KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Sat, Jul 25: Deaf Awareness Day
Sat, Jul 25: Space Day
Sat, Jul 25: 2026 Ready for Greatness DFW Back-to-School Experience
Sat, Aug 1: The Free Play Foundation Autism Resource Fair + Back
To School Bash
Sat, Aug 1: Free School Supply Giveaway
Fri, Aug 21: North Texas Fair and Rodeo
Sun, Aug 23: Quinceañera Expo Dallas Fort Worth 2026
Sat, Sep 5: Arlington Comic Fest
Sat, Sep 5: 2026 Denton Comic Art Expo
Sat, Sep 12: W.A.T.E.R. Festival
Thu, Sep 17: H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival
Sat, Sep 19: Bluey's Big Play
Fri, Sep 25: State Fair of Texas |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a kid, summer meant St. Rocco’s Feast in the Peterstown neighborhood of Elizabeth, New Jersey. The streets were filled with music, carnival rides, vendor booths, and fairgoers... but the main attraction for 10-year-old me was zeppoles: lumps of dough dropped into hot oil, puffed golden, shaken in a paper bag with powdered sugar, and handed over hot enough to require
patience. To my young self, they were almost proof of magic. They were also my gateway drug into Italian food. Zeppoles led eventually to prosciutto and fresh mozzarella, risotto and gnocchi, pesto and puttanesca. Along the way, I learned that food has a vocabulary: crisp, chewy, silky, smoky, briny, bitter, fermented, caramelized. Knowing the names of flavors and textures helped me notice them more clearly, and knowing where dishes came from helped me see that food carries
geography, history, ingenuity, celebration, and memory. The more I tasted, the bigger the world became. Summer is the perfect season to help kids develop that kind of appetite... for food and discovery. Visit a farmers market and learn what grows nearby. Pick berries and notice how they taste when harvested just a second ago with
your own hands. Try the food truck serving something you’ve never ordered. At a festival, ask what country or region a dish comes from, what ingredients give it its flavor, and who traditionally makes it. Kids don’t have to like everything. Exploration still counts when the verdict is “Not for
me.” As tour guides to our kids’ universe, we can help them notice that food connects downward to the Earth and outward to people. Name the flavor. Name the texture. Name the place and the tradition. Then take another bite. Sometimes an entire world opens through one little bag of fried dough.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Step into the playful world of Peppa Pig at PEPPA PIG Theme Park, designed especially for preschoolers and their families. Enjoy kid-friendly rides, themed playgrounds, live shows, and opportunities to meet Peppa and her friends. Little ones can cool off at Muddy Puddles Splash Pad and create unforgettable family memories in a safe, fun-filled environment. With attractions sized just for young adventurers, it's the perfect first theme park experience where every day is packed with laughter, imagination, and plenty of muddy puddle fun.
|
|
|
|
The 7th Annual Parktopia on Friday, July 18, celebrates National Parks and Recreation Month. To be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Community Park, 3601 S. 14th Street (near soccer pavilion), the event will offer an evening of outdoor, family fun and games
|
|
|
|
King Arthur & Merlin: A Tale of Sword & Sorcery makes its world premiere with a royally ridiculous twist on the legendary tale of Camelot. This magic-fueled comedy follows bumbling Uther, wise-but-weary Merlin, vengeful Morgana, and the once-and-future himbo, King Arthur, as they fight, flirt, and fumble their way through destiny. AND...YES...THERE'S POPCORN! Plan those summer parties and get togethers soon!
|
|
|
|
Join Motorman Harold every Friday for Story Time. The museum opens at 10:30 A.M. on Friday and Story Time starts at 11:00 A.M. After Story Time take a tour of Historic Car 360.
|
|
|
|
Dallas, give us everything you got! Join us on July 18, 2026 from 08:00 AM to 12:00 PM for a one of a kind event. We will be crowning a new winner and checking out lots of cool rides!
|
|
|
|
Will Baffle is a seasoned magician with over two decades of experience enchanting audiences around the country. His magic show is a captivating blend of traditional illusions and modern tricks, all performed with a flair that is uniquely his own. Known for his charismatic stage presence and quick wit, Will has the ability to engage and enthrall spectators of all ages. His performances are a seamless fusion of mystery, humor, and wonder, making every show a memorable experience. From intricate sleight of hand to grand, mind-boggling illusions, Will Baffle's Magic Show is a testament to his lifelong dedication to the art of magic. Each act is carefully crafted to ignite the imagination and leave audiences questioning the boundaries of reality.
|
|
|
|
ARE YOU READY to witness the Phenomenomaly? Enjoy The Real Unreal like never before. Phenomenomaly is an interactive experience filled with mysterious characters, glowing creatures, giant puppets, and custom music. Phenomenomaly also features local performers, each of whom will bring their own twist to the experience on select dates. No two performances will ever be the same!
|
|
|
|
Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget. In the adventure of a lifetime, the travelers come face to face with a ticking crocodile, the fierce Brave Girls, a band of bungling pirates and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook.
|
|
|
|
Join the Farmhands for an adventure that brings science and history together! At Dino Dig, young explorers can step into the role of 19th-century fossil hunters as they excavate “fossils” from a sandpit dig site. Using real excavation techniques, participants will uncover buried fossils while learning how similar discoveries shaped America's history of dinosaurs. After your dig, gather the family for the Bone Wars Board Game, inspired by a famous rivalry. Through friendly competition, players will discover how two scientists raced to uncover, name and claim some of the most iconic dinosaur discoveries of the 1800s.
|
|
|
|
Head to Peace Plaza for a splash-tastic time at Summer Splash Bash! This free family-friendly event is the perfect way to beat the heat and spend quality time with loved ones this summer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2026's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the DFW Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks! Check out your fellow readers' favorites, and enjoy exploring the best of the region!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nothing says SUMMER quite like going to an amusement park with your family! We've put together a great list of ones you can visit within driving distance of the Mid-Cities. So, pack the sunscreen, load up the car and head out on a grand adventure!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Mid-Cities Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near Mid-Cities that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check out
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
