KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Mon, Jun 22: Summer Movie Camp at AMC Theatres
Thu, Jun 25: Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zone at Los Angeles Union Station - Union Station Los Angeles
Sat, Jun 27: 360 Beach Festival - Santa Monica Pier
Wed, Jul 1: Active and Fun Clinic with Fitness on Fire
Fri, Jul 3: FoodieLand - Rose Bowl Stadium
Fri, Jul 10: 2026 BBQ Music Fest
Sun, Jul 12: Red, White, and Blues American Festival - Bowers Museum
Thu, Jul 16: Cooking in the City
Sat, Jul 18: 2026 San Clemente Ocean Festival
Sat, Jul 25: National Day of the Cowboy & Cowgirl - Autry Museum of the American West |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: I’m a sucker for songs in 6/8 time, no matter the music style. I don’t know why that ONE-two-three-FOUR-five-six swinging rhythm so captures me whether it’s fast or slow, but there’s no denying that it does. And I might not even notice this rhythm, but for one little fact: I’m a thoroughly mediocre cellist. I took cello lessons from age 8 to age 14; during
those years, I graduated from “truly bad” to “moderately acceptable,” at least acceptable enough to play in orchestras where my individual sound would be drowned out by the better kids’ playing. But even as unskilled as I was, I know I am happier as an adult for having played: I can understand music from the inside. I hear patterns and styles and instruments with far different ears than I would have had I not studied music early in life. Understanding what makes your heart sing helps
you be on the lookout for more, and that makes your life better. Summer is the perfect season to help kids grow their ears. Yes, check out the big open-air concerts from your local orchestra, municipal band, or jazz ensemble. But also keep an active ear out for the smaller stuff: free concerts in parks, weekly community series, festivals, buskers, church lawn performances, library gigs, and whatever band happens to be playing near the funnel cakes. When you hear something,
name it: bluegrass, salsa, soul, swing, zydeco, classical, funk, folk, rock, rap, mariachi. Kids don’t have to like everything, but knowing the names of things helps them understand what they do like, and gives them handles for finding more of it later. A couple of tips: If you know you're headed in the direction of something new, play a sample of the style before you leave so kids have a hook on which to hang the experience. While you’re there, help them notice one thing: the
bass line, the drummer, the singer’s breathing, the way people move. That will help the music swirl around in their minds long after the last note fades. Remember, music isn’t only on stages. It’s in carousels, movie scores, worship services, elevators, malls, ballparks, and the ice cream truck coming around the corner. So as tour guide to your kids’ universe, don’t ignore the invisible! Point your ears toward the music, tune everyone's radar, and grow.
—Debra
Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
|
|
|
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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around the OC. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the people
who create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! You have my personal and fervent thanks for your participation! —Deb |
|
|
|
Celebrate your child’s birthday in the heart of Orange County at Irvine Marriott, where fun is effortless and unforgettable. Kick off the party in our Topgolf Swing Suite, featuring interactive sports and games that let kids swing, score, and play together. The celebration continues with splash time in our outdoor heated pool, complete with poolside games and family-friendly entertainment. Package includes: 1 hour in the Topgolf Swing Suite, food and drinks, décor and setup, a dedicated party host, pool access with towels and amenities. Add-ons available. Maximum of 10 guests.
|
|
|
|
The World of Birds Show has been delighting audiences for nearly 40 years! Launched by a major gift from the Angela Collier Foundation, the new World of Birds Theater reopened to the public in 2014. The refreshed and reimagined free-flight presentation features impressive displays of natural behavior and close up views of some of the L.A. Zoo’s most colorful residents. Note: This event is weather permitting, and the lineup is subject to change.
|
|
|
|
The summer adventure continues long after the sun goes down, with a nighttime summer party that will liven up the evening. Knott's Summer Nights offers exciting ways to enjoy the nighttime festivities.
|
|
|
|
All aboard Choo Choo Revue! In the first new show from BBMT in 40 years, your theater seat becomes a train bound for fantasy! A monumental milestone for BBMT and celebration of community and joy, Choo Choo Revue inspires IMAGINATION for all. Through the train window of BBMT’s stage, travel across rolling hills, mountainous peaks, and dazzling deserts. Meet dancing luggage, singing mushrooms, and a cicada jugband. This hour-long show, packed with over 100 handcrafted, BRAND NEW puppets, is presented with theatric grandeur and spectacular artistic skill. Bob Baker Marionette Theater is thrilled to present this milestone achievement in puppetry and theater, showcasing innovative art and performance for new generations to enjoy. This is your ticket to the future of puppetry!
|
|
|
|
Across Los Angeles, people and wildlife travel through shared landscapes, following paths that intersect and overlap. Metro is committed to creating environments where all species can flourish by reducing car dependence through public transit, planting native and drought-resilient vegetation, protecting nesting areas, and keeping paths open for animal movement.
|
|
|
|
“Convergence: Contemporary Artists of Armenian Descent” will premiere at the Forest Lawn Museum on March 21, 2026. From bold experiments in abstraction to thought-provoking conceptual installations, “Convergence” features the work of more than twenty artists who push the boundaries of traditional mediums and challenge conventions with their daring visions. The exhibition does not attempt to cover the entire spectrum of Armenian narratives. Rather, its cohesive element is the heritage of the featured artists. With diverse backgrounds—ranging from those born in the United States to immigrants from various regions—these artists contribute individual perspectives to their work. Defining Armenian identity is inherently complex. It encompasses a sense of belonging that surpasses simplistic definitions, rooted in historical connections that often evoke profound and abstract emotions.
|
|
|
|
Celebrate Freedom and Culture this Juneteenth!
|
|
|
|
Screening from Series "The World of Studio Ghibli." Based on the manga of the same name, Isao Takahata’s second feature for Studio Ghibli is a serene memory piece featuring 27-year-old Taeko reminiscing about her 1960s childhood, travelling from Tokyo to the sleepy country town of Yamagata and rediscovering herself in the process. Takahata renders these flashbacks in a style different from the present-day scenes—corners slightly fade into white, edges blur—lending these moments a sense of impermanence. Though most Japanese anime projects record dialogue after animation is finished, this film reversed much of that process, allowing the visual artists to create more realistic facial expressions. A surprise smash hit in Japan, the film attracted a largely adult audience with its poignant look at the cost of growing up.
|
|
|
|
Ghost Town Alive! returns to Knott's Berry Farm for the summer, complete with bandits, cowboys, robberies, judges, a good ol' western hoedown, and much more! Guests can visit the beloved town of Calico and experience an authentic Western adventure by becoming a star in this summer's story of the Wild West. Ghost Town Alive! offers guests a firsthand experience of playing an important part in the unfolding story of the Wild West, with specific tasks and activities and an essential role as an honorary citizen of Calico.
|
|
|
|
Starting in the spring, we open our berry fields to the public for a unique strawberry & olallieberry picking experience.
|
|
|
|
Robert Lewis Stevenson's swashbuckling adventure story sails off the page and onto the wooded outdoor stage of Theatricum Botanicum. A young man's romantic dream of pirates on the high seas becomes a harrowing reality, where he is tested at every turn. He must face these challenges with courage, trusting a moral compass strong enough to triumph and discover the true treasure found in a life lived with integrity and purpose.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in The OC 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange County, CA Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near San Diego that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
