KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, May 16: Sheep Shearing Festival at Queens County Farm Museum
Sat, May 16: Hallockville Museum Farm Fleece & Fiber Festival
Fri, May 22: Foodie Fest Memorial Day Weekend - Tanger Outlets Deer Park
Sat, May
23: Foodie Fest Memorial Day Weekend - Tanger Outlets Riverhead
Sat, May 23: Korea Festa 2026
Sun, May 31: Alice in Wonderland: A Whimsical Victorian Tea Party at Queens County Farm Museum
Sat, Jun 13: Rainbow
Scavenger Hunt
Sun, Jun 14: 2026 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
Sun, Jun 14: Camp Weona Open House - Tours,
Oars, & S'mores
Sun, Jun 14: Stars, Stripes, & Signal Flags
Sat, Jun 20: Father's Day Brunch Cruise 2026
Sun, Jun 28: Long Island Rough Riders Women's League Home Games |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: There’s a sign on the New York State Thruway heading west that marks 70 miles to where I live. For Rochesterians driving back to Western New York from the east or southeast, that marker elicits both a sigh of relief and a groan: You’re close, especially relative to where you started. But in that final stretch, each mile is somehow psychologically
longer. Over the years, this became a useful metaphor in my family: You're pushing through to the end of a project, you'd love to see the finish line, but the murky distance between you and that goal is in your way. "Ugh, it's those last 70 miles," one of us will say to the person suffering, and we'll all nod sympathetically. At this time of year, families with kids in school are experiencing those last 70 miles: The end of the school year is in sight, yet
not quite here. The energy reserves are low, and the end point seems stuck in the distance. We feel like we’re sprinting but not getting closer fast enough. As in any journey, that’s precisely when it’s worth keeping in mind that these last miles may feel long, but they’re also the most meaningful: They become the lens through which we look back at the whole experience, so these final steps really count. Remembering this can provide the last surge of energy to press
forward. So whatever final 70 miles you and your kids are facing, remind yourself and the people traveling with you that if you put your best self into it now, the rewards will feel sweeter, and the memories of success will help fuel you next time. You’re on the last leg. You're almost there. And you have lots of company.
—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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Portledge School in Locust Valley offers an exceptional Pre-Nursery through Grade 12 education on a stunning 62-acre campus. If you want something, you have the power to make it happen: this is the ethos at Portledge School. A robust and accessible selection of course offerings provides Portledge students with opportunities to discover and explore interests beyond the classroom. What makes Portledge unique is how far students are able to expand these opportunities into passions that impact their personal and intellectual curiosity. Discover how Portledge blends tradition with future-readiness. Visit, inquire, or apply today at www.portledge.org.
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It's the cutest day of the year! Join us for Baby Animal Day on May 9th at Suffolk County Farm & Education Center. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a day on the farm with baby animals, wagon rides, food trucks, games, and more!
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See the magic unfold in this one-hour ballet performance of Snow White This enchanting fantasy stars all of your favorites the Prince, the Queen, and of course, Snow White. It's the perfect way to begin a lifelong love of the arts.
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Celebrate Mom with an exciting visit this Mother’s Day Weekend to Harbes Family Farm! We’ll be having our Annual Mother’s Day Festival Saturday, May 9 & Sunday, May 10 from 9 am-6 pm. As a special gift for Mom, Harbes Family Farm is offering half price admission for Moms to Harbes Barnyard Adventure all weekend long! The Barnyard Adventure offers hours of fun for the whole family. Barnyard admission includes a Musical Hayride tour of our 100-acre farm, our famous Pig Races, adorable farm animals and more! There will be live music available outside our Wine Barn both days from 1 pm-5 pm!
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Treat Mom to a one-of-a-kind garden party Celebrate Mom with a weekend of fun! Make Daffodil Hill your own backyard and bring the whole family together to enjoy local food truck options, play an assortment of family-friendly lawn games, craft a gift for Mom, and get your face painted with whimsical designs. Music and collage activities are presented by local vinyl DJ collective, Uptown Vinyl Supreme, and Bronx Community Collage.
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This family-fun day celebrates spring, creativity, and community and has a little something for everyone. Enjoy interactive exhibition activations, specifically designed for kids and their families. Get hands-on during our Creativity Bubble with loads of arts and crafts activities that will spark creativity and fill your day with joy.
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Create treasured memories with a beautiful Mother’s Day Brunch at Long Island Aquarium in our spectacular Sea Star Ballroom. Enjoy a delicious brunch with a diverse menu sure to please every member of the family and then leave time to enjoy the Aquarium. You get all day Aquarium admission with your Brunch purchase and may visit before and/or after your brunch session (for 4pm brunch attendees, the aquarium closes at 4pm, so be sure to visit prior to your brunch session).
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Join us this Mother's Day for a grand lavish buffet or sit down prix fixe! With a wide array of delicious options, there is something for everyone to enjoy. There are two brunch location options: The Inn, and The Cottage. Please call to make your reservation today!
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Celebrate Mom with a beautifully curated Mother’s Day Brunch, where every detail is designed to delight. From thoughtfully crafted dishes to indulgent sweet finishes, our menu invites you to slow down, savor, and make meaningful memories together.
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Treat the mothers in your life, or yourself, to this beautiful view of the Nissequogue River this Mother’s Day. An environmental educator will be guiding you through the many habitats and historical sites throughout the park. There is a good chance of seeing some animal mothers taking care of their babies this time of year! (Meet in the Charles & Helen Reichert Administration Building)
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Trust us: Mom wants to feel special on Mother’s Day - so do something special and hop on this Mother’s Day brunch cruise! You and Mom will sail under the Brooklyn Bridge, past Battery Park, and around the Statue of Liberty for incredible views of the New York, Brooklyn, and New Jersey skylines. Have a blast sipping bottomless mom-approved mimosas over a gourmet, elevated three-course brunch or enjoy a classic buffet. Finally, take pictures together in front of the Statue of Liberty for a unique experience you’ll never forget.
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YOUTH AUDITIONS FOR OUR UPCOMING 2026-2027 SUMMER CONSERVATORY CHILDREN’S THEATER SEASON.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Long Island 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Long Island 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 on Long Island? 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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