KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jun 5: Indiana Comic Convention 2026 Sat, Jun 6: 3rd Annual Adventure Trek at the Oxbow: Kickoff to Summer Festival
Sun, Jun 7: 2nd Annual Summer Splash Bash
Thu, Jun 11: 2026 Christ Church Cathedral Women's Strawberry Festival
Sat, Jun 13: Indy Pride Parade - With Indy Pride Tue, Jun 16: Tadpole Time - Bugs! - At W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park - With Hendricks County Parks and Recreation
Tue, Jun 16: Art in the Park: Latino Culture Night - With Laffyette Parks & Recreation
Thu, Jun 18: Outdoor Movie Night: National Treasure - At Celebration Plaza
Sat, Jun 20: 2026 FREE DAY! Juneteenth - At Indiana State Museum
Sat, Jun 27: America’s 250th Outdoor Summer Celebration - at Indiana State
Museum
Sat, Jul 25: RecFest - At Johnson County Park Amphitheater - With Johnson County Parks & Recreation
Sat, Sep 19: America's 250th Tinkerfest - at Indiana State Museum
Sat, Oct 24: Carni-Fall - At Independence Park - With Johnson County Parks &
Recreation
Sat, Nov 21: Wildlife Workshops: The Feasts of Beasts - Columbian Park Zoo (AGES: 8-11) |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One summer afternoon during a family camping trip in New Jersey when I was about 6 or 7 years old, a horse fly suddenly appeared next to my ear and started following me everywhere I went. I’m sure that, from its own perspective, it was just going about its business doing ordinary horse fly things, but to me it felt enormous, ominous, and purposeful. I can't remember if it
actually bit me, but I can still summon the hot panic of not being able to get away from its threatening buzz. To my small self, that fly wasn't a little distraction, it was a crisis with wings. The memory surfaced recently when my daughter Ella sent me the above photo, taken in Quintana Beach County Park, near Houston. The point was clear: Proceed, and you will be under attack, and not by any adorable Northeastern bugs you might be used to. No, these bugs were born in Texas. Beware. Sometimes that is exactly
how challenges feel, especially to kids: Problems loom much larger to them than they do to adults with decades of experience. A broken toy, a skinned knee, a mistake in front of the class, or a slight misunderstanding with a friend may be a fly in the ointment to us, but a Texas-sized monster to a child. The trick is to validate the feeling without validating helplessness. We stand beside them and say, Yes, I know, this feels huge. The bugs, even if they're not as large as they
think, are real. They watch us shoo them away and learn gradually to do it for themselves. If I had seen the sign above, my first instinct would have been to flee back to the safety of the car. And Ella said it was not exaggerating, at least not by much: The moment she stepped onto the property, giant mosquitoes descended, and they were hungry; even leggings soaked with OFF Deep Woods did not deter them. She assures me that the photo she got of the Bay-breasted Warbler was
worth all the bites on the backs of her knees. She knew better than to show me the damage. Clearly, the script has flipped.
—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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Get ready to party with Zionsville Parks and Recreation as we be farewell to the school year at Mulberry Fields Park! Splash into a whirlwind of games, activities, a special appearance by the Zionsville Nature Center, and groove to tunes from a live DJ. Don't forget to cool off at the Mulberry Fields Splash Pad! Plus, food trucks to enjoy and the Zionsville Fire and Police Departments Touch-a-Truck.
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WILD KRATTS – LIVE! is a theatrical stage show based on the hit animated television series Wild Kratts. Martin and Chris Kratt, stars of the Emmy-nominated Wild Kratts, step out live on stage to engage the audience in a classic Wild Kratts story! Martin and Chris are sure to keep you entertained as they activate some fan favorite Creature Power Suits and go “Off to the Creature Rescue!” With the help of the Wild Kratts team - and their audience members - the Kratt Brothers confront a comic villain and help bring the creatures of the animal world to safety once again! Experience, live-on-stage, the astounding “creature” fundamentals, and the infectious excitement and inspiring quest of the Kratt Brothers that make the hit television series Wild Kratts so popular with kids and their families.
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When two full moons happen in the same month, the second full moon is a Blue Moon, and Blue Moons only happen – well, every once in a Blue Moon! We invite you to our Blue Moon Market, featuring local artists with beautiful, handmade items for purchase (some even Blue Moon-themed). Included in the festivities are That Vegan Joint food truck, other local food vendors, and music. Local astronomer, Dr. Doug Balogh, will be on hand from 7:00 – 9:30 pm with educational information about the moon and viewing opportunities of the summer night sky
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The Great Noblesville Duck Race is one of the most beloved community traditions in downtown Noblesville and a signature fundraising event supporting Noblesville Main Street. Each year, hundreds of bright yellow rubber ducks are “adopted” by participants and released into the White River for a lively race to the finish line. Every duck represents a chance to win prizes while also supporting programs that strengthen downtown Noblesville. The event brings together families, local businesses, and visitors for a fun, high-energy day filled with entertainment, community spirit, and friendly competition. Proceeds from duck adoptions help fund Noblesville Main Street initiatives including downtown beautification, local events, small business support, and programs that enhance the vitality of the historic square.
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Get ready for another fun summer with Sensory Swim! Sensory Swim will offer an after (or before)-hours sensory-friendly open swim for individuals with behavioral, social, emotional, and/or physical challenges and their families.
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The 2026 Pokémon Indianapolis Regional Championships are coming to Indianapolis the weekend of May 29, and with it, the competitive debut of the brand-new Pokémon Champions video game. Fresh off its launch on April 8, 2026, Trainers in Indianapolis will be the first to witness top Pokemon competitors put the new game to the test in an official major tournament setting, marking the kickoff for the next chapter in competitive Pokémon play.
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- Once in a Blue Moon - Moon Market - At Strawtown Koteewi Park - With Hamilton County Parks and Recreation - 15513 S Union St, Carmel, Hamilton County, IN 46033, United
States - Friday, May 29, 2026, 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- Appalachian Spring - At Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States - Friday, May 29, 2026 to Saturday, May 30, 2026, Showtimes Vary
- 2026 Summer Concert Series- At Main St. Park - With Town of Whitestown - 6210 Veterans Drive, Whitestown, IN, USA - Friday, May 29, 2026, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Indianapolis - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA - Saturday, May 30, 2026, See link for times
- 2026 Noblesville Farmers Market - 839 Conner Street, Noblesville, Noblesville Township, IN 46060, United States - Saturday, May 30, 2026, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
- 2026 Zionsville Farmers' Market - Zionsville Farmers Market, S Main St, Zionsville, IN 46077, United
States - Saturday, May 30, 2026, 8:00 am -11:30 am
- 2026 Shelby County Farmers Market - 18 South Harrison Street, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176, United States - Saturday, May 30, 2026, 8:00 am 12:00 pm
- 2026 Carmel City Farmer’s Market - On Carter Green - Carmel Farmers Market, 2 Carter Green, Carmel, IN 46032, United States - Saturday, May 30, 2026, 8:00 am -11:30 am
- 2026 Summer Market - With Broad Ripple Farmers Market - Glendale Town Center 6001 North Rural Street, Indianapolis, IN 46220, USA - Saturday, May 30, 2026, 9:00 am -12:00 pm
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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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Indianapolis 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Indianapolis? 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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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