KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Thu, Apr 9: Mule Day 2026 at Maury County Park
Sat, Apr 11: 2026 Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival at Public Square Park
Sat, Apr 18: Nashville’s Earth Day 2026 at Centennial Park Sat, Apr 25: Kids Market at the Tennessee Apple Festival
Tue, Apr 28: Goodlettsville Heritage Days 2026 at Historic Mansker's Station
Fri, May 8: 85th Annual Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival Sat, May 23: Spring Zzzoofari Slumber at Nashville Zoo
Sun, Jun 7: International Folkfest 2026
Fri, Jun 26: Waterfest 2026 at Peay Park - Goodlettsville
Sat, Jul 4: Annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One of the best things about spring is that it turns all of us into treasure hunters. After a long winter, we adults start scanning the world for signs that life is returning: We notice the first mist of green in a forest's understory, the first brave crocus, the first daffodil. If we point out loud, kids catch on quickly, drawn by the thrill of seeking what
winter was hiding even just a few weeks ago, and they're ready to find magic behind every tree. Of course, in certain parts of North America, spring can be stingy in early April: The calendar may insist it’s here, but the yard is still beige, the trees are still bare, and the only things blooming outside are spreading patches of mud. But there’s no rule that says spring surprises have to come only from Mother Nature! That’s one reason I’m such a fan of egg
hunts. Last year, I wrote an extremely popular step-by-step article showing how to Turn Easter Into a Treasure Hunt, complete with a printable PDF of rhyming clues. It’s right there waiting for you, ready to make you look like a genius with practically zero effort. And if you want to kick it up a notch and invite a crowd, our article Easter Egg Hunts: Tips and Tricks for a Great Party lays out the
strategies for what may be the easiest, fastest, best-bang-for-the-buck kids’ party on Earth. Sure, egg hunts feature prominently in our culture's Easter traditions, but they needn't belong only to Easter, they're a wonderful diversion anytime, in any context. Spring is a season that proves there’s treasure everywhere. Sometimes the universe provides the fun for us. And sometimes we create it ourselves.
—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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Panda fest is an outdoor Asian food festival with experiential activities, tastings, and market fairs. Panda fest is one of the biggest outdoor Asian food festivals in the US with experiential activities, tastings, and market fairs that showcases the
vibrant food, art and cultural traditions from Asia. We will decorate the festival with a lot of Panda decorations. And we will have Panda inflatables, Panda Dough Figurine, Panda Painting DIY, Panda Face Painting, Panda themed food. Tickets required for ages 6 and up.
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Join Nashville Ballet at oneC1TY Amphitheater (8 C1TY Blvd., Nasvhille 37209) for a FREE weekend of dance activities, April 17-18, featuring live performances by NB2, Nashville Ballet’s official second company, and dance classes for all ages. No dance
experience required to participate. Bring your blanket and come dressed ready to dance with us! Food trucks will be on site throughout the weekend for attendees’ enjoyment. For a full schedule of events with descriptions, visit https://www.nashvilleballet.com/upcoming-events/2026/3/18/spring-into-dance-2026
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Nashville parents, trade summer stress for structured success. Tired of "I'm bored" and endless screen time? Give your child a fully guided, hands-on engineering experience — Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM. Kids rotate through exciting stations: coding
robots, designing skyscrapers, and building Minecraft-inspired LEGO® worlds. It feels like play, but every activity builds real skills — problem-solving, creativity, and confidence that last beyond summer. No screens, no wasted days — just purposeful, expert-designed fun that keeps them engaged all week long. Full-week camp for ages 5–12 is just $325. Spots are limited and going fast — secure your child's place today before they're gone.
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Hop into spring at the Bunny Bash at The Shoppes at Old Hickory Social on Saturday, April 4, 2026! This free, family-friendly celebration invites kids and pets to join in on Easter fun, including photos with the Easter Bunny from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, free
Muttuccinos for dogs, and treat bags for children. Guests can also enjoy product demos and samples from Thistle Farms between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, hosted by Leaf & Bloom. Come explore local shops, meet community makers, and make joyful memories with your loved ones.
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Get the chance to ride in a REAL monster truck! FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! America's Wildest Monster Truck Show is coming to LEBANON! We're excited to be bringing you a GREAT SUPERSTAR lineup of Monster Trucks and Thrill Show! For this event on APRIL 4th,
2026 there will be TWO GIANT SHOWS. This is the only appearance in the region to see our giant superstars compete in non-stop action! Avoid the lines & purchase your discounted tickets early online & save! Enjoy all the fun and high energy excitement of this perfect family-friendly event!
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Make this Easter unforgettable at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage on Saturday, April 4, from 1000 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Enjoy a festive, family-friendly celebration filled with springtime fun, history, and hands-on activities for all ages. This event is included
with the purchase of a General Admission or VIP Tour ticket. Bring the whole family for a day of history, crafts, music, and sweet surprises. Make memories that will last a lifetime at The Hermitage this Easter!
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Celebrate history in full bloom! This spring, Cheekwood’s annual festival of flowers honors America’s 250th anniversary with a spectacular sea of 250,000 red and white tulips, purple-blue violas, and hyacinths. Our growing collection of daffodils adds to
the palette, draping the estate in cheerful bright yellows and pure whites, creating a vibrant display of color and renewal. It’s the perfect setting for families, friends, and nature enthusiasts to gather and welcome a new season as winter fades.
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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech! Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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- Kidsville Storybook Walk - 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, Fri Apr 3 - Sun Apr 5, Park hours, 6 AM - 8 PM
- Vanderbilt University Preschool Language and Brain Study - Vanderbilt University, West End Avenue, Nashville, Fri Apr 3 - Sun Apr 5, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We can schedule visits any time during the week, including evenings and weekends.
- Storytime in the Children’s Gallery - Tennessee State Museum - Tennessee State Museum, Rosa L Parks Boulevard, Nashville, Fri Apr 3, 10:30 a.m.
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Nashville area - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, Sat Apr 4 - Sun Apr 5, See link for times
- 1st Saturday Family Fun - Nashville Public Library (Thompson Lane
Branch) - Nashville Public Library - Thompson Lane Branch: 380 Thompson Lane Nashville, TN, 37211, Sat Apr 4, See website for details.
- Bunny Bash - The Shoppes at Old Hickory Social! - Old Hickory Social, Robinson Road, Old Hickory, TN, Sat Apr 4, 11 AM - 3 PM
- Teen ARTlab: Words on Wear—Custom Hoodie - Frist Art Museum, Broadway, Nashville, TN, Sat Apr 4, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Nashville 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Nashville area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Nashville 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 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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