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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The holiday spirit shines bright at Knott’s Merry Farm, now through January 4! Experience a festive Christmas celebration as the entire park transforms into a winter wonderland filled with thousands of twinkling lights, themed décor, jumbo snowflakes, and picturesque seasonal scenes. Families can enjoy beloved holiday shows like Home for the Holidays, featuring classic Christmas music, magical dancing toys, and falling snow, plus the return of the Peanuts ice show starring Snoopy and the gang. Indulge in limited-time holiday treats, explore Calico’s Christmas Crafts Village, meet Santa, decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus, and enjoy nightly park-wide lighting moments. Visit Knott’s Merry Farm online to learn more—and check out 2026 Season Passes, a perfect holiday gift!
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Bring your family and friends out to Santa’s Village where you can enjoy festive activities including Ice Fishing, Blizzard Ball and Rudolph Racers. You can decorate cookies and even create your own Christmas tree ornament at Craft Corner. Filled with thousand of sparkling Christmas lights, there are many photo opportunities throughout Santa’s Village. Food and snacks are available as well as hot chocolate and coffee. Although you must have reserved Christmas Train tickets to board the train to see Santa, you may still enjoy thousands of lights and festive decorations throughout Santa’s Village without any reservation.
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Winter Fest OC, Southern California’s largest winter festival, returns to Costa Mesa on select dates from November 28 through January 4. Experience the magic of the holiday season with dazzling lights, fresh snow, thrilling attractions, live entertainment, and festive activities for families, couples, and holiday lovers of all ages. Guests can enjoy unlimited ice tubing, real snow play, immersive experiences, live entertainment, seasonal food & drinks, countless photo opportunities, and much more as the OC Fair and Event Center is transformed into a magical winter wonderland.
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catalina kitchen at Terranea Resort offers a festive Christmas brunch buffet with a Granola Bar serving smoked salmon mini bagels, turkey wraps, and acai bowls.
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During the holiday season, get together with the Grinch™ at a Who-tacular celebration to enjoy the music and fun of Grinchmas™. Meet the maven of mischief himself, his dog Max, and favorite Whoville residents. You'll also witness the spectacular lighting of our one-of-a-kind Dr. Seuss inspired tree to join in a celebration of music, song and light. Plus much more. Put a little snark in your holiday spirit with the Grinch™!
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“In Bloom: Flowers in Contemporary Art” premieres at Forest Lawn Museum on September 20, 2025. While artists have been depicting flowers for thousands of years, this exhibition explores a range of contemporary artistic approaches to the subject. Featuring paintings, sculptures, installations, and video, the artworks vary dramatically, from naturalistic to abstract, and from playful to contemplative.
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Circus Bella returns to the Big Top Circus Tent for a third year with STARLIGHT – An All-New Winter Circus Spectacular. With brand-new acts, sumptuous costumes, and artists from across the US, Circus Bell brings all the nostalgia and beauty of an old-timey circus combined with the eyebrow-raising savvy & modern look of 2025. A diverse cast of 13 perform thrilling feats of balance and strength, demonstrations of grace & poise, outrageous humor, and authentic moments that bring us all together.
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Step into Gingerbread Wonderland, an immersive holiday village filled with festive fun and hands-on science. Race down the indoor toboggan slide, enjoy the Runaway Sleigh Theater, sing a long to holiday tunes, and take on sweet challenges inside the Sugar Rush Arcade. It's the perfect family adventure to celebrate the season through play and imagination.
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Looking for something AMAZING to offer your kids over break? Send them to Ultimate Ninjas summer and day camps in Anaheim Hills, where they will learn how to tackle obstacles like a true Ninja. Sign up today and let your kids discover what they are uniquely capable of achieving. Half and full day camps available.
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Searching for Serenity explores how communities can harness the healing power of art and nature. A response to 2025 wildfire disasters in Los Angeles County, this exhibition bridges creativity with personal storytelling. Participating professional and community artists share how a deep connection to nature can serve as a tool for individual transformation, renewal, and collective recovery. Searching for Serenity and its programs are generously funded, in part, by Perenchio Foundation and an endowment from Heather Sturt Haaga and Paul G. Haaga, Jr.
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Bacy by popular demand, this holiday season…a waterfront ice rink in the heart of Newport Beach! Enjoy ice skating with views of the water and Lighting of the Bay
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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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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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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 in and around Orange County. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Orange County 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 best places to take kids in the Orange County, CA area. Each May-June, thousands of parents vote in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Who won the top spot? An indoor play center, museum, farm, nature center, sports team?
Click through to find out!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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