KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Mon, Jun 8: Tales and Tots
Wed, Jun 10: Story Hour: Bread and Jam for Frances | The
Rabbit hOle
Fri, Jun 12: Downtown Overland Park Art Fair
Fri, Jun 12: Sugar Creek Slavic Festival 2026
Fri, Jun 12: Arts in the Park
Sat, Jun 13: St. John's Annual Mexican Fiesta! Sun, Jun 14: Second Sunday: Free Day at the National Museum of Toys & Miniatures
Sun, Jun 14: KidZfest starts for 2026 at Worlds of Fun
Sun, Jun 14: Second Sunday: Free Days at the Museum - June
Tue, Jun 16: Heart of America Shakespeare Festival 2026 presents Macbeth
Wed, Jun 17: Mobile Music Box: Gillham Park
Thu, Jun 18: Azura Credit Union Free Family Fun Nights at Kansas Children's Discovery Center -
June
Thu, Jun 18: Celebrate Americana 250
Fri, Jun 19: Juneteenth Celebration 2026 at Harmon Park
Sat, Jun 20: Cars, Coffee, and Pancakes at the Museum
Sun, Jun 21: Dog Days at Powell Gardens
Sun, Jun 21: Father's Day 2026 at Gardner Aquatic Center
Fri, Jun 26: North Kansas City Parks & Recreation presents Movies at Macken
Fri, Jun 26: Great Lenexa BBQ Battle
Fri, Jun 26: Waterfest 2026 |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: "The best thing about your newsletter," said a reader who met me in person at an event last June, "is the sheer number of things to do, and the fact that they're just packed in there, all in one handy place." "Thanks!" I said. I may have glowed a little. "And the worst thing about your newsletter," she continued, "is the guilt trip. I know
you don't mean to lay that on us. We can't do it all, so it means we read about so much we can't do. Especially in summer." She was right, in one sense, of course. June and July are the most packed months of the calendar: Kids are out of school, families are ready for fun, and our communities respond. Each local organization gets to post its own events on our calendar for free, and many are featured in this newsletter, so what's happening is right there in front of
you. But I get it! And I hereby remove the guilt. Ego te absolvo. Of course, good families try to expose their kids to great things, but no one has the time, money, or energy to do it all. This stuff needs to be spread out over a childhood, not packed into a single summer, much less a single weekend. So make a family bucket list for Summer 2026. An easy way to do that is to take our annual survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids, which is open through June 20; it has dozens of places to have fun this summer, even though you only vote for your top 3! And you should also use our 50 Ways to Love Your Summer article for ideas that require zero technology, zero travel, and zero dollars. Above all, go easy! Remember, summer is no time for grades! The only prize is the summer that's right for your family.
—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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the KC area. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the people who
create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! |
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Six larger-than-life marine sculptures made entirely from plastic debris, bringing a global conservation message to Topeka.
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Art Course is an artist-designed mini golf experience located in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. Each stop on the nine-hole course presents a creative interpretation of a work of art in the museum’s collection.
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We’re back June 5, 6 & 7 at Theis Park — and this year’s theme is It’s All Ours. This one feels different. It’s about what we’ve built together as a community. Our pride. Our love. Our city. Our future. Everything we’ve fought for, created, protected, and celebrated — it belongs to us. And we’re not done yet. Come celebrate. Come connect. Come be part of it.
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Feast on cuisines, performances, and experiences from around the world at this Public Market event! We have partnered with the Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City to celebrate the rich cultures that make our community diverse and vibrant. Shop vendors, take in live performing arts and try diverse flavors from Public Market merchants and globally inspired food trucks. This is a free event, no tickets or registration required.
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Enjoy a Friday afternoon in the park listening to local musicians in cooperation with the Music Performance Trust Fund, Local 34-627. Free and open to public. Fridays, June 5 through September 25 at the Festival Shelter in Macken Park from 11:30 am to 1 pm. No concert on Friday, June 12 due to Arts in the Park.
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Celebrate your family’s special moments with Shoott’s FREE 30-minute outdoor photo sessions! Whether it’s spring photos, family portraits, birthday milestones, or simply capturing everyday joy, our talented local photographers make the experience easy and fun. You only pay for the photos you love, with no upfront cost or sitting fee. Receive a gallery of beautifully edited images within days and choose your favorites. Book your session at shoott.com and create lasting memories!
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Vintage Revival in Kansas City's Historic West Bottoms on First Friday Weekend at Bella Patina! Shop 25,000 square feet of vintage, antique, repurposed and handmade furniture, decor, art, and clothing across three floors in our 100 year old warehouse. Our 80+ vendors spend the entire month picking, procuring, creating, building, and refinishing amazing things for this once-a-month event. You'll find industrial, farmhouse, shabby chic, mid century, retro, rustic, refinished, untouched, & repurposed. Something for every one! Plus you can eat on our third floor at the renowned Painted Rooster, with made from scratch breakfast and lunch fare as well as baked goods that keep folks coming back to eat each month.
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During Dragons and Fantastic Beasts’ Grand Opening Weekend (June 5-6), you’re invited to step into a world where imagination takes flight! This family friendly day (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.) kicks off the summer exhibit with massive dragons, interactive storybook quests, and a full day of fun.
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A Celebration of Creativity! Join us in historic downtown Liberty, Missouri, for the annual Art on the Side Liberty Art Festival, a vibrant showcase of art, craftsmanship, and entertainment! This year’s festival will feature over 80 talented artists and artisan makers displaying their stunning creations. From fine art to handcrafted goods, there will be something for everyone to admire, purchase, and enjoy. The event will take place in the parking lots and on Main Street, right next to The Artisan Market at 118 N Main Street, Liberty, MO, transforming the area into a lively hub of artistic expression. The festival runs from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, packed with activities for all ages!
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Experience the rich tradition of Kansas City jazz with KCJO7, a special ensemble from the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. Known for their world-class big band sound, this smaller group brings a lively, intimate performance featuring classic jazz favorites, contemporary arrangements, and the signature KCJO energy.
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Saturday, June 14 - Thursday, June 25: Experience the joy of endless smiles and giggles at KidZfest, the ultimate event for family-friendly summer fun! Join in on the exciting dance parties, feast on delicious treats, enjoy our kid-friendly rides and check out our interactive games and activities. With live entertainment that captivates both young hearts and the young at heart, KidZfest promises a day full of laughter and fun.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Kansas City 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 Kansas City 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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The Kansas City Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit A list of farms in and near Kansas City that offer pick your own fruits and berries. And... to make the most of your experience, check out our article 10
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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