KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're
still packing lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are
moving through it together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator, February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—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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Travel “Into the Unknown” and “Under Sea” with music of your favorite animated family films set to vibrant laser lights and special effects! The track list includes songs from Frozen, The Lion King, Lilo and Stich, The Little Mermaid, Coco, and Moana. See
how far you’ll go in Buhl Planetarium.
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Fall in love with endless beauty as new displays highlight Phipps' incredible orchid collection and classically trained bonsai. The beautiful gardens of Phipps provide the perfect warm escape from Pittsburgh's winter chill! You’ll be captivated by romantic
displays in this year’s Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: Blooming with Love. Gorgeous displays featuring an array of beautiful orchids and fascinating bonsai fill the glasshouse. Join us to celebrate love while immersing yourself in ephemeral and entrancing nature. You’re sure to leave with your heart feeling warm!
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Kids visit for free in February 2026!
Thanks to our event sponsor, the Alex E. Paris Contracting Company, we’re offering free admission in February 2026 to kids ages 0-17.
Enjoy a scenic 4-mile round-trip ride on an antique trolley, discover our collection of historic streetcars in our Trolley Display Building, and explore our interactive games and exhibits in our Welcome & Education Center. Also, dive into trolley history with a guided tour, check out all the cool books, toys, and collectibles in our museum gift shop, and, if the sun is shining, enjoy our Barry Stout Park and playground.
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Everyone’s favorite ogre is back in this hilarious stage spectacle, based on the Oscar-winning, smash-hit film. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical TYA is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure featuring all new songs
from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change) and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears.
TICKETS: $15 All Ages | $11 Groups (10+)
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The Block Northway invites the community to celebrate the Lunar New Year with a vibrant Chinese New Year Performance on Saturday, February 14th beginning at 6:00 PM, taking place in front of Sesame Inn.
This festive evening will feature a traditional Chinese New Year performance by the Organization of Chinese American, Pittsburgh Chapter, filled with energy, movement, and cultural symbolism. Guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of this beloved celebration which represents good fortune, prosperity, and the welcoming of a new year.
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Join us in the Garage to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse with crafts, book readings, and live performances. Pittsburgh members of OCA Dance Ensemble, Slik Elephant, and Priyanka Mishra Dance Group will share dance performances, as well as a special
presentation by the Steel Dragon Lion Dance Team.
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Brace yourself for an event so fabulous you’ll be dreaming in pink! The Baldwin Library is throwing a brunch bash that is all about Barbie! Expect breakfast, bubbly beverages, bingo, and a whole lotta Barbie magic!
All ages are welcome!
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Join us for our Kids’ Winter Reading program! Kids ages 0-18 years can sign up beginning 1/5 and the program runs until 3/21. Read 10 chapter books or 50 picture books and receive a free scoop of ice cream from Scoops in Bellevue!
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Join us for Storytime at the Museum! Hear nature and science stories read by our Natural History Interpreters and get a chance to touch museum specimens. Stop by for one page, one book, or stay for the whole time. Meets at the bench in the entrance of the
Kamin Hall of Dinosaurs. Registration is not required.
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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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- Kids Winter Reading 2026 at Andrew Bayne Memorial Library - Andrew Bayne Memorial Library, 34 North Balph Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202, Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sensory Playtime at Pleasant Hills Public Library - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, February 13, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Little Bookworms at Baldwin Library - Baldwin Borough Public Library, Wolfe Drive, Pleasant Hills, PA, Friday, February 13, 10:30 -
11:30 am
- Carnegie Lab at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400
Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Friday, February 13, 10 am - 1 pm
- Drop-In Beading - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, February 13, 2:30 - 3:30 PM
- Drop-in Watercolor Painting: Colorful Hearts - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, February 13, 2:45-3:30 pm
- Barbie Brunch at Baldwin Library - Baldwin Borough Public
Library, Wolfe Drive, Pleasant Hills, PA, Saturday, February 14, 10 - 11:30 am
- Story
Saturdays at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Saturday, February 14, 10 am - 5 pm
- Chinese New Year Celebration Brings Color, Culture, and Tradition to The Block Northway - The Block Northway, 8013 McKnight Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, Saturday, February 14, 6 - 7 pm
- Playdate at the Library - Carnegie Library of Allegheny - Carnegie Library of Allegheny, 1230 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA, Sunday, February 15, 10:30 - 11 am
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh? 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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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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