KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Wed, Jan 7: Forest Stories at World Forestry Center and Discovery
Museum
Sat, Jan 10: Portland Metro Reptile Expo at the DoubleTree Hotel Portland
Sat, Jan 10: Hello
2026 Chess Tournament at Puddletown Chess
Sun, Jan 11: Sensory Storytime at West Linn Public Library
Fri, Jan 16: FAN EXPO Portland 2026 at the Oregon Convention Center
Sat, Jan 17: PAW Patrol Live! “A Mighty Adventure” at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Sun, Jan 18: OMSI's Masked Night at Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
Sun, Jan 18: Pop-Up Valentine Card Making Workshop at Venvino Art Studios
Fri, Jan 23: The Planets and Beyond - A Narrated Family Concert at Beaverton Symphony Orchestra
Sat, Jan 24: Oregon City Pool 60th Birthday Celebration |
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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Join us for our 2025 show dates from Nov. 28 - Dec 31, 2025! The largest light show in the Northwest spanning the track at Portland International Raceway. 100% of Proceeds Feed Local families.
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Indigenous peoples have long been in relationship with and shared stories about sacred forest protectors, often called Sasquatch and Bigfoot. Leave your preconceived notions behind and immerse yourself, not in the question of if Sasquatch exists, but rather, how are we existing with and honoring this non-human other.
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Get in the holiday spirit with twinkling lights, cartoon characters, and cozy photo ops. We're turning Director Park into a magical destination for families and friends!
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Mark your calendars to enjoy this free Kwanzaa celebration, open to the community on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27TH, 2025! Let’s come together to honor the past and embrace African American traditions of food, music, and community. This is an event for all ages. We hope to see you there, you won’t want to miss it!
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- Mike Bennett's Snow Day Village - Director Park, Southwest Park Avenue, Portland, OR, USA, Friday, December 26, 2025 to Sunday, December 28, 2025, 11 am - 7 pm
- Whoville Comes to Life for the Holidays - Scappoose Historical Society - Watts House Pioneer Museum, Friday, December 26, 2025 to Sunday, December 27, 2025, Fridays-Sundays, 5-8 p.m.
- Winter Village @ Orenco Station - 943 NE Orenco Station Loop, Hillsboro, OR, Friday, December 26, 2025 to Sunday, December 28, 2025, 10 am • 11:30 am • 1 pm • 2:30 pm • 4 pm • 5:30 pm • 7 pm
- All Ages Storytime | Oak Lodge Library - Southeast Concord Road, Oak Grove, OR 97267, Friday, December 26, 2025, 10:30 am & 11:30 am
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Portland area - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Saturday, December 27, 2025 to Sunday, December 28, 2025, See link
for times
- Bard Storytime with the Bard! | Wonderwood Springs - 8811 N Lombard
St, Portland, OR 97203, Saturday, December 27, 2025, 11 am - 12 pm
- Sunday Family Fun Day at Oak Knoll Winery - Oak Knoll Winery - 29700 SW Burkhalter Rd, Hillsboro, OR 97123, Sunday, December 28, 2025, 11:00am
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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 Portland. 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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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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Portland's big list of 2025 holiday events: Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The activities we've listed here
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There are lots of places to have a birthday party in the Portland area! Start thinking outside the box! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens (and dozens) of ideas! Also includes the areas of Lake Oswego, West Linn, Beaverton, Clackamas, Tigard, Tualatin, Milwaukie,
Oregon City, and Hillsboro.
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2025's best places to take kids in the Portland area: In early summer each year, thousands of parents vote in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Our Top 20 results page is an annotated list of the winners, both of the top 20 slots
and of the three category winners.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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