KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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
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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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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. From the moment you arrive, you'll be surrounded by larger-than-life illuminated lanterns inspired by animals from around the world. Stroll through immersive displays, enjoy food and beverages available for purchase, capture unforgettable photos, and experience the Zoo in a way you've never seen before.
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Wild Heart is a pop-rock musical (with a LIVE pit band) that celebrates female empowerment, resilience, and standing up to broken systems through the story of Joan of Arc! Hear music from P!nk, Kelly Clarkson & more!
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The fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are turned on their heads in this fast-paced, rollicking ride as two narrators and several actors attempt to combine all 209 stories ranging from classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel to more bizarre, obscure stories like The Devil’s Grandmother and The Girl Without Hands. A wild, free-form comedy with lots of audience participation and madcap fun.
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The Street Machine Nationals will feature stunning high-performance street machines, hot rods, street trucks and the best dream machines from coast-to-coast, all on display. In addition to the cars, the Performance Marketplace will showcase products and services from industry leaders, many offering special show-pricing.
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Crazy Day Deals up & down Water Street. Come to shop the sales & enjoy a streetcar ride! Non-stop streetcar shuttle running. Take your time exploring the carbarn & catch the next trolley back to Water Street.
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This is a free, family-friendly event celebrating creativity, connection, and local talent. Hosted at The Draw in Ramsey, the art fair features artist booths, food trucks, hands-on activities, live entertainment, and opportunities to meet and support local artists. Whether you’re browsing for the perfect piece, enjoying a performance, or getting creative yourself—there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
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The Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games will take place on July 18th, 2026 on the beautiful Macalester College campus in St. Paul, MN! Celtic Music, Bagpipes and Drums, Heavy Games, Highland Dancing, Country Dancing , Clan Row & Scottish Exhibitors. British Cars & Bikes, Scottish Marketplace, McCracken Pub & Food Trucks.
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Dear Friends of Saint George Church, thank you for supporting us! This July 2026, we are back again, and looking forward to seeing you! Ahla wa Sahla and Welcome back to St. George!
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For the first time in over 35 years Chanhassen Dinner Theatres brings you a thrilling and electric staging of Guys and Dolls! From the gritty streets of New York to the colorful cafes of Havana, Guys and Dolls is a wildly entertaining musical comedy to delight audiences of all ages. This fresh production is set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City in a perfect balance of story, dance, music and romance!
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The Maple Grove Arts Center and The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes invite the community to the 24th Annual Arbor Lakes Art Fair 2026. This vibrant, outdoor local community art fair brings together talented artists, artisans, and craftspeople. Visitors of all ages can enjoy engaging activities designed to spark inspiration and appreciation for the arts. The fair offers the perfect opportunity to connect with the creative community, support local talent, and experience art in an open, welcoming setting. Families will love the dedicated Kids Art Zone, sponsored by Experience Maple Grove. It’s a lively hands-on area where young creators can paint, craft and experiment. Plus, a live music stage will feature performances throughout both days of the fair, bringing rhythm, energy, and local…
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Lakeside concerts, neighborhood markets, the Torchlight Parade — Aquatennial is nine days of summer in Minneapolis. Everything happening during the festival is here; pick a day, browse the map, or follow what catches your eye.
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2026's most popular places to take kids in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM Educator! Check out your
fellow readers' favorites, and enjoy exploring the best of the region!
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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 Minneapolis-St. Paul. So, pack the sunscreen, load up the car and head out on a grand
adventure!
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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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