KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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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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Come make memories with us this holiday season during our Hill Ridge Farms Festival of Lights! Enjoy over a million lights and holiday themed displays and characters as you make your way through the farm on an old-fashioned covered wagon ride! Hop aboard the Hill Ridge Farms Express and see another amazing display of Christmas cheer! Next, watch the kiddos squeal with delight as the Carousel takes them round and round! Don't forget to stop by Granny's Snack Shack during your visit for Hot Chocolate, Hot Apple Cider, and Our Famous Homemade Apple Cider Donuts. Granny's Snack Shack also has everything you need to roast marshmallows and even make your very own s'mores for an extra special treat! Craving a Salty & Sweet treat? Crystal Coast Kettle Corn will be at the farm popping fresh kettle corn every night! Grab a bag for the wagon ride! Try some warm boiled peanuts! The perfect snack on a chilly night. Before heading home stop in the Country Store for all of your favorite old…
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Join us for Christmas magic at the farm during our 9th annual Holiday at The Farm Event! Enjoy access to the farm, transformed into a festive winter wonderland! Meet Santa (all children get a gift), pet festive animals, take a candy cane from our peppermint forest, have a snowball fight in our winter wonderland, pet pony reindeer, enjoy s'mores, make a toy in the Elf workshop, and experience endless Christmas magic! This year features a festival of lights in the animal village, s'mores with Santa, Breakfast with Santa and wreath-making in the apothecary!
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The Town of Cary and Pure Life Theatre Company join together again to produce this joyful Motown show that features some of the Triangle's finest singers and dancers. Motown & Soul is back with fresh new music selections and surprises celebrating the holidays and Motown! Enjoy a unique holiday experience full of soul and joy, wrapped with a message of love and hope.
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Join us for a vibrant Kwanzaa Celebration on December 27 as we honor the rich cultural heritage and enduring spirit of the African American community. This joyous gathering will feature live performances, traditional drumming, spoken word, and community storytelling rooted in the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Guests will enjoy festive décor, meaningful rituals, and a celebration of unity, creativity, and purpose. Come be inspired, uplifted, and connected in a space filled with culture, rhythm, and light. Vendors will be onsite selling arts & crafts, clothing, and jewelry.
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- NC Chinese Lantern Festival - Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Regency Parkway, Cary, NC, Friday, December 26, 2025 and Saturday, December 27, 2025 and Sunday, December 28, 2025, See website for details.
- Lake Myra Christmas Lights 2025 - 10 S Cypress St, Wendell, NC 27591, Friday, December 26, 2025 and Saturday, December 27, 2025 and Sunday, December 28, 2025, 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Lights On
Cedar 2025 - 206 West Cedar Avenue, Wake Forest, NC, Friday, December 26, 2025 and Saturday, December 27, 2025 and Sunday, December 28, 2025, 5 pm - 10 pm
- Piper Lights 2025 - Wake Forest, NC - 5725 Fixit Shop Rd, Wake Forest, NC, Friday, December 26, 2025 and Saturday, December 27, 2025 and Sunday, December 28, 2025, See website for details
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area - Saturday, December 27, 2025 and Sunday, December 28, 2025, See link for times
- Let's Craft! Popsicle Stick Snowflakes in Little Red Schoolhouse (Sensory Friendly) - High Point Museum - 1859 E Lexington Ave, High Point, NC 27262, Saturday, December 27, 2025, 10 am - 12 pm
- Let's Craft! Popsicle Stick Snowflakes in Little Red Schoolhouse - High Point Museum - 1859 E Lexington Ave, High Point, NC 27262, Saturday, December 27, 2025, 12 pm - 2 pm
- Kwanzaa Celebration - Town
of Carrboro, NC - Drakeford Library Complex, South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC, Saturday, December 27, 2025, 11 am - 4 pm
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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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2025 holiday events list for Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill: Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The activities
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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 the Triangle. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Researvh Triangle 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!
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2025's best places to take kids in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Of course, there is LOTS more to do around the Triangle...Get great ideas here at KidsOutAndAbout.com! What is listed below are just the
starting point: Browse through our site and calendar to find lots more, and be sure to click on Everything That's Free.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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