KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, May 23: Open Farm Days - At Butterfly Farm, Lincoln
Sat, May 23: Powisset Pals: Guided StoryWalk with Mia Wenjen and Kiddos in the Kitchen! (Ages 7-11) - The Trustees of Reservations
Mon, May 25: Memorial Day Ceremony - At Battleship Cove Fri, May 29: Xylophones and marimbas In the Park - At Providence Innovation District Park
Sun, May 31: Sesame Street Live: "Elmo's Got the Moves"- Veterans Memorial Auditorium Sat, Jun 6: Spring Into Summer
Marketplace
Sun, Jun 7: 2026 Fall River Pride Festival - At Gates of the City - With Fall River Pride Committee
Sun, Jun 7: Ice Cream Social & Food Trucks - At Sacred Cow- With PVD Food Truck Events
Thu, Jun 11: RAH RAH America 250 Concert with Encore
Ensemble
Thu, Jun 11: Caribbean Heritage Festival
Sat, Jun 13: Juneteenth Festival and Community
Celebration at Hempsted Houses
Sat, Jun 13: 4th Annual Farm Coast Art & Garden Ramble - With Tiverton Farmers Market |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. So please click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. If you're interested, check out the 2025 list here to see
who won last year. |
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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 hundreds of spectacular costumes featured in The Lion King are one of the many elements that make this groundbreaking musical so unique. Nearly 50 cast members have more than 300 costume changes during the show as they portray a variety of animals and plants. In order to create the atmosphere of the African savannah, cast members wear grass headpieces that require more than 3,000 stalks of grass to maintain each year. A dedicated Wardrobe department makes sure all costumes are show-ready, including doing eight hours of laundry every day. Don’t miss your chance to experience The Lion King, which begins next week, May 20, at the Providence Performing Arts Center and continues through June 7. Tickets are available.
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Southwick’s Zoo is proud to honor the everyday heroes who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities during Police, Fire & EMT Week. As a heartfelt thank-you, eligible first responders and law enforcement professionals receive complimentary general admission all week long. This is our way of showing appreciation for the courage, commitment, and service that make a difference every single day.
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Step back in time to explore the Betsey Williams Cottage, built in 1773 and home to Roger Williams’ great-great-great granddaughters, Betsey and Rhoda Williams. Upon her death in 1871, Betsey Williams bequeathed the cottage and 102 acres of surrounding farmland to the city of Providence, which became the foundation of Roger Williams Park. Drop-in during these FREE open houses (weather permitting) to learn about the Cottage’s history and its significance to Roger Williams Park. The open houses are FREE and open to the public. Presented by the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium. The Betsey Williams Cottage is located near Roger Williams Park’s Elmwood Avenue entrance. Parking is available on streets surrounding the Rose Garden.
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Step into the energy! This high-powered class blends street style with the sharp, expressive choreography of K-pop. Taught by an up-and-coming young performer inspired by the bold creativity of K-pop idols, your dancer will build confidence, precision, and performance flair—all in a fun, welcoming space. Expect dynamic moves, teamwork, and a burst of joyful energy every time you hit the floor!
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Join us for an afternoon filled with laughter, wonder and endless surprises as renowned magician Bill Blagg presents FAMILY MAGIC! With 70 minutes of non-stop magical fun, FAMILY MAGIC is specifically designed to entertain and engage audiences of all ages. Bill Blagg’s unique blend of comedy, audience participation, and mind-bending magic will keep you on the edge of your seat eagerly anticipating what’s coming next. Prepare to be amazed as ordinary objects come to life while others vanish in the blink of an eye and you could even be chosen to float in mid-air! FAMILY MAGIC is a unique blend of interactive entertainment and awe-inspiring magic that guarantees an unforgettable adventure for all ages. Join us for this magical family event which is sure to create unforgettable memories with your loved ones!Saturday May 16 2:00PM Buy Tickets Family Magic with Bill Blagg Wheelchair Seating - Sensory Friendly Performance Buy Tickets
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Welcome spring with us here at the farm! Shop with local vendors! Enjoy eats & treats from the food trucks & beer barn! Plus yard games, bounce house & face painting! More details to be announced! Rain date Sunday May 17
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Learn about and see demonstrations of sheep shearing, wool processing, dyeing, weaving, and spinning. Shop with vendors and artisans from RI and New England. Visit with the farm’s sheep and see the visiting animals that provide us with the fiber for our craft. Pre-registration is HIGHLY recommended, and tickets may sell out. Rain or Shine!
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If you LOVE craft brews and the great outdoors, grab your friends and enjoy a wild night at the Zoo! Ticket purchase provides you with zoo admission, sampling cup, (VIP receives a lighted souvenir cup), unlimited beer/wine samples, animal encounters, and great live entertainment from Real Weird, Meghan Donofrio & Birch Swart. This is a 21+ event ONLY, so have your ID ready at the gate! VIP access will start at 3:00 pm and doors will open for general admission at 4:00 pm. Food will be available for purchase during the event thanks to The Sausage Guy, Pop's Mobile Oven Pizza, Macs Street Corn Tacos & Blount Clam Shack! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the continued growth of the Buttonwood Park Zoo’s educational programs, ensuring that South Coast families will always have a way to experience nature close to home.
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The Lemonade Stand is a project by a group of New England artists that organizes events to showcase creative talent. They bring together local vendors, visual artists, and musicians to make memorable, seasonal shows for an ever-growing community. Each Lemonade Stand features different artists across each medium. Be sure to join in each month and quench your thirst!
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Celebrate Endangered Species Day at the Zoo! Discover amazing animals and the important work being done right here and around the globe to protect them. You’ll learn easy things you can do to help make a real difference. Plus, enjoy fun education stations, live musical entertainment by the Unlikely Strummers, special Tree Kangaroo Day activities and games, and connect with local community groups. (All activities are included with your regular Zoo admission.)
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It’s the 10th Annual RI Quahog Week ~ May 17th - 23, 2026 The Tiverton Farmers Market will kick off Quahog Week and Shell -ebrate Sunday, May 17th with a Quahog Themed Specialty Market. Join us at our first outside market of the 2026 season and enjoy everything quahog. Our vendors will be running specials, offering their take on the beloved state clam, the quahog and more. Wear your best Quahog or clam digger outfit and stay tuned for more information and details. "Quahog Week highlights the many restaurants, markets, harvesters, and food-based businesses committed to growing Rhode Island's local food economy, with special emphasis on wild harvest clams. Restaurants and markets across Rhode Island will celebrate this sustainable resource and its year-round availability by featuring a quahog dish or special on their menu during the week.
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- May StoryWalk® at WEAVER - Weaver Library - East Providence Public Library, Grove Avenue, East Providence, RI, Friday, May 16, 2026, 8:00 am
- 2026 Farm Market - At Casey Farm - Boston Neck Road, Saunderstown, RI, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Discovery Station - At
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center - 109 Pequotsepos Road, Mystic, CT 06355, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Spring Fling Artisans Market & Farm Fun! - At Wojcik's Farm - Milk Street, Blackstone, MA, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00 am - 3:00
pm
- The Lemonade Stand - At Providence Innovation District Park - 120 Peck St, Providence, RI 02903, Saturday, May 16, 2026, Times Vary
- Minecraft Big Bad Wolf (Ages 6-12) - At Brockton Public Library- Main - Main Street, Brockton, MA, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
- In the Gallery: Something of the Marvelous - Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum, Ferry Road, Bristol, RI, Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Providence 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Providence 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 Providence 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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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