KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Feb 28: SSBTR CURE-A-THON at Students Supporting Brain Tumor
Research
Mon, Mar 9: CAMP INNOVATION Spring Break: Outbreak Alert! Survival Science at Arizona Science Center
Wed,
Mar 11: Kids Markets- Fountain Hills Farmers Market
Thu, Mar 12: Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Auditions at MTA!
Fri, Mar 13: Phoenix Zoo Live on Location at Century Library
Fri, Mar 13: Ostrich Festival at Tumbleweed Park - Chandler
Fri, Mar 13: Dino Days: Dino Crew Entertainment at Children's Museum of Phoenix
Sat, Mar 14: Girls in STEM: She Codes -
Byte by Byte at Arizona Science Center
Sat, Mar 14: Briar Patch Marketplace at Horizon High School
Fri, Mar 20: Mercados & Melodies: Country Night at City of Avondale
Sat, Mar 21: Hoot 'n' Hustle 5K Fun Run at City of Avondale |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The February my daughter Ella was 1, she caught a cold that lingered for months. There were short stretches of relief, but mostly there was congestion, disrupted sleep, and a level of crankiness that turned my sunny baby into someone I barely recognized. The clouds around her felt constant, and one day, I caught myself labeling her in my head as “the crabby one.” But
of course, if I had a perpetually runny nose and no way to manage it, I’d be irritable, too! I needed to remember this wasn’t her personality, it was a season. What we needed to get through it was distraction: something fun to do "right now" and also fun things to anticipate. Aside from those who live in paradise pockets like San Diego, most of our readers are in the thick of a particularly dreary winter. The world feels heavy and gray, energy
runs low, and it’s easy to fixate on how dispirited we feel. But we need to remember that this isn't our personality, it's a season. What we need to get through it is distraction in the moment and also something positive we can place on our horizon. My family is counting down to the March 20 release of Project Hail Mary, which stars Ryan Gosling. The movie is based on the novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. You don't have to be a science nerd to love Weir's books
(although science nerds DO love Weir's books), because in all of them, the real hero is human ingenuity—curiosity, flexible thinking, doing what needs to be done even in extreme circumstances. When things are going awry, the answer isn’t despair, it’s problem-solving, and I always emerge from a Weir book feeling spiritually lighter. While I immerse myself in Weir and Gosling, you, of course, should do YOU! Let the art or sport that grabs you and your kids be your launch ticket
to optimism now, and lift you to fun in the future. We're glad to provide the fuel!
—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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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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Ring in the 2026 Lunar New Year with an exciting evening of tradition and entertainment! Join us at Ling & Louie's Asian Bar and Grill in Scottsdale on Friday, February 27th, at 7:00 PM for a Live Lion Dance Performance by Golden Phoenix Lion Dance that
will captivate the entire family.
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Visit the Children's Museum of Phoenix and meet some very realistic dinosaurs from Dino Crew Entertainment! They will be hanging out in the Museum's Atrium, taking photos, and interacting with guests. It's sure to be a totally RAWR-SOME day!
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Celebrate Black History Month at Star Bar on the 2nd floor! Discover inspiring African and Black trailblazers whose creativity, leadership, and achievements have shaped history across generations. Explore their stories through books and posters that
highlight their lasting impact in art, science, culture, and music, including the vibrant Harlem Renaissance! Then, bring the rhythm to life as you color jazz-inspired instrument pages—a fun way to honor history through art and imagination!
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Come experience "Movies at the Boardwalk," sponsored by Valley Toyota Dealers, a free family event with music, games, and tons of prizes beginning at 5:00 pm. The movie will begin at 6:30pm. There are plenty of options to grab a bite before the movie in the
courtyard.
Come early to claim your spot, as space will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. We recommend bringing your own folding chairs and/or blankets.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Phoenix 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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- Music & Movement | Ironwood Library - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85048, Friday, 02/26/2026 and Saturday, 02/28/2026, 9:30 am
- Yoga Storytime | Century Library - Century Library, 1750 E Highland Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016, Friday, 02/27/2026, 10:15 am
- MakersBase | Ironwood Library - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85048, Saturday, 02/28/2026, 3 pm - 4 pm
- 2026 Melrose on 7th
Avenue Street Fair - North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, Saturday, 02/28/2026, 11:00 AM
- Free Movies at the
Boardwalk: The Parent Trap - Arizona Boardwalk - Arizona Boardwalk, 9500 East Vía de Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85256, Saturday, 02/28/2026, 5 pm
- Peoria's 2026 Arts and Cultural Festival - Peoria City Hall Campus, 8401 W. Monroe Street, Peoria, AZ 85345, Saturday, 02/28/2026, See
website
- Outdoor Movie Night - 7506 East Indian School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, Saturday, 02/28/2026, 7:00pm
- Open House Sunday Series - At The Outlet, Inc., 3004 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, Sunday, 03/01/2026, 3 - 5
pm
- POWER IN MOTION: SUNDAY OPEN HOUSES POP UP SESSIONS - At The Outlet, Inc., 3004 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016, Sunday, 03/01/2026, 3-5 pm
- AZ Rattlers Halftime Show Performance Opportunity - At The Outlet, Inc., 3004 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016, Sunday, 03/01/2026, 3 - 5 pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Phoenix 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 Phoenix 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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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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There are lots of places to have a birthday party in the Phoenix area! If there is an attraction that we have missed, please email us to let us know, and we'll add it promptly. Thank you! And you can
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2025's winners in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Phoenix area. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your 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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