 10, 2026, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Family Concert Series -
Teddy Bear Concert with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra The Giant's Violin - At Indianapolis Public Library - Central Library - Indianapolis Public Library - Central Library, 40 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, Sunday, January 11,
2026, 11:00 am -12:00 pm
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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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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.
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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!
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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!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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