KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When they were handing out high school yearbook awards, some of my classmates unofficially, though cheerfully, voted me Least Likely to Become a Professional Cheerleader. I couldn’t really disagree: After all, I was a nerd before being a nerd came into fashion, much more comfortable in a library than at a pep rally. So much for teenage
predictions! Yesterday, my daughter Ella turned 25, which means KidsOutAndAbout turns 25, too. When Ella was imminent, and her sister Madison was one-and-a-half, I was realizing just how many incredible experiences for kids and families were all around us in Rochester, NY. Back then, before web calendars were a thing, finding out about stuff happening meant you had to know where to look. So during maternity leave from my old technology consulting firm, I
decided to build a place to make invisible opportunities visible, to celebrate the people who create them, and to build audiences for these great things. We’ve grown to a dedicated team of 20 people doing work that matters, serving 52 regions with 15 million readers per year and 750,000 weekly newsletter subscribers. So yes, I’m a professional cheerleader, and I love it. I love this. I love that my job is to help build an audience for the remarkable experiences
people are bringing to life. I love that our mission is to shine a light on the concerts, camps, classes, festivals, trails, museums, libraries, theaters, and local treasures large and small that become family stories and memories. Far from slowing down, we’re heading into hyper-drive for our Silver Anniversary, so stay tuned! Thank you for being part of the journey, and for giving us so much to cheer about.
—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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Celebrate your child’s big day with hands-on engineering fun at The Works Museum! Families love the easy-to-supervise open floor plan, where guests can build with LEGO-style bricks, design K’NEX racers, look through a giant kaleidoscope, launch paper creations into the air, and more. Each party can also include a staff-led, guided engineering project that doubles as a one-of-a-kind party favor for every guest.
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Your Best Summer Starts Here! Saint Paul Urban Tennis is registering now for spring, summer, and fall programs for youth ages 5–18! From beginner camps to competitive team tennis, SPUT offers affordable, inclusive programming at accessible Saint Paul locations — welcoming all skill levels and backgrounds. We offer summer camps, seasonal clinics, and junior team tennis for every age and ability. Don't miss your spot — spaces fill fast! Register today and make this summer one to remember.
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Visit the Arboretum and explore the Sacred Hoop Walk Art! Twin Cities Digital Artist Marlena Myles, a member of the Spirit Lake Dakota tribe, presents an augmented reality art exhibition at the Arboretum, which begins in the Harrison Sculpture Garden. Visitors use their cell phones to download the Revelo AR App to view digital images and audio at stops along the walk which honors, educates and connects visitors to Dakota history, culture and significance of the land through art and storytelling. Fun for the entire family! Please reserve gate admission on the website.
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It’s not every day that a wild tornado whizzes right over your head, taking the house and the whole farm with it! Or that the entire world magically shifts from black and white to technicolor right before your very eyes. But there’s nothing everyday about a shoe-obsessed witch, flying monkeys, or a yellow brick road, either. Join Dorothy, her three oh-so-curious friends, and Toto (played by a real dog!) in this grand spectacle, featuring songs you know and love from the classic film!
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The St. Paul Saints Baseball Club has provided family entertainment to the Twin Cities since 1993. Young Saints fans can enjoy special pre-game moments at CHS Field! Become a BP Buddy and watch batting practice up close, join your team as the Field of Dreams squad to play catch and stand alongside the Saints for the National Anthem, or bring your entire league for a night of fun and baseball. Spots are limited, so don’t miss out!
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Get ready for Creepy Crawlies, a hands-on adventure where kids go on a bug hunt as they explore sensory stations featuring their favorite bugs! Dive into ooey, gooey, wormy slime, sticky spider webs, and colorful ladybugs. Dig through insect sensory bins for a fun, bug-filled discovery with your child!
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Cady Heron is the new girl at suburban high school, and it’s far more treacherous than the African savanna. Pulled into the glamorous yet cutthroat world of The Plastics, Cady teams up with friends to take down their queen bee, Regina George. But as she goes undercover, popularity, drama, and self-discovery collide. Filled with sharp humor, heart, and teen chaos, this stage adaptation of the hit film and Broadway musical explores fitting in—and staying true to yourself.
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Join us for this free family-fun day inspired by the combination of photography and movement. Free First Saturday features free gallery admission on the first Saturday of every month. Gallery admission tickets are available in advance online and on-site, day-of at the Main Lobby desk. Free admission 10 am–5 pm; activities 10 am–3 pm. To help us promote future events and programs, this event will be documented with photography. By attending, you consent to appear in this documentation and its future use by the museum.
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Join us for Robot Day at The Works Museum, a family event celebrating all things robotics. Learn what goes into building, maintaining, and operating a robot with hands-on activities and demonstrations. Kids ages 5-12 and their families will meet engineering professionals and student experts and get an up-close look at the exciting field of robotics! Robot Day is Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Presale tickets are $15, event-day tickets are $17, and members get in for free!
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The Walk for Animals on Saturday, May 2 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and help make second chances possible for animals in need — one step at a time.
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Calling all young entrepreneurs! Come build your confidence and customer base at the Scandia Season Opener! Our host venue is so excited to support and promote your desire to earn and learn by building your own business! This event focuses on the history and initial immigration to the area in the 1800’s and draws many patrons from near and far to this quaint and beautiful St.Croix Valley town who are excited to welcome spring to Minnesota!
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The 2026 Urban Expedition series concludes with a celebration of Cambodian culture! Enjoy authentic music, dance, crafts, and cuisine during this immersive program favorite. Don’t forget to bring your passport and collect the final stamp of the season!
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An event specifically designed for children with Autism and special needs to enjoy time at the park without loud music, flashing lights- and to have a lot of fun!
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Are you ready to welcome the little ones? Then be here for Farm Babies, a beloved springtime tradition at the Minnesota Zoo! Every day, you can meet babies and their hardworking moms. Saturdays and Sundays, you can also kick up your heels with live music, activities and learning from the Farmkeepers about the agriculture and animals. The Wells Fargo Family Farm is a small demonstration farm featuring heritage and rare breeds – come meet them and learn what makes them so special.
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Visit this interesting multi-cultural art exhibit and spend the day at the Arboretum! Where The Seed Remembers is an immersive multicultural community art exhibit that celebrates earth, creation, lineage and memory. It is co-curated by artist, storyteller, and cultural architect Joshua "Brotha Asé" Gillespie. This exhibition and accompanying celebration and community gatherings honors the connection between Mother Earth and the human experience. It explores birth, nurturing, protection, identity, grief, joy and the giving and receiving cycles. The experience blends visual art, sacred storytelling, spoken word, and communal reflection to reawaken connection in a time of disconnection. These stories, artworks and reflections are presented by 10 Minnesota artists representing the Black, Indigenous, Latiné, East African and Afro-Caribbean communities.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Minneapolis-St. Paul - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 05/02/2026 - 05/03/2026, See link for times
- Animal Humane Society's Walk for Animals - Animal Humane Society - 845 Meadow Ln N, Golden Valley, MN 55422, 05/02/2026, 9AM-1PM
- Grand Reopening
Kiddie Academy of Edina - Kiddie Academy of Edina - 7711 Computer Avenue, Edina, MN 55435, 05/02/2026, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Free First Saturday: Photo and Flow at the Walker - Walker Art Center - 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN 55403, 05/02/2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- Sundays at Landmark: Urban Expedition - Cambodia - Landmark Center - West 5th Street, Saint Paul, MN, 05/03/2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the MSP 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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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