KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Apr 18: Walt Disney Animation Studios: A Decade in Concert at Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Sat, Apr 25: Earth Day Mansfield at Chris W. Burkett Service Center
Sat, Apr 25: Blooms & Butterflies Spring Family Dance
Sat, May 2: Highland Village Art Festival at The Shops at Highland Village
Fri, May 8: “Gracias Mamá” A Mother’s Day Concert at Arlington Music Hall
Sat, May 9: Super Safety Saturday at Texas Health Neighborhood Care & Wellness Burleson
Sun, May 10: Mother’s Day Brunch at Taste
Fri, May 15: 42nd Annual Main Street Fest
Mon, May 25: Memorial Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial in Grand
Prairie
Thu, Jun 4: The Addams Family Musical at The Troupe Theatre
Fri, Jun 5: Puppy Pals Live at Arlington Music Hall
Sat, Jun 13: Champion’s Day Celebration at Hawaiian Falls |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
As I write this column, three Americans and one Canadian are hurtling home from a trip around the Moon, inside a machine that had better do exactly what it’s supposed to do. For years, every person involved in the mission obsessed over every detail at every stage until as little as possible was left to chance. “Failure is not an option,” an ethos long associated with our quest to
explore outer space, makes perfect sense when we're talking about Artemis II. But decades ago, the attitude leaked out of the space program and into everyday life, and that was a mixed blessing. When I was a teenager, “failure is not an option” might as well have been tattooed on my brain: For me, not only was failure not an option, but anything below an A grade wasn’t an option, either. I was so afraid of not being perfect that if I felt unprepared for a test, I’d stay home
“sick.” I looked successful from the outside, but because I was working so hard to avoid mistakes, I played it safe. So I didn't actually accomplish much aside from some sharp-looking letters on a report card. It took me years out in the real world to realize that real accomplishment usually looks less like gliding and more like bumping into things until you find the way through. So these days, failure and I are best buddies: I've replaced "failure is not an option" with
"nothing ventured, nothing gained" as I inch toward and away from success each day. Even writing my column each week is an act of resilience: I add and then murder my words until they say what I mean, and I'm always aware in the end that it could be better. One of my goals when I was homeschooling Madison and Ella was to make failure safe and ordinary... cheerful, even... a sign of progress. Kids need chances to try things that might flop: recipes that taste weird, projects
that collapse, math problems they have to redo, conversations they wish they’d handled better. I wanted them to understand that when the stakes are low, failure is not a tragedy, it’s just how learning works. It doesn't usually feel fun, or comfortable. But it's the only way to fly.
—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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Grab your friends and join us at the City Hall Plaza for some FREE concerts! In 2026, we will be focusing on all tribute bands! All concerts are BYOB- no glass.
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Bring your family to our annual Meadows Museum Family Day! Enjoy FREE art-making, gallery activities, story time, and more as you explore the museum. Strollers are welcome, changing tables will be available, and parking in the museum’s underground garage is free. This is not a drop-off program; children must be accompanied by at least one adult over the age of 18. FREE!
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Come on out to Riders field to cheer on the RoughRiders! The Frisco RoughRiders are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.
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Prepare for Adventure and Step Back in Time for the Time of Your Life into the 16th century world of the iconic Scarborough Renaissance Festival filled with lively entertainment, amazing artisanship, and interactive fun for everyone!
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Get your hands on history at Warbird Weekend! See historic aircraft, living history reenactors, Star Wars Characters, and participate in fun family STEM activities!
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This annual event is dedicated to honoring our planet and promoting environmental awareness through a variety of engaging activities and experiences. The Earth Day Festival offers something for everyone. Guided nature walks, Story times featuring readers from the Arlington Public Library and animal ambassador presentations from River Legacy naturalists, interactive demonstrations and informative exhibits from US Fish and Wildlife, Native Plant Society of Texas, Trinity River Authority, Wild Birds Unlimited, as well as eco-friendly crafts and activities for all ages. These demonstrations provide practical tips and knowledge that you can take home to help make a positive impact on the environment.
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The Colony Parks and Recreation Department and The Colony Roadrunners Club present the 25th Annual Coach Cox's Kids Race by the Lake. Children ages 9 and under will compete in a half mile race, while children ages 10-12 run a one mile course on the shores of beautiful Lake Lewisville at Stewart Creek Park. All participants will receive a ribbon and goody bag. T-shirts guaranteed until March 27. No event-day registration.
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Come explore, climb, and learn more about all your favorite vehicles at Touch-a-Truck on Saturday, April 11! Take a look around a police car, check out the fire trucks and ambulances, pretend to dig dirt in the tractors, and meet those who help build, protect, and serve our community at the Commons at Agora! Come explore, climb, and learn more about all your favorite vehicles at Touch-a-Truck on Saturday, April 11! Take a look around a police car, check out the fire trucks and ambulances, pretend to dig dirt in the tractors, and meet those who help build, protect, and serve our community at the Commons at Agora!
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Little Farmer Fridays are interactive programs designed for preschoolers and their grown-ups. Most appropriate for children ages 2 to 5 years old, our programs offer families the opportunity to hear a story, make a craft, meet the animals, enjoy a wagon ride, and have fun on our 4.5-acre farm. Gates open at 10am. Stations are open during our two-hour, come-and-go style program and close at 12 pm. After the program is over, guests are welcome to enjoy time on their own until we close at 2 pm. You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch, snack, and/or drinks.
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The dragon exhibit at Heard Museum will give families & friends a fun, educational activity to enjoy together. See the dragons move & hear them roar!
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Calling all Pokémon fans in grade K-9! Join us on the 2nd and 4th Fridays after school from 4:30-5:45 p.m. in the Learning Center. 2nd Friday of the month: Enjoy snacks, trade your cards, and express your creativity with a Pokémon-related craft. 4th Friday of the month: Sharpen your skills! We'll focus on playing Pokémon TCG and sharing tips for caring for and collecting cards.
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Waste to Wonder explores how creativity and innovation can transform discarded materials into something new. Made in collaboration with the Tarrant County Education Foundation, the exhibit examines how long common items take to decompose, what materials people used before plastics, and how artists and companies are rethinking waste today. Interactive stations invite visitors to sort materials, test recycling knowledge, and explore how many bottles, cans, or plastic bags it takes to make familiar products. Designed using repurposed materials where possible, Waste to Wonder acknowledges that sustainability is an ongoing effort and that imperfect can still be impactful.
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- Free Spring Mini Photo Session with Shoott! - Dallas-Fort Worth - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, 04/10/2026-04/12/2026, See link for times
- Earth Day Festival - River Legacy Nature Center - 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006, 04/11/2026, 10 am- 2 pm
- Free Demonstrations & Open
Studios Night - April 2026 - SiNaCa Studios School of Glass and Gallery - SiNaCa Studios School of Glass and Gallery, 04/10/2026, 6-9 p.m.
- Spring Market @ Glass Garden - SiNaCa Studios - 1013 West Magnolia Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104, 04/11/2026, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Touch a Truck - - Commons at Agora, Agora Way, Corinth, TX, 04/11/2026, 10:30 am- 1 pm
- Family Day - Meadows Museum - Bishop Boulevard,
Dallas, TX, 04/12/2026, 2:00PM - 4:00PM
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Mid-Cities 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 Midcities 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 theMid-Cities? 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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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Mid-Cities Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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