KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jun 12: Long Island FunFest Sat, Jun 13: Butterfly and Bird Festival at Sweetbriar Nature Center
Fri, Jun 19: Father's Day Dinner Cruise 2026 Fri, Jun 19: Liberty at
Sea Fri, Jun 19: Concert: Juneteenth Celebration with NAACP Mid-Manhattan Branch and Ethical Culture
Sat, Jun 20: Father's Day Dinner Cruise 2026
Sat, Jun 20: 48th Annual Kings Park Day Town Fair
Sat, Jun 20: I Want To Be A Vet 2 at Alley Pond Environmental Center (Ages 5-7)
Sat, Jun 20: Strawberry Festival & Charity Fundraiser Sun, Jun 21: Harbes Father’s Day Festival
Sun, Jun 21: Sag Harbor Spring Arts & Crafts Fair
Fri, Jun 26: Oyster Bay Music Festival 2025 - Multiple Locations Sat, Jun 27: All Families, All Pride - Downtown Mystic CT - Greater
Mystic Chamber of Commerce
Fri, Jul 3: The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition
Fri, Jul 3: Celebrating America's 250th - Intrepid
Museum
Sat, Jul 4: A Universal Celebration of Independence Sat, Jul 4: Celebrating America's 250th - Intrepid
Museum
Sun, Jul 5: FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach State Park Fri, Jul 10: The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition
Fri, Jul 10:
Five-Dollar Friday! Shark Tooth Excavation
Sat, Jul 11: Disney Finding Nemo Jr: The Musical at The Argyle
Theatre
Fri, Jul 17: Sail On: The Beach Boys Tribute at Theatre Three
Sat, Jul 25: How I Became a Pirate: The
Musical - CM Children's Theatre |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was homeschooling Madison and Ella, one of my favorite sanity-saving tools was the Theme of the Week. If the theme was "Birds," then yes, we'd go on a bird walk. But we'd also read my favorite-ever children's book, talk about the physics of flying and of colors, and probably also do some math and logic involving eggs and
baskets. The theme made ordinary learning feel like an adventure, but more important, it gave us a focusing tool: It helped the girls connect with what they were seeing and doing, and it helped me feel that we weren’t wandering randomly through our days. Summer planning can benefit from that same kind of gentle structure. Last week, I wrote about how summer is not supposed to be a guilt-inducing race to cram in every concert, splash pad, festival, hike,
camp, road trip, library program, ice cream stand, and sunset before the school buses roll again. Trying to grab everything is a good way to miss the point; instead, to plan the summer without overstuffing it, we need to consider the kinds of experiences that make our family feel more awake, connected, and alive. The five summer lenses I keep coming back to are: music, motion, making,
nature, and food. Music helps kids hear the world differently and live what they love. Motion lets bodies teach what words cannot. Making reminds us that we can bring something new into the universe. Nature offers perspective and wonder. And food connects us to place, culture, and each other. Over the next
few weeks, I’ll address these one at a time—not as assignments, but as invitations. Even as the days fly by, a summer seen through some useful lenses can still be lazy, loose, spontaneous, and wonderfully imperfect.
—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 on Long Island. 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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At Skin Space, our spa parties are all about making kids feel pampered, confident, and celebrated in the most fun and relaxing way possible. From mini facials and skincare fun to music, goodie bags, and adorable spa vibes, every party is designed to create unforgettable memories for birthdays, special occasions, or just a fun day with friends. We customize each experience to make your child feel extra special while giving them the ultimate “spa day” experience in a safe, welcoming, and picture-perfect environment.
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Enjoy exciting midway rides including "The Wheel," the tallest Ferris wheel on Long Island at a towering 110 feet tall, and the thrilling Super Cyclone rollercoaster. First-rate family entertainment includes dazzling Fireworks by Grucci both Saturday nights, Aqua Live Spectacular water stunt show, Circus Murcia, World of Wonders old-time sideshow, and an educational petting zoo. And, as always, there'll be plenty of palate-pleasing fair food.
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This family-fun annual event features exciting rides and games for all ages, mouthwatering fair food and the astonishing Big Bee Transforming Robot Car. Carnival admission is $5 (free for kids under 36" tall). Be sure to check out the website for pre-sale savings on rides and discount coupons for rides and food.
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Long Island museums and historical societies from Brooklyn to Montauk are teaming up to offer the Long Island History Hunt, a FREE, educational scavenger hunt-style adventure at 26 locations where redcoats and rebels squared off during the American Revolution.
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The Long Island Rough Riders Men are getting ready for the 2026 campaign, and there’s plenty to look forward to. Check out the full schedule above and start planning your matchdays.
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Sweetbriar Nature Center will be hosting its Annual Fair to celebrate the opening of our Butterfly Vivarium. This event draws thousands of visitors every year. The day is filled with wildlife presentations, craft vendors, food trucks, and musical performances.
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Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply).
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Come cheer on your New York Mets!
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Our Long Island Rough Riders Women are ready for another exciting season. Check out the full schedule and start planning your matchdays at Mitchel Athletic Complex.
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Flags tell stories! Explore how mariners used flags to communicate at sea, and how a young nation designed a flag to represent freedom. Study real signal flags and design your own signal flag as a vexillologist (a flag expert!) for the day.
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Head to our self-serve station to build a vibrant sea creature and celebrate the many unique wonders of the ocean.
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Bring the whole family to the ultimate musical playground! Tiny Toes & The Jazz Crew is coming to Bridgehampton for a FREE, interactive concert experience designed for ages 1 to 99! Created by East End Jazz, this program bridges the gap between playtime and world-class performance. We’re giving your favorite nursery rhymes and childhood classics a sophisticated, high-energy jazz makeover—blending "Old MacDonald" & "The Wheels on the Bus" with classic 1940s bebop and the American Songbook.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Long Island 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 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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Pick-Your-Own Fruit on Long Island Listed below are farms on Long Island that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. Also flowers! And... to make the most of your experience, check out
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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