KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Save the Date
Sat, Apr 25: 15th Annual Earth Day - Rock the Green at Harley-Davidson Museum
Sun, Apr 26: Festa Italiana 2026 at Henry Maier Festival Park
Fri, May 15: Mai Fest 2026 at Marketplatz II
Fri, Jun 5: ART 64 at Village of Wauwatosa
Sun, Jun 7: West Allis A La Carte FESTIVAL
Fri, Jun 12: Polish Fest 2026 at Henry W. Maier Festival Park
Sat, Jun 13: Milwaukee Water Lantern Festival 2026 at Veterans Park
Fri, Jun 19: Greek Fest 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair Park
Sat, Jul 11: Family Festival at Piala's
Sat, Jul 18: Falls Lavender Fest at Village Park-Menomonee Falls |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: Before I had kids, one of my colleagues told me that fundamentally, a parent’s job is to point. At first, you point physically: You point at the waterfall and say “waterfall,” at the moon and say “moon,” at the flower and say “flower.” You’re helping a child connect sounds to objects, words to concepts, language to reality. But later, and really all the way through, the
pointing becomes more metaphorical. Parenting is the ongoing work of connecting your child’s growing capacity to understand with a world that is, to them, forever expanding. As I had Madison and Ella, I came to think of this as being a tour guide to the world. A good tour guide needs to know the landscape, of course. But even more important, a good tour guide needs to know the traveler. What can this particular child see right now? What are they ready for? What do they care
about? What frightens them? What delights them? It's useful to remember that kids haven’t actually been here before: The world is brand-new to them over and over again, so what feels ordinary to us is often astonishing to a child. Tour guides who are doing their job well pay close attention to who their audience is and what they know, and that makes the pointing easier and more fun. Spring is the perfect season to practice pointing. In spring, the world changes fast enough for
kids to notice. Buds swell and burst. Birds return. Tiny green things push up through the dirt as if by magic. Day to day, the world becomes visibly more alive. If we point it out, kids can catch it happening in real time. And spring does not arrive quietly. It comes as an avalanche of the senses: color, smell, birdsong, mud, wind, sunlight, thunder, petals, pollen, rushing water. So maybe that’s part of the job, too: not just to point, but to lean into it. To stand beside our
kids in the rush of it all and say, Look! Here it comes.
—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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Give your child an unforgettable summer at Lakefield Farm Horsemanship Weeks, where fun, learning, and hands-on horse experiences come together in a safe and welcoming environment. Designed for beginners ages 6–12, each week includes riding lessons, horse care, grooming, and confidence-building activities led by experienced, supportive instructors and gentle school horses. Campers build skills, friendships, and independence, all while creating lasting memories, and the week wraps up with a fun show for family and friends. Spots are limited, register today to be part of an incredible summer at Lakefield Farm.
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Make unforgettable memories with your little ones at Elmo’s Got the Moves—the all-new Sesame Street Live show coming to Milwaukee Sunday, May 10th at the Miller High Life Theatre! This exciting show will have kids and parents alike out of their seats and moving and dancing along with Elmo and his Sesame Street friends as they dance, stretch, and play along to fan-favorite songs, including “Sunny Days,” “Elmo’s Got the Moves,” and “Letter of the Day.” Tickets start at just $35!
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MKE Rep Arts Camp is for all youth artists, not just performers. Open to ages 7 to 15, this summer camp is a place to explore all aspects of your creativity with the support of professional artists. Design your perfect artistic adventure at one of two state-of-the-art facilities! Explorers experience every corner of the arts, from Shakespeare to sewing to makeup and everything in between! With a schedule of five unique classes, specialize in one area or sample them all! Or become a “Generator” and master world-building from the ground up! Learn the essential skills for creating an immersive experience: set design, costume construction, character development, special effects and more!
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The annual Balloon Adventure returns to PIER 290 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, for its third year, with its boat showroom transformed into a colorful, crawl-worthy world of oversized bugs and playful surprises. Running March 19 - 29, 2026, the all-ages event features more than 100,000 balloons twisted, sculpted and linked into towering bug-themed installations. Guests can explore hands-on science elements and photo-ready moments designed to spark curiosity and joy.
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Blast off to The Abbey for Cosmic Splashdown Spring Break 2026! Dive into out-of-this-world fun with our resort amenities plus stellar events and activities all week long. From glowing bonfires and movies indoors and under the stars to creative crafts, family games, and splash-worthy surprises, there’s something for every space explorer. Check out our website for the complete launch schedule.
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Join us on Saturday, March 28, from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Richfield Nature & Historical Park in Richfield, WI, for the annual Maple Syrup Family Day! Enjoy a pancake breakfast from 9 AM to 12 PM, watch maple syrup making demonstrations, and a maple syrup contest. Savor delicious food, bakery treats, and maple cotton candy, and explore historic tours, blacksmithing demonstrations, and friendly animals. With engaging activities for kids and adults alike, it’s the perfect family outing to celebrate the sweet tradition of maple syrup and local history—don’t miss this fun-filled community event!
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Join us over spring break to make your own portrait inspired by the work of Roy Lichtenstein. Explore patterns and create your own picture with lines, dots, and squiggles, then join in the sing-alongs at 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. This monthly program is designed especially for visitors ages five and under (with an adult). This drop-in experience is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Kids 12 and under always receive free admission, thanks to an anonymous donor. Tickets are available at the door or online.
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Spring is in the air, and it’s time for some egg-citing Easter fun at Little Rainbows Play Place! Don’t miss this hoppy celebration filled with joy, laughter, and festive fun! Bring your little bunnies and let’s make some egg-stra special memories together! Get your tickets online before they sell out!
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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- Celebrate Earth Day with the Meridian Waste Children’s Coloring Contest! ***Contest entry ends April 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT - Meridian Waste -
Submit your artwork online, Friday, March 27, 2026 to Sunday, March 29, 2026 - Any time.
- Maple Syrup Family Day @ Richfield Nature and Historical Park - Richfield Historical Society - Wisconsin 164, Richfield, WI, Saturday, March 28, 2026 - 9 am - 4 pm
- Free Pictures with the Easter Bunny - Gift of Wings Greendale - 5608 Broad Street Greendale, Wi 53129, Saturday, March 28, 2026 - 12-4pm
- Bunny Bash - Greenfield City Hall - West Forest Home Avenue, Greenfield, WI, Saturday, March 28, 2026 - 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
- Splash into Spring at Pulaski Pool - 2701 S 16th St, Milwaukee, WI 53215, Saturday, March 28, 2026 - 10 AM
- Easter Egg Hunt 2026 - Humboldt Park - 3000 South Howell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53207, Saturday, March 28, 2026 - See website for details.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Milwaukee 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Milwaukee area? 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Milwaukee 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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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Milwaukee Area, as voted by thousands of parents! 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!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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