KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Peace can come in many textures during the holidays. For some, it’s the energizing bustle of concerts and community events, or the warmth of a crowded house full of voices and motion. For others, it’s the stillness of a walk through snow-covered woods, a soft blanket at home, or the quiet company of someone who understands them. It shifts from person to person, and
sometimes even from one day to the next. Peace can be internal, external, or, at its best, a bit of both: a sense that life makes sense, within and around us. It’s easier to feel when we’re free from hardship, but even in the midst of challenge, it’s sometimes possible to find a quiet kind of peace when we know we’ve done our best with the time and energy we’ve been given. Peace can be elusive for parents; after all, we're the ones in charge of figuring out
how to make the family rhythm and flow work for everyone, and what brings peace to our kids may look nothing like what brings it to us. Maybe your son needs to be out with friends while you crave stillness. Maybe your daughter is hoping to hide in a corner with a book while you're in full-on glitter-and-cookie mode with all the cousins. Parenting is the art of balance, of helping everyone in the family thrive by seeing who they really are and doing our best to honor it. It's not easy, and it's
never perfect, but we try. When kids feel known—when they hear “I see that you love this, that you need this, and I’ll help you find your way to it”—they flourish. That sense of being understood can be its own kind of peace. So as the season winds to a close, I wish you whatever kind of holiday rhythm helps you feel most like you. And I hope you’ll find moments to offer that same gift to those around you. When we make space for each other’s version of peace,
it’s more likely to find its way into the room.
—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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Make this winter break unforgettable at Belle Meade’s Winter Break Family Days! Bring the whole family for a fun-filled, come-and-go adventure packed with hands-on crafts, games, and cozy winter magic for all ages. Each day offers a new theme and exciting activities: build snow people, craft penguins, explore polar bears, create sparkling snowflakes, and—on our grand finale—design your own dazzling snowglobe! From “melted” snowmen and blubber experiments to colorful suncatchers and glittering globes, every moment is brimming with creativity and joy. Don’t miss the winter’s most heartwarming family experience—join us December 29 through January 3 at Belle Meade! Pre-registration required for Snowglobe Day.
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NOON Year's Eve, the family friendly countdown to noon returns! Entrance to this event is FREE! Got kids and never make it to Midnight? Have to work New Year's Eve at night? Or just want to celebrate twice? Join us for our 9th annual "NOON Year's Eve" Celebration at East Nashville Beer Works. Ring in 2025 nice and early with live family music from Bill Crosby and the Bahama Llama Orchestra, and a fun time with family, friends, and your neighbors.
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Follow the yellow brick road to a land of imagination, adventure, and heart at TPAC’s Family Day celebration! Step into a twister of wonder where ruby slippers sparkle, lions find courage, and the road to Oz winds through music, magic, and make-believe. Enjoy sensory-friendly activities, tasty treats, and live performances inspired by Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and more. Best of all, your ticket includes it all—activities, snacks, entertainment, and more—so the whole family can enjoy the excitement. TPAC’s Family Day invites you to discover the magic of Oz and celebrate the arts in a place where courage, friendship, and imagination shine. TPAC's Family Day 2025 will have activities from 1:30PM to 4:30PM. Activities will be in TPAC's Jackson Hall and Polk Theater. Book your tickets today!
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Experience So Much Christmas with dazzling displays, tempting treats, holiday shows, and festive activities. ICE! features beloved scenes from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" brought to life through colorful, colossal ice sculptures. Whether you're staying overnight or visiting for the day, it's the ultimate way to create lasting holiday memories together! ICE! is presented by PEPSI®. Ends January 3, 2026.
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- Kidsville Storybook Walk - 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, Dec 26-28, Park hours, 6 AM - 8 PM
- Vanderbilt University Preschool Language and Brain Study - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Dec 26-28, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We can schedule visits any time during the week, including evenings and weekends.
- Free mini photo session
with Shoott! - Nashville area - Shoott, Nashville area, Dec 27-28, See link for times
- Richland Park Farmers Market -
Richland Park Farmers' Market - 4711 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, Dec 27, April - December, 9am to 12pm
- Architecture Tour at Frist
Art Museum - Frist Art Museum - 919 Broadway – Downtown, Nashville, Dec 27-28, 3:30 pm
- Storytime in the Children’s Gallery - Tennessee State Museum - Tennessee State Museum - Nashville, Dec 27, 10:30 a.m.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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