KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jun 12: Family Fan Zone at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
Sat, Jun 13: West Park Arts Fest 2026
Sat, Jun 13: The Ninth Annual Phoenixville Art Street Festival Wed, Jun 17: The Plants Concert in Pastorius Park
Fri, Jun 19: Bucks Fever Art & Sculpture Exhibition At Peddler's Village
Fri, Jun 19: Juneteenth at Please Touch Museum Fri, Jun 19: Kids Market at Lot 323 Summer Concert
Sat, Jun 20: Juneteenth Wellness & Arts Festival 2026
Sun, Jun 21: Philadelphia Father's Day Signature Brunch Cruise - City Cruises
Philadelphia Sun, Jun 21: Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival Sun, Jun 21: Father's Day BBQ at Philadelphia
Zoo
Fri, Jun 26: Kidchella Music Festival 2026 Sat, Jun 27: Riverside 175th And America’s 250th Celebration
Parade Wed, Jul 1: Declaration Days at the Museum
Thu, Jul 2: Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
Sat, Jul 4: A250 Time Capsule Sat, Jul 4: Red, White, and Blueberries BBQ Bash at Peddler's Village
Fri, Jul 10: Tango’s Gotcha Day Celebration
Sat, Jul 11: Dragons Love Tacos
Thu, Jul 16: Family Fun Night - Brandywine Zoo |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was homeschooling Madison and Ella, one of my favorite sanity-saving tools was the Theme of the Week. If the theme was "Birds," then yes, we'd go on a bird walk. But we'd also read my favorite-ever children's book, talk about the physics of flying and of colors, and probably also do some math and logic involving eggs and
baskets. The theme made ordinary learning feel like an adventure, but more important, it gave us a focusing tool: It helped the girls connect with what they were seeing and doing, and it helped me feel that we weren’t wandering randomly through our days. Summer planning can benefit from that same kind of gentle structure. Last week, I wrote about how summer is not supposed to be a guilt-inducing race to cram in every concert, splash pad, festival, hike,
camp, road trip, library program, ice cream stand, and sunset before the school buses roll again. Trying to grab everything is a good way to miss the point; instead, to plan the summer without overstuffing it, we need to consider the kinds of experiences that make our family feel more awake, connected, and alive. The five summer lenses I keep coming back to are: music, motion, making,
nature, and food. Music helps kids hear the world differently and live what they love. Motion lets bodies teach what words cannot. Making reminds us that we can bring something new into the universe. Nature offers perspective and wonder. And food connects us to place, culture, and each other. Over the next
few weeks, I’ll address these one at a time—not as assignments, but as invitations. Even as the days fly by, a summer seen through some useful lenses can still be lazy, loose, spontaneous, and wonderfully imperfect.
—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. |
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 the Philadelphia area. 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 |
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Attention 5th – 8th graders! Do you play violin, cello, viola, or bass? Sharpen your skills this summer at MusicMan Academy’s Stellar Strings Camp! This one-week camp experience surrounds you with “all things strings” to help you fine tune and finesse your string skills. Campers explore ear training, intermediate techniques, and chamber music with professional string instrumentalists. Learn from masterclasses, practice in a variety of ensembles, and put on a STELLAR performance with your friends! Camp runs from July 13-17 from 9am-3pm. Students must have 2 years of experience on their instrument. Register today for Stellar Strings and learn more at udmusicman.org!
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Attention 5th – 8th grade musicians! Are you ready to get your JAM on this summer? Join MusicMan Academy’s Jazz Jam Camp! This one-week camp is led by Upper Darby legend and professional saxophonist, Hiruy Tirfe. Whether you're starting your jazz journey or ready to dive deep into the world of rhythm and blues, Jazz Jam Camp is for you! Through masterclasses with industry leaders and culminating in a concert and recording session you’ll take your playing to the next level. Camp runs from July 6-10 from 9am - 3pm. Students must have 2 years of experience on their instrument. Guitar, bass, and piano players are welcome! Register today and learn more at udmusicman.org!
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Catch every goal, save, and celebration at the Family Fan Zone at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest, June 11 through June 19, your go-to spot for soccer on the Philly Waterfront. Join us Thursdays through Sundays for live screenings of the biggest international matches of the summer, all in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. With over a dozen TVs, you won’t miss a moment of the action.
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Join Johnson House Historic Site, an UGRR station, to celebrate Juneteenth. the passage and ratification of the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution commemorates African Americans as free and slavery ended. Features all-day family-oriented activities: Libation Pouring Ceremony, Sistahs Laying Down Hands Drumming, Reading of General Order #3: by U.S. Colored 3rd Troops reenactors, social justice panel discussion, a KIDZ Korner (Philly Goats, kid’s science experiments, moon bounce, face painting, balloon art, books, arts and crafts activities), food trucks, live on stage performances, exhibits, vendor marketplace, resource tables, and historic tour
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Bridge Street bursts into color at this beloved community event! With 70+ artists, live music, interactive entertainment, a community painting, drum circle, there’s inspiration around every corner. After exploring original art, peruse the shops of historic downtown Phoenixville and refuel at one of many eateries or craft breweries. Don’t miss the magic—art, music, and community all in one unforgettable day!
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Help support healthy waterways in our community! Held in partnership with Concord Township, this event is a fundraiser to help raise money for watershed protection projects at Newlin Grist Mill. The day starts with a 5k trail run. Stick around for the rubber duck races in the Chester creek, a car show, kids games and activities, music, food, and exhibitors!
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Help your child achieve their dream of starting a business! Kids ages 5–17 can launch their own small venture, sell to real customers, and have a blast turning their ideas into reality. Be part of the lively Hatboro community celebration, complete with live music and neighbors coming together to cheer on amazing young entrepreneurs. Booths are only $25 and multiple kids can share a booth. Register to join us on Saturday, June 13 from 10 am -1 pm: https://www.kidsmarkets.com/markets/hatboro-5
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Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Choo-Choo Soul with a special concert at Sesame Place! Follow the musical adventures of Disney Jr.'s hip-hop singer, train station manager Genevieve Goings and her dancing, beat-boxing engineer DC as they entertain kids, performing soulful and current renditions of the ABCs and 123s.
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West Park community, join us for the 18th Annual West Park Arts Fest! So come join us for day filled with live music, dance, spoken word & family fun in West Fairmount Park.
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Ready for weekends full of wonder? During our special Fountain Fest Weekends—spanning select Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings—celebrate with Illuminated Fountain Performances, music, and activities all centered around our imaginative themes.
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The ODUNDE festival is the “staple event” for the organization and the City of Philadelphia. The festival attracts up to 500,000 attendees, covers 15-city blocks, has over 100 arts & craft and food vendors and has two stages of LIVE entertainment. The festival is known throughout the world as one of the original models for African-American festivals, hosting many internationally known African and Caribbean performers, dignitaries, folk artists and cultural leaders.
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Visit your favorite exhibits an hour before gates open to the general public during these exclusive members-only morning strolls.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Philadelphia 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 KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Philadelphia 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…
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The Philadelphia Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near Philadelphia that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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