KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Sat, Mar 7: Pawtucket St. Patrick's day parade Thu, Mar 12: One Hit Wonder- St. Patrick's Day Workshop at Plymouth Memorial Hall
Fri, Mar 13: Providence Ballet Theatre
presents, Hansel and Gretel
Sat, Mar 14: Creatures of the Night at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary Sun, Mar 15: Goddard Rocket Centennial Celebration at EcoTarium
Tue, Mar 17: 2026 St. Patrick's Day Bash at Carriage Inn - North Kingstown
Sat, Mar 21: 2026 Providence St. Patrick's Day Parade Sat, Mar 21: Make Your Own I-Spy Jar at FUNdamentals, LLC
Sat, Mar 21: Easter Egg Hunt 2026 at Wilcox Park
Sun, Mar 22: 21st Annual Mystic Irish Parade
Mon, Mar 23: Morning Matinee: Zootopia 2 at Barrington Public Library
Sat, Mar 28: Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO® Bricks (Opening Day) at Mystic Seaport Museum |
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
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking for an engaging and entertaining night out that the whole family can enjoy? Join Bring Your Own Improv’s interactive comedy show every Friday at 8 PM. Perfect for all ages, this unique event invites audience participation for an evening of laughter
and creativity.
|
|
|
|
For many at Old Sturbridge Village, the first whiff of spring isn't the aroma of spring flowers - it's the smell of wood smoke and maple syrup, a sure sign that the sap is rising and spring is on the way. Join us for “Maple Days” on select dates in February
and March, when the Village’s working sugar camp demonstrates maple sugaring as it was done in early 19th-century New England.
See the entire sugar-making process, from tapping the trees to "sugaring off," and learn why maple sugar was more commonly used than maple syrup in early New England. Costumed historians will also cook period foods made with maple products and the tinner and cooper will make maple-related items.
|
|
|
|
Our year-round farmers market happens every Saturday morning. Swing by to pick up your local produce, bread, meat, fish, kombucha, and more each week as well as listen to live music in the summer, connect with local nonprofits and community organizations,
and visit with friends!
EBT and SNAP participants, you can double your dollars at the market thanks to a grant from Farm Fresh RI. Stop by the market table to learn more
|
|
|
|
It's maple sugaring time! In this 2-hour guided program, help our farmers with the first crop of the season as you follow the trail from sap to syrup. Visit the maple grove to check the taps and taste some sap. Learn how to identify a sugar maple and
compare traditional ways of making maple syrup with how it is made today. Observe maple sap being boiled down in our sugarhouse and sample maple tea and finished maple syrup.
|
|
|
|
Make memories in our kitchen with your child ages 2 to 8. Our caregiver & family cooking classes offer the perfect experience to learn new things, try different flavors and have fun connecting with your child.
|
|
|
|
The popular annual Cabin Fever Charity Chowder Cook Off returns to Olde Mistick Village on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm
Olde Mistick Village will once again host its signature annual charity event, the 20th annual Cabin Fever Charity Chowder Cook-Off. It will take place on Saturday, February 28, from 12 noon to 4pm. Awards and check presentation ceremony will be at 5pm. This four-hour event will bring nearly10,000 patrons to Olde Mistick Village where they will enjoy dozens of delicious, savory, and hearty chowders from many local restaurants and eateries. Over 26,000
cups of chowder will be served!
All proceeds for this event benefit Always Home, a non-profit agency dedicated to preventing family homelessness throughout Southeastern CT. For the past 25 years, Always Home has provided case management services and emergency housing assistance to local families with minor children that are at risk of becoming homeless. Each year Always Home assists over 400…
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
- Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston - At Boston Public Library - Central Library in Copley Square - Boston Public Library - Central Library, Boylston Street, Boston, MA, Fri 2/27 - Sun 3/1, Times Vary
- February StoryWalk® at
WEAVER - Weaver Library - East Providence Public Library, Grove Avenue, East Providence, RI, Fri 2/27 - Sun 3/1, 8am
- The Winter Farmers Marketplace - At Warwick Mall - With We Be Jammin' Events - We Be Jammin' Events - 1923 Post Rd,
Warwick, RI, Sun 3/1, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
- The Winter Farmers Marketplace - With We Be Jammin' Events - Warwick Mall - Warwick Mall, 400 Bald Hill Rd, Warwick, RI, Sun 3/1, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Providence area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens of ideas!
|
|
|
|
|
|
2025's best places to take kids in and around Providence, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. This list provides some great ideas, but there is LOTS more to do in Providence, all year round: Our Top 20 results page only scratches the
surface!
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
