KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Mar 10: Family Trivia Night at West Linn Public Library
Fri, Mar 13: Gem Faire at Westside Commons and the Wingspan Event & Conference Center
Fri, Mar 13: School's Out Camp: Weird Science! at Kids Club Fun & Fitness - WA
Fri, Mar 13: Spring Storytime Banana Slugs at Friends of Tryon Creek
Sat, Mar 14: My Way Matinee: Hoppers at Bridgeport Village
Sun, Mar 15: The Clackamas Bookshelf HUGE 50 Cent Book Sale at Kraxberger Middle School - Gladstone
Tue, Mar 17: Portland's 85th Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration at Aquinas Hall
Fri, Mar 20: Teen Game Night: Super Smash Tourney | Cedar Mill Library
Fri, Mar 20: 2026 Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
Sat, Mar 21: TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition | OMSI |
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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On behalf of the Oregon Agate and Mineral Society (OAMS), it is my distinct honor to welcome you to our 2026 annual show. This year marks a momentous milestone for our community as we celebrate our 75th Anniversary—our Diamond Jubilee.
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Get ready to dance and sing along with Portland’s beloved kindie band bringing retro-pop charm and sunny, feel-good vibes to audiences of all ages. With stylistic nods to Sesame Street and School House Rock, Johnny Clay, Dave Gulick and Nat Johnson bring a
show that’s not just for the kids in our lives, but the kids in all of us.
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Nothing compares to the one and only Monster Jam®. With awesome trucks, amazing stunts and action-packed excitement, it's the definition of fun for everyone! You'll be close to the action watching the world's best drivers tear up the dirt and show off crazy
skills and all-out racing in fierce head-to-head battles of speed and skill. See the world's most popular trucks like Grave Digger®, El Toro Loco®, Sparkle Smash™ and more only at Monster Jam. You can't get this kind of wow just anywhere. Once you experience Monster Jam live, you'll become a fan for life! Bags larger than 14" x 14" x 6" and backpacks are not permitted. Exclusions will apply for medical needs and children's bags. Bag check is available. All persons two and older must have a
ticket to enter arena. Note: Costumes not permitted for guests 14 years & older. Monitor the venue website for venue policies, including health and safety protocols, which are subject to change.
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The Black Art and Experiences (B.A.E.) Galleries are a gallery floor dedicated to celebrating the breadth, depth, and vitality of Black artistic expression. They are intended to be a living, evolving platform, featuring rotating exhibitions, multimedia
installations, and community-driven programs that spotlight regional, national, and global artists of the African diaspora.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Portland 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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- All Ages Storytime | Oak Lodge Library - Oak Lodge Library, Southeast Concord Road, Oak Grove, OR 97267, Saturday, 02/27/2026, 10:30 am & 11:30 am
- Bookbabies | North Plains Public Library - North Plains Public Library, 31334 NW Commercial St, North Plains, OR 97133, Saturday, 02/27/2026, 10 am - 11 am
- 75th Annual Agate & Mineral Show at
OMSI - OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR 97214, Fri 02/27 to Sun 03/01, 10 am - 5 pm
- Ants Ants Ants - 527 E Main Street, Hillsboro, OR 97123, Saturday, 02/28/2026, 2 - 3 pm
- CREATE: Mosaic Coasters | Beaverton City Library - Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th St, Beaverton, OR 97005, Saturday, 02/28/2026, 1 pm - 2 pm
- All Ages Storytime | Gladstone Public Library - Gladstone Public Library, https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Gladstone+Public+Library,+525+Portland+Av...
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Portland 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 Portland 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 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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