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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We’re pushing the limits of basketball and having even more fun. Don’t miss the one and only Harlem Globetrotters in an all-new tour. There will be new high-flying dunks, hilarious stunts, a new record-breaking attempt and unforgettable family moments.
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What is Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All? Fun Fore All's Holiday Lights Mini Golf has been named one of Kidsburgh’s and KDKA’s BEST holiday light displays in since 2017! Turning our two award-winning miniature golf courses into fully playable walk-through holiday light extravaganzas. Families can experience a beautiful, interactive, holiday experience unlike any other in the area.
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A Pittsburgh Tradition Since 1961. For over six decades, the annual installation and decoration of the soaring evergreens in the Hall of Architecture, fondly known as the Carnegie Trees, has been the signature tradition of the Women’s Committee of Carnegie Museum of Art. Each year the trees are decorated in celebration of different themes with ornaments handmade by the committee.
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We will open again for our 37th Holiday Train Display November 8, 2025. Come see over 24 trains and trolleys running through 4,000 square feet of 1950’s miniature village scenery, showing how railroads operated from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD. Includes a Scavenger Hunt that is fun and a bit challenging for those of all ages! One of the largest, historically accurate, and technologically advanced model railroads in the country. Hours of entertainment for the whole family, both children and adults!
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Festive Friday Nights at the Museum with Light Displays. The Museum will be open late until 8pm on Fridays from November 21 through December 26. Enjoy a magical evening as you stroll through the enchanting Winter Lights display, explore the permanent collection, and experience the new immersive installation, Winter Tales. Warm up with a complimentary seasonal hot beverage, try a specialty drink from the cash bar, and enjoy art-making activities.
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JOIN US FOR OUTDOOR ICE SKATING AT PPG PLACE IN PITTSBURGH! We are an outdoor ice skating rink in the center of the crown jewel of the Pittsburgh skyline, PPG Place.
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Penguins on Parade is dependent on many conditions and may be canceled for the safety of our resident birds. Please check back regularly to see if Penguins on Parade will be available on your weekend of interest. Waddling back into weather-permitting weekends this winter, enjoy our Pittsburgh Zoo penguins taking a walk outside the Aquarium. Fun for everyone!
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This immersive installation brings works from The Westmoreland’s collection to life through multi-projection, surround sound, and animated effects, creating a rich sensory journey through the season of snow. Created by award-winning OLO Creative Farm, Winter Tales draws visitors into winter scenes from Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and beyond.
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Get a glimpse of the magic of Dazzling Nights Pittsburgh. 2025 brings the most epic Dazzling Nights yet. Journey through a maze of Disco Ball Snowmen. Explore a forest illuminated by hundreds of candles and beautiful stained glass windows. Celebrate with delicious drinks under the light of a 50 ft tree. Meet the creatures of the woods in brilliant neon. Experience the Elevated Reflection sculpture hovering about the Lotus Pond at the center of Brilliance, a nighttime spectacular. And so much more.
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Peoples Natural Gas Park is the temporary home for Discover Downtown Partnership’s Christmas Tree and Christmas Village in 2025 (shown above during Light-Up Night, Nov. 21! Drone photo courtesy of Visit Johnstown). All parties worked so hard to make this possible, from figuring out the technical and logistical requirements to negotiating a nominal rental fee to cover our costs to keep that space open during winter (of course, there is no admission fee to come in to see the tree).
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ALL ABOARD!! Welcome to Ohio Valley Lines, a Model Railroad, Museum, and Library located in Ambridge, PA, just north of Pittsburgh. We invite you to visit us during our Open House on Saturdays and Sundays between Thanksgiving and the first weekend in January. If you are interested in becoming a member, more information can be found on the Membership page.
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The holiday season simply isn’t complete without a trip to Phipps Holiday Magic, where glowing gardens and festive displays make spirits soar. This year’s playful theme, “Wild Winter,” invites you into a wonderland of whimsical topiary wildlife and enchanting scenes at every turn. Step inside and prepare to be dazzled — we’ve gone all out with breathtaking new displays, brilliant décor and our signature floral masterpieces. From vibrant amaryllis and delicate orchids to a spectacular showcase of poinsettias, every bloom is a burst of seasonal joy. And the magic doesn’t stop at the door. Outside, our beloved Winter Light Garden transforms the night with radiant displays in vivid, glowing hues — a dazzling spectacle sure to delight guests of every age.
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Victorians invented Christmas as we know it, and this seasonal tour of the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion allows visitors to see the ways the Maxwell, Hunter, and Stephenson families experienced and created new customs and established traditions in the nineteenth century.
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- Black Photojournalism at Carnegie Museum of Art - Pittsburgh, Friday–Wednesday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Dec 26-28
- Winter Nights - The Westmoreland
Museum of American Art - The Westmoreland Museum of American Art - Greensburg, 5 - 8 pm, Friday, Dec 26
- Winter Tales: An Immersive Experience - The Westmoreland Museum of American Art - The Westmoreland Museum of American Art - Greensburg, 10 am- 3 pm, Fri-Sun, Dec 26-28
- Free Herr's Christmas Lights Display - Allentown, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Fri-Sun, Dec 26-28
- Victorian Christmas Tour of Maxwell Mansion - Philadelphia, 12pm, 1pm & 2 pm, Fri-Sun, Dec 26-28
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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 Pittsburgh. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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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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Pittsburgh's big list of holiday events in 2025 : Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The activities we've listed
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2025's best places to take kids in and around Pittsburgh, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Plus there is LOTS more to do in and around Pittsburgh beyond the Top 20: Get great ideas here at KidsOutAndAbout.com!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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