KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One summer afternoon during a family camping trip in New Jersey when I was about 6 or 7 years old, a horse fly suddenly appeared next to my ear and started following me everywhere I went. I’m sure that, from its own perspective, it was just going about its business doing ordinary horse fly things, but to me it felt enormous, ominous, and purposeful. I can't remember if it
actually bit me, but I can still summon the hot panic of not being able to get away from its threatening buzz. To my small self, that fly wasn't a little distraction, it was a crisis with wings. The memory surfaced recently when my daughter Ella sent me the above photo, taken in Quintana Beach County Park, near Houston. The point was clear: Proceed, and you will be under attack, and not by any adorable Northeastern bugs you might be used to. No, these bugs were born in Texas. Beware. Sometimes that is exactly
how challenges feel, especially to kids: Problems loom much larger to them than they do to adults with decades of experience. A broken toy, a skinned knee, a mistake in front of the class, or a slight misunderstanding with a friend may be a fly in the ointment to us, but a Texas-sized monster to a child. The trick is to validate the feeling without validating helplessness. We stand beside them and say, Yes, I know, this feels huge. The bugs, even if they're not as large as they
think, are real. They watch us shoo them away and learn gradually to do it for themselves. If I had seen the sign above, my first instinct would have been to flee back to the safety of the car. And Ella said it was not exaggerating, at least not by much: The moment she stepped onto the property, giant mosquitoes descended, and they were hungry; even leggings soaked with OFF Deep Woods did not deter them. She assures me that the photo she got of the Bay-breasted Warbler was
worth all the bites on the backs of her knees. She knew better than to show me the damage. Clearly, the script has flipped.
—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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Make a splash at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium during this magical limited-time Mermaid event! Watch real Mermaids swim alongside sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles in Texas’ only 360° Ocean Tunnel. Meet a Mermaid on land, snap a photo, and hear enchanting tales inside the Mermaid Grotto. This immersive experience is included with general admission on select dates: June 11–15 and June 18–22. Be sure to select an event date when booking to dive into the fun!
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Kick off the weekend with a FREE Friday evening family concert at Helen Giddings Amphitheatre. Bring the whole family out for a fun-filled evening featuring music by three-time Emmy Award-winning children’s entertainer, David Chicken! Known for his high-energy, interactive performances, David will have kids of all ages singing, dancing, and laughing out loud. We'll also have yard games to play and free kites for the first 40 attendees. Bring your own snacks or purchase ours! Music will begin promptly at 6pm.
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The Colony Summer Clubhouse is back! Our four-month summer series showcases performances such as magic shows, animal presentations, sing-along storytelling and much more! All performances take place inside The Colony Recreation Center Gymnasium. Bring your friends and family, all ages are welcome. Seating opens at 9 a.m. so be sure to come early and snag a front row spot!
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The legendary Hot Sounds of Summer concert series is BACK, and it's bringing the heat! Every Friday night, from May 22 to June 26, the Mayor Vera Calvin Plaza will transform into a vibrant hub of electrifying music and unforgettable vibes. Then join us for an unforgettable Fourth of July at Chisenhall Fields on July 4.
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A new experience is hopping into PEPPA PIG Theme Park Dallas-Fort Worth this summer as families can meet Miss Rabbit, kicking off a season of limited time events and interactive family fun.
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Do you hate pigeons? Are they flying rats to you? Nuisance birds that poop all over your car? Join us for our Meet the Misfits series and learn how cool pigeons really are! Pigeons are some of the most misunderstood birds. Humans have lived with pigeons since before recorded history and there are so MANY reasons why. After a fun-filled presentation about the awesome-ness of pigeons, you'll get to meet some of our new resident beauties, descendants of the Rock Pigeon. You can get your picture with Deja, the Old German Owl Pigeon. We will also be Celebrating Balck Birders Week by spending some time with Deja and learning about her namesake, Dr. Deja Perkins, one of the co-founders of Black Birders Week. You will walk away from this fun and informative class with a new appreciation of a bird you see everyday. You'll never look at pigeons the same!
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This is one downtown party you don't want to miss! The action-packed event kicks off with a free family-friendly festival during the day, leading to the JOSH ABBOTT BAND concert in the evening! Concert tickets are available until sold out. The event is presented by the Town of Prosper in partnership with Title Sponsor Brown & Griffin Real Estate; Main Stage Sponsors Farmers Bank & Trust, Ironhorse Power Services, and SuperSplash Car Wash; Gold Buckle Sponsor Crossland Construction; Silver Spur Sponsor Ivy Home Design; and Community Sponsors Shirley Air and F45.
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Grab your friends and family (youth welcome with adult supervision!) and let's clean up our community!
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Help make your summer one to remember at San Jacinto Plaza Music Series. Come celebrate our 11th season of live music with new artists and returning favorites! Come relax under the evening sky and enjoy listening to some of the area’s most talented singers and songwriters. With 43 free live concerts, there’s no excuse not to!
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Get Ready to Make a Splash! Flowapalooza returns to EpicCentral in Grand Prairie, Texas—DFW’s favorite FREE family festival taking over the plaza with high-energy entertainment, live performances, and family fun. No waterpark ticket needed for this epic outdoor celebration at the heart of EpicCentral.
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WhoaZone at Grapevine, located in Meadowmere Park, offers a full day of family fun. Featuring our action-packed floating obstacle course and shaded seating rentals. We offer a full day of active entertainment that’s great for the whole family, including the shallow water KidsZone. We even host the best group events and birthday parties for everyone ages 4+! Meadowmere Park is the area’s best kept secret in the DFW area, nestled on the edge of Grapevine, near Southlake and Trophy Club, featuring a large swimming area with lots of parking and a safe place for summer family fun!
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Wander through a luminous world of imagination and see the wild in a whole new glow. Explore larger-than-life lanterns and towering sculptures inspired by wildlife and nature. Along the way, immerse yourself in captivating performances and interactive experiences – making each night an illuminating adventure!
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Join us at the ballpark and be part of the next generation of Rangers baseball. Thrilling matchups and fun promotional items await! Along with theme nights celebrating teams, tastes, and pop culture and community nights celebrating schools, colleges, groups, and cultural heritage.
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- Flowapalooza - Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark - Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, Epic Place, Grand Prairie, TX 75052, United States, 05/30/2026-05/31/2026, 12-10 pm
- SiNaCa Studios’ Annual Ice Cream Social - SiNaCa Studios - SiNaCa Studios, West Magnolia Avenue, Fort Worth, TX, USA, 05/30/2026, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Meet
the Misfits: Pigeons - Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center - Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Farm to Market Road 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104, United States, 05/30/2026, 1 pm
- Trash Bash - Warren Park - Warren Park, 301 Southwest Johnson Avenue, Burleson, TX, USA, 05/30/2026, 8 am- 12 pm
- Downtown Block Party - Prosper - Prosper, Texas, USA, 05/30/2026, 10 am- 10 pm
- Lego Club - Kennedale Public Library - Kennedale
Public Library, West 3rd Street, Kennedale, TX, USA, 05/29/2026, 3:30-5 pm
- Free Friday Night Concert - Helen Giddings Amphitheater - Helen Giddings Amphitheater, Veterans Memorial Parkway, Lancaster, TX, USA, 05/29/2026, 5:30-7:30 pm
- Trinity Nights - Trinity Mills - Trinity Mills, 1450 Sunrise Ave, Carrollton, TX, USA, 05/29/2026, 6-10 pm
- Colony Cinema Nights - Galaxy Theatres Grandscape - Galaxy
Theatres Grandscape, Grandscape Boulevard, The Colony, TX, USA, 05/29/2026, 6:30 p.m. doors open / 7:30 p.m. start
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Mid-Cities 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 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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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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