KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sun, Mar 29: EGGSTRAVAGANZA & Easter Egg Hunt at One Church Jacksonville Beach
Sun, Mar 29: 5th Annual Jacksonville Spring Fest at Riverside Art Square
Sat, Apr 4: *FREE* International Call for Art - 6x6 at Rochester Contemporary Art Center
Sat, Apr 4: 2026 Mandarin Art Festival at Mandarin Community Club
Sat, Apr 4: Riverfront PALOOZA at Riverside Artists Square
Sat, Apr 11: 34th Annual Springing the Blues Festival at Springing the Blues Festival
Sat, Apr 11: CAR-B-QUE Classic Car Show & Barbecue at One Church Jacksonville Beach
Fri, Apr 17: Jax Parks Movie Night - Zootopia 2 at Riverside Artists Square
Fri, Apr 24: Community Cleanup: SPAR Office - Tour of Home & Gardens/FDOT Adopt-A-Highway Q2 at Springfield Preservation and
Revitalization
Sun, Apr 26: 47th Annual Historic Springfield Home & Garden Tour Presented by M&M Homes |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: The first time I can remember having to take a public stand on anything was in eighth grade English. We were assigned an essay on a controversial topic and told we’d present our arguments to the class. When he handed back our papers, Mr. Schmidt added a twist: no reading. We’d speak from notes. I was horrified. After school, I tried to negotiate my way out of it. “This
makes me really uncomfortable,” I told him, hoping for mercy. He looked at me over his glasses. “That’s the whole point,” he said. “To get stuff done, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t worry, you’ll live.” Mr. Schmidt was right. I didn’t die. And more important, I learned something that stuck: Discomfort isn’t a stop sign, it’s just part of the road, and all roads are bumpy. That lesson shaped how I've raised my kids, too. Karate helped
Madison and Ella distinguish between effort and injury. Long car rides taught them to rely on their own imaginations. Theater nudged them to stand however close to the spotlight they could manage, even when they’d rather disappear. And summer camps—those muddy, unpredictable, gloriously imperfect experiences—gave them countless chances to try something new and realize I can do this without the stigma that can accompany failing in other contexts. Growth rarely happens
inside the comfort zone, which is why I’m such a believer in giving kids opportunities to stretch beyond what feels easy. Summer programs are perfect for this, so that's why during "summer camp search season" we focus on showcasing the wide variety of camps and programs available in each area we serve. Here's the
link to the portal page. These days, as we approach the 25th anniversary of KidsOutAndAbout.com in June, I see that same principle playing out: The technology has changed, the business climate has changed, but the equation hasn’t. Discomfort still shows up right before something meaningful. And I still hear Mr. Schmidt’s voice in my head: Don’t worry, you’ll live.
—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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School’s Out for Spring Break – or should we say Spring BAKE? Take your baking skills to the next level! Our pastry chef will guide you step-by-step through the process of baking some delicious treats!
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Come join us for a night of Leprechaun Fun! We will be having yummy dinner, putting out a leprechaun trap, meeting a real lucky leprechaun, fun crafts, dessert and more.
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Pet It Forward night at the Icemen! Who loves Hockey! Join us at the Vystar arena! its bring your dog night! Get your tickets now before they sell out! Please note: dogs are $10.00 a ticket. See you there!!
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Join us for March's "Movies in the Park" on Friday, March 20th, at 7:00pm for an evening show at the new Artist Square space across from the Riverside Arts Market! The Riverside Arts Market Parking lot will be the main parking area for this event.
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Come in your green, white, and red PJs, and dive into an Italian Seaside Adventure! This months Kids Night Out features an exciting lineup, including ocean-themed watercolor craft, pasta-shaped necklace making, STEM activities, Italian street-game relay,
pizza dinner and desserts, a dance party, and more! For kids ages 5-11 only.
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The 43rd Annual St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival is set for March 21-22 at Francis Field in downtown St. Augustine! Enjoy two days of fresh seafood, live music, and family-friendly entertainment, all while supporting the St. Augustine Lions Club’s
charitable initiatives. Stroll through the Arts & Crafts Village, catch pirate performances, and test your skills in the Fun Zone. Admission is $10 for adults, with free entry for kids 12 and under. Free parking and a shuttle service are available on Saturday. Don’t miss this beloved local tradition! Visit lionsfestival.com for details.
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Join Wildlight Market Place Farmers and Arts Market Saturday, March 21st, for our Easter Celebration! There will be fun games, a bubble station and a photo booth to take selfies with the Easter Bunny. Make sure to bring a basket or bag with you so your kids
can go from booth to booth to find eggs that the Easter Bunny has left them! Also enjoy music, a featured food truck, seasonal produce, fresh mushrooms and mushroom concentrates, organic herbal teas, hormone free/antibiotic free beef & pork, eggs, local honey, dog treats, fresh baked breads, and other delicious treats. There will be handmade and home crafted jewelry, art and home decor too.
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Hop on over for an egg-citing celebration with COFB! Join us at Central Park on March 21 for a fun-filled Egg Hunt! Bring your own basket and get ready to collect colorful eggs to redeem for a special goodie prize bag. Bring your little bunnies and let's
make some magical springtime memories!
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Join Bartram Academy for our annual fundraiser community event. Egg hunts, face painting, crafts, book fair, trackless train, Easter bunny, petting zoo, bounce house - snacks and lots of fun!
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Caring Bunny® is a special, sensory-friendly experience - exclusively for children with special needs and their families. Join us Sunday, March 22 from 9am-10:30am. Bunny will be located in Center Court. Photos will be taken and available for purchase at
this event.
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904 Pop-Up returns to Jacksonville Beach in 2026 at the Seawalk Pavilion! This all-ages outdoor market features more than 200 local creators, vendors, and artists, along with 15 food trucks serving up a wide variety of eats. With live energy, local flavor,
and plenty to explore, 904 Pop-Up is a fun way to spend a spring Sunday by the beach.
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Hop into spring with Hoppy Moments: Pictures with the Easter Bunny at Sweet Pete’s Candy! Enjoy 5 minutes of private photo time with the Bunny, a festive backdrop, and an Easter sundae for each child (infant–18). Adults are free and welcome in photos.
Arrive during your scheduled time and check in on the first floor for a sweet, memory-making experience!
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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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- Jax Parks Movie Night Wicked: For Good - Jax Parks - Artist Square Amphitheater, Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, FL, Friday, March 20, 2026, 7:00PM
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Jacksonville - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, Saturday, March 21, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, See link for times
- Springfield Farmers & Arts Market - 1352 North Main Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206, Saturday, March 21, 2026, 11AM - 5PM
- Wildlight Market Place Farmers and Arts Market Easter Celebration - Wildlight Market Place, Tinker Street, Yulee, FL, Saturday, March 21, 2026, 9AM - 1PM
- Wildlight Market Place Farmers & Arts Market - Wildlight Market Place, Tinker Street, Yulee, FL, Saturday, March 21, 2026, 9AM -
1PM
- Fernandina Beach Easter Egg Hunt - 1200 Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL, Saturday, March 21, 2026,
11:00AM
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Jacksonville 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…
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Jacksonville 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Jacksonville area? 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 Jacksonville 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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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