KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Jun 13: Art on the Lake - Minnesota Streetcar Museum
Sun, Jun 14: Bloomington Pride
MN Wed, Jun 17: Summer Nights in Rice
Thu, Jun 18: Ragamala Student Ensemble Performance Fri, Jun 19: The 26th Annual Eagan Art Festival
Sat, Jun 20: Disney Pride in Concert with the Minnesota Orchestra and Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus
Sat,
Jun 20: Stone Arch Bridge Festival 2026 Sun, Jun 21: Father's Day Petting Zoo - The Mustard Seed Garden Center
Fri, Jun 26:
Blaine Festival 2026
Sat, Jun 27: 2026 Afton Strawberry Festival Wed, Jul 1: Climb to the Top (North Tower)
Fri, Jul 3: Taste of Minnesota 2026
Sat, Jul 4: Independence Day - Minnesota Streetcar Museum
Sat, Jul 11: The Black Food Truck Festival
Sat, Jul 18: Monster Spa Day at Minnesota Children's Museum |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was homeschooling Madison and Ella, one of my favorite sanity-saving tools was the Theme of the Week. If the theme was "Birds," then yes, we'd go on a bird walk. But we'd also read my favorite-ever children's book, talk about the physics of flying and of colors, and probably also do some math and logic involving eggs and
baskets. The theme made ordinary learning feel like an adventure, but more important, it gave us a focusing tool: It helped the girls connect with what they were seeing and doing, and it helped me feel that we weren’t wandering randomly through our days. Summer planning can benefit from that same kind of gentle structure. Last week, I wrote about how summer is not supposed to be a guilt-inducing race to cram in every concert, splash pad, festival, hike,
camp, road trip, library program, ice cream stand, and sunset before the school buses roll again. Trying to grab everything is a good way to miss the point; instead, to plan the summer without overstuffing it, we need to consider the kinds of experiences that make our family feel more awake, connected, and alive. The five summer lenses I keep coming back to are: music, motion, making,
nature, and food. Music helps kids hear the world differently and live what they love. Motion lets bodies teach what words cannot. Making reminds us that we can bring something new into the universe. Nature offers perspective and wonder. And food connects us to place, culture, and each other. Over the next
few weeks, I’ll address these one at a time—not as assignments, but as invitations. Even as the days fly by, a summer seen through some useful lenses can still be lazy, loose, spontaneous, and wonderfully imperfect.
—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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around the Twin Cities. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the
people who create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! You have my personal and fervent thanks for your participation! —Deb |
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Sunday, June 14, 2026 (rescheduled from March due to snowstorm): The MINNEAPOLIS screening of the 15th annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival! Hosted by James Kennedy (The Order of Odd-Fish and more) In Pohlad Hall of the Minneapolis Central Library (300 Nicollet Mall). 2 pm.Get your FREE tickets at https://90secondnewbery.com/events.
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Rescue Readers is a one-hour program where participants of all ages read to the animals in AHS adoption centers. Readers provide soothing company to dogs, cats, and critters as they await adoption. As a bonus, new readers gain confidence and improve their reading skills. Both adults and children are welcome to become Rescue Readers. Attend 5 sessions and get the opportunity to name one of the shelter animals at AHS! The session cost is $10 and held at all three Animal Humane Society shelter locations: Coon Rapids, Golden Valley, and Woodbury.
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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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FREE Gate Admission & Parking. Fun for all ages - bounce houses, food, exhibits, and community spirit! Mark your calendars and bring your family and friends for an unforgettable experience!
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Plan your summer now and save—early bird tickets start at $16 for members when purchased by May 18. Member presale begins May 4, with general public tickets on sale May 8 at 8 am. Step into Wanderlight Trail—an all-new, immersive evening experience at the Minnesota Zoo. As the sun sets, a glowing twilight journey comes to life with larger-than-life lanterns inspired by animals from around the world. Wander at your own pace, take in each illuminated moment, and make your summer night shine a little brighter.
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Visit the artisans and food vendors along Water Street, then come for a trolley ride. Non-stop streetcar shuttles running. Take your time exploring in the carbarn & catch the next trolley back to Water Street.
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Maple Grove, MN — The Maple Grove Chalkfest is officially returning, revived through a new collaborative partnership between Experience Maple Grove, the Maple Grove Arts Center, and the event’s original co-creator and internationally recognized chalk artist, Shawn McCann. Together, the three partners are bringing fresh energy, artistic vision, and community-centered leadership to one of the city’s most beloved summer traditions.
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There is no dance floor in Minnesota, quite like a WWII hangar. Join the CAF MN Wing Museum on June 13th as we transform Hangar 3 into a 1940s swing dance.
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The 2026 Juneteenth Celebrating Freedom Day event is on Saturday, June 13, 12-6 pm at Bethune Park, 1304 10th Ave N. Mark your calendars now and RSVP at the event page for updates as planning continues. We're planning a great lineup of entertainment, food and merch vendors, and much more! Presented alongside partners Phyllis Wheatley Community Center and NAACP MPLS
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Join us as special guest Karen Schmidt demonstrates the art of hand shearing our charming Babydoll Southdown sheep. This unique, up-close experience brings history to life - perfect for families, animal lovers, and anyone curious about heritage farming. Don’t miss this chance to see skilled craftsmanship and adorable sheep in action!
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We'll dive into pieces that, through purposeful orchestration by the composer, take widely known stories and put their own unique spin on them through symphonic music. This one-hour relaxed concert format is designed for audiences of all ages, including individuals with autism or sensory sensitivities. Kids' tickets are FREE with the purchase of an adult ticket, through the Hall Pass program.
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Come join us for a delicious pancake breakfast, free children vison screening, and a fun time to connect with the community! All proceeds are returned to the community through Lions sponsored service projects and donations
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Join the YMCA Center for Youth Voice in celebrating and supporting Minnesota’s top middle school civics students as they compete in the inaugural National Civics Bee Minnesota State Final.
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Kick off the 2026 Northside Juneteenth Weekend Celebration with an evening of family fun, community connection, and celebration at our FREE Community Movie Night! Bring your blankets, your loved ones, and your good vibes as we gather for a family-friendly film, free refreshments, and an unforgettable night with the community. Whether you’re coming for the movie, the popcorn, or simply to enjoy being together, this is the perfect way to start a powerful Juneteenth weekend on the Northside.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul 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 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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It's almost time for fruit picking! Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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