KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When my husband and I started planning a family, we talked a lot about the kind of parents we hoped to be. Naturally, we looked back on our own childhoods. David had story after story about his parents—their quirks, what they cared about, who they were. But when I tried to do the same, I came up oddly blank. I could tell you what I loved as a kid, but not much about what made my own
parents’ hearts sing. I remembered that my dad had a garden when I was little, but I couldn’t say whether he enjoyed digging in the dirt, liked making things grow, or was just trying to save money on vegetables. That realization stuck with me. I didn’t want my kids to grow up seeing me as a blur in the background of their story; I wanted them to see me clearly: as someone who had favorite things, real interests, and a sense of enjoyment they could understand. I wanted them to
grow up expecting that adulthood could be full of that, too... all of the vivid experiences that make up the inner life of a regular person, especially the joys. I started using the phrase "live what you love" as a kind of parenting guidepost. Our kids are always watching, taking cues about what adulthood looks like. If all they ever see is grownups stressed, rushing, and tired, they’ll assume that’s the default. But if they also see us delighted by a song, energized by a
game, inspired by something we've learned, genuinely laughing with people we love... that’s powerful. It shows them that joy isn’t something you age out of, it’s something you grow into. The holidays are packed with tasks and to-do lists, but they’re also full of opportunities for joy. So tune your radar to what YOU love, and if you catch yourself smiling at paper snowflakes or belting out a corny carol, don’t downplay it. Let yourself have that moment. When your kids see the
joy you've just pushed into the room; it's a gift to their present and to their future.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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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Our magical holiday event returns! Join the Tennessee State Museum for a FREE festive event for the whole family that includes holiday cookies, crafts, and live caroling. Holiday-themed sweaters and other festive finery are encouraged. Join us for this free event on Saturday, December 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Local choirs will perform carol favorites to spread holiday cheer throughout the day.
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Story adaption, choreography, and direction by Paul Vasterling. This holiday season, step into a world of wonder as Nashville Ballet presents the return of a beloved tradition, Nashville’s Nutcracker, choreographed by Artistic Director Emeritus Paul Vasterling. A dazzling blend of history, imagination, and timeless storytelling, this Emmy Award-winning production has become the crown jewel of Middle Tennessee’s holiday season and a cherished experience for audiences of all ages.
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Bring the whole family for a bright and joyful afternoon — games, crafts, music, and Bernie’s famous latkes! Menorah moments, dreidel fun, and plenty of Hanukkah spirit.
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Embrace the holiday spirit with A Magical Cirque Christmas, a variety show full of nostalgia, charm, and awe-inspiring performances for all ages. Get ready to be dazzled, enchanted, and filled with holiday cheer as you witness the incredible talents of world-class entertainers performing to your favorite holiday music. Celebrate the magic of the season with the entire family at A Magical Cirque Christmas.
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Get ready to crank up your Christmas spirit—The Wizards of Winter are bringing their high-voltage holiday show to Category 10 on December 8th! With powerhouse vocals, epic strings, and thundering percussion, their original holiday rock show, The Christmas Dream, will take you on a mind-blowing musical journey that’ll kickstart your holiday season. These all-star musicians—who’ve played with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Def Leppard, and Alice Cooper—are turning up the volume on holiday fun for the whole family! All ages welcome. Get your tickets today!
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We are back, and just in time for Christmas! With more than 100 merchants, you're sure to find lots of NEW, UNIQUE, and One-of-A-Kind gifts all in one place at the shopping event of the season. Join us for 3-days of holiday fun and shopping!
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The Nashville area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in
festive activities.
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Our ;2025 holiday events list for the Nashville area contains Christmas concerts, lights, trees, markets, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The activities we've
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- Annual Rutherford County Christmas tree Lighting - Main Street Murfreesboro - 225 West College Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, December 5, 2025
- Franklin Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square -
Downtown Franklin - Downtown Franklin, TN, December 5, 2025
- Parade of Lights 2025 - City of La Vergne - 115 Floyd Mayfield Dr, La Vergne, TN 37086, December 6, 2025, 5 pm
- Christmas Parade sponsored by
Downtown Franklin Rotary - Downtown Franklin, TN, December 6, 2025, 1:00 PM
- Handel’s Messiah -
Free Concert With Nashville Community Choir - 1100 Gray Fox Lane, Franklin, TN 37069, December 6, 2025, 7 PM
- Free Pictures with
Santa - Rutherford County Courthouse, December 6, 2025, 10:00am
- Holiday Open House at Discovery Center - 502 SE Broad Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, December 6, 2025, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Carols, Cookies and Crafts at the
Tennessee State Museum - Tennessee State Museum, Rosa L Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN, December 6, 2025, 10am - 2:30pm
- Storytime in the Children’s Gallery - Tennessee State Museum - Tennessee State Museum - 1000
Rosa Parks Blvd. (at Jefferson St.), Nashville, TN 37208, December 6, 2025, 10:30 a.m.
- Architecture Tour at Frist Art Museum - Frist Art Museum - 919 Broadway – Downtown, Nashville, TN 37203, December 6, 2025, 3:30 pm
- Richland Park Farmers Market - Richland Park
Farmers' Market - 4711 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209, December 6, 2025, 9am to 12pm
- Williamson County Community Band Winter Concert - Williamson County Enrichment Center, 110 Everbright Ave, Franklin, TN 37064, December 7, 2025, 3:00pm
- Architecture Tour at Frist Art Museum - Frist Art Museum - 919 Broadway – Downtown, Nashville, TN 37203, December 7, 2025,
3:30 pm
- Kidsville Storybook Walk - 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203, December 7, 2025, Park hours,
6 AM - 8 PM
- Vanderbilt University Preschool Language and Brain Study - Vanderbilt University, West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, December 7, 2025, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Nashville 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 best things to do with kids in the Nashville area for 2025 as voted by KidsOutAndAbout.com's local readers. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of our readers' annual top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top
Sports Educator, and Top STEM Educator!
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Here's to seizing opportunities to learn wherever they appear!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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