KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One day last week, I was driving home around 7 pm when I glanced out the passenger's window and saw a stunning rainbow stretched fully across the sky, glowing in front of dark gray storm clouds that were rushing away to the east. I was approaching a stop light. Left was the way home, where various chores awaited... but right was the way to the rainbow. My husband was driving
behind me, and I knew that if I turned right, he was going to think I had lost my mind. For a split second, practicality made its case: Don’t be silly; go home, you have stuff to do. But then another question darted into my mind: Am I a person who chases rainbows, or am I not? Once I framed it that way, the answer was easy. For kids and grownups alike, this can actually be a helpful way to make all kinds of decisions. When the moment
comes to act, it helps to ask not just What do I feel like doing? but Who am I? Am I a person who tells the truth? Am I a person who helps? Am I a person who persists when times are hard? Am I a person who stops to notice the beautiful things around me? We build identity one choice at a time for our entire lives. The clearer we are about who we want to be, the easier it becomes to know what to do in the moment, to give ourselves evidence that we are, in fact, that sort of
person. I hope the kids in your world grow up thinking of themselves as people who seek what is bright and good and full of wonder. It’s our job to show them that delight is often worth the detour.
—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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Birthdays at Main Event Entertainment is where epic fun meets unforgettable memories! Bowl, eat and play your way through an experience packed with excitement. Enjoy bowling, laser tag, gravity ropes, and hundreds of arcade games all under one roof. Your party guests will have a blast while our team takes care of every detail-from setup to cleanup-so you can sit back and join the fun. Choose from party packages that include delicious food, game cards, and even customizable add-ons like pizza, wings, and sweet treats. Whether it’s a birthday bash, team celebration, or just a day to play, Main Event is your go-to destination for FUN! Click here for packages and prices: https://www.mainevent.com/birthdays/
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Come join us for Cinema Nights Sit back, relax and enjoy the show brought to you by the Parks & Recreation Department. Bring the whole family to enjoy a kid-friendly movie.
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Art in the Square is a three-day juried fine art festival produced by the Southlake Women’s Club. It is held in the Southlake Town Square annually, typically during the last weekend in April. All proceeds from this event are donated to local charities benefiting women, children, and families. To date, we have dispersed over $3M in funds in the last 25 years. Attended by tens of thousands of visitors and over 150 artists each year, Art in the Square also features two stages with fabulous entertainment, a bistro walk with plenty of food and beverages, a fun zone for teens and ‘tweens, and a younger children’s area sure to delight kids and parents. The Southlake Women’s Club is proud to provide three days of quality family fun—with no admission fee
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Bring your family to FWBG on free admission days and unplug, unwind, and let nature weave its magic. FWBG’s free admission days are an invitation for all to explore this 120-acre sanctuary of nature in the middle of the city. No tickets are needed, simply arrive during Garden hours. Whether you seek solace, inspiration, or a moment of tranquility, the Garden provides the perfect place to reconnect with nature and create emotional souvenirs. It’s a place where memories bloom, and hearts find respite.
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Join us as we celebrate Arbor Day with tree plantings and yummy refreshments. 15 trees will be planted at Centennial Park. There will also be free educational activities, games, prizes and more.
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The Arbor Day Celebration, returns for it's 4th year! Celebrating The Colony's 18th year as an official Tree City, this event will feature a Vehicle Discovery Zone, Butterfly Release, business vendors, crafts, food and fun. Bring the entire family to this all ages outdoor celebration!
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ColorPalooza is designed to showcase the rich cultural, artistic, and eco-friendly spirit of Lewisville. Attendees will experience a day of creativity, education, and interactive art activities. Admission and most activities are free, unless otherwise noted
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Each year on the last Saturday in April, the City of Mansfield invites the community to the Chris W. Burkett Service Center (620 S. Wisteria St.) to celebrate Earth Day Mansfield - a free, family-friendly event hosted by the Keep Mansfield Beautiful Commission and the City's Public Works department. Earth Day Mansfield is about more than a single day of activities. It's an opportunity for residents of all ages to learn how everyday choices help protect our natural resources, and keep Mansfield beautiful for generations to come.
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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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April is Dallas Arts Month, and Artscape returns to the Dallas Arboretum April 25–26, 2026, with a special member preview on April 24! Shop with talented artists showcasing their finest works in Jonsson Color Garden. From captivating paintings to intricate sculptures, dazzling jewelry to breathtaking photography, there’s something for everyone.
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Hunt Slonem: Bunnies, Birds & Butterflies transforms the Dallas Arboretum into an immersive, open-air gallery. Throughout the garden, Slonem’s monumental sculptures emerge among the blooms, reimagining familiar pathways as moments of color, reflection, and movement. Included with garden admission or membership.
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Celebrate Earth Day with Us! Enjoy fun crafts, interactive activities and learn from educational vendors that inspire sustainability and care for our planet. We’ll also have a LIVE RAPTOR program, from the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. The educational program introduces children and adults to the world of raptors. These hawks, owls, and falcons are well trained, and with the assistance of BPRC education specialists, show you what makes them an important part of our environment. You will discover their roles in the food chain and their unique adaptations to hunt in woodland, wetlands, and prairies. There’s no better way to learn about the birds of prey in North Texas than to meet them in person!
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Stop by the Sensory Cart in the galleries to explore art through the multiple senses. Visitors are invited to touch different textures, smell distinctive scents, and listen to sounds that bring a featured work of art to life. The cart will feature a new work of art every other month.
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- Art in the Square- Southlake - Southlake Town Square, Grand Avenue, Southlake, TX, Friday, April 24 4:00 pm - 10:30 pm, Saturday, April 25 10:00 am - 10:30 pm, Sunday, April 26 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Free Admission Day- Fort Worth Botanic Garden - Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 1700 University Drive, Fort Worth, TX, 04/24/2026, 8 am- 5 pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Dallas - Fort Worth - Shoott, See link for times, 04/24/2026-04/26/2026
- City Nature Challenge - Frisco, TX, all day, 04/24/2026-04/26/2026
- Arbor Day Celebration - Burleson Recreation Center, 550 NW Summercrest Blvd, Burleson, TX, 10 am, 04/24/2026
- The Colony Cinema Nights - Galaxy Theatres Grandscape,
Grandscape Boulevard, The Colony, TX, 6:30 p.m. doors open / 7:30 p.m. start, 04/24/2026
- Lewisville Colorpalooza - Old Town Lewisville, West Main Street, Lewisville, TX, 10 am - 5 pm, 04/25/2026
- Colleyville Car Show - City of Colleyville, 100 Main Street, Colleyville, TX, 9 am- 12 pm, 04/25/2026
- Earth Day Mansfield - Chris W. Burkett Service Center, 620
South Wisteria Street, Mansfield, TX, 9 am- 1 pm, 04/25/2026
- Brazos Chamber Orchestra Spring Concert, Texas! - Pathway Church, Northwest Renfro Street, Burleson, TX, 7:30 PM, 04/26/2026
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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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