KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Sorry for the second send this morning! The first edition of this newsletter had a glitch that erased much of the content. —Deb |
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Wed, Apr 15: Scrapbooking Storytellers - Glenwood Branch Library
Thu, Apr 16: Tik Talk Girls Talk at Caldcleugh Multicultural Art Center
Sat, Apr 18: 2026 Children's Day Festival - Town of Cary
Sun, Apr 19: Carrboro Day 2026 at Carrboro Town Commons
Thu, Apr 23: Marbles Playdates
Sat, Apr 25: Let’s Craft! Felt Flower Bookmarks in Little Red Schoolhouse (Sensory Friendly) - High Point Museum
Fri, May 1: HerbFest 2026
Sat, May 2: Wildflower Walk at Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
Fri, May 8: 22nd Annual Spring Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival
Sat, May 9: Ma & Pa Festival
Fri, May 15: Elizabeth Cotten Freight Train Blues at Music Maker Foundation
Sun, May 24: 2026 Six Sundays in Spring - Town of Wake Forest |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
As I write this column, three Americans and one Canadian are hurtling home from a trip around the Moon, inside a machine that had better do exactly what it’s supposed to do. For years, every person involved in the mission obsessed over every detail at every stage until as little as possible was left to chance. “Failure is not an option,” an ethos long associated with our
quest to explore outer space, makes perfect sense when we're talking about Artemis II. But decades ago, the attitude leaked out of the space program and into everyday life, and that was a mixed blessing. When I was a teenager, “failure is not an option” might as well have been tattooed on my brain: For me, not only was failure not an option, but anything below an A grade wasn’t an option, either. I was so afraid of not being perfect that if I felt unprepared for a test, I’d
stay home “sick.” I looked successful from the outside, but because I was working so hard to avoid mistakes, I played it safe. So I didn't actually accomplish much aside from some sharp-looking letters on a report card. It took me years out in the real world to realize that real accomplishment usually looks less like gliding and more like bumping into things until you find the way through. So these days, failure and I are best buddies: I've replaced "failure is not an option"
with "nothing ventured, nothing gained" as I inch toward and away from success each day. Even writing my column each week is an act of resilience: I add and then murder my words until they say what I mean, and I'm always aware in the end that it could be better. One of my goals when I was homeschooling Madison and Ella was to make failure safe and ordinary... cheerful, even... a sign of progress. Kids need chances to try things that might flop: recipes that taste weird,
projects that collapse, math problems they have to redo, conversations they wish they’d handled better. I wanted them to understand that when the stakes are low, failure is not a tragedy, it’s just how learning works. It doesn't usually feel fun, or comfortable. But it's the only way to fly.
—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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Our weekly art classes inspire creativity and confidence in children ages 3 and up through a structured, studio-based program that grows with your child year after year. Students build real artistic skills while exploring their imagination through our award-winning curriculum, which introduces more than 40 art techniques and mediums, including drawing, painting, and sculpture. Small class sizes and personalized instruction nurture focus, self-expression, and a strong creative foundation in a warm, supportive environment. We offer trial classes every Saturday.
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Spring is blooming, and so is the excitement at SpringsFest—Saturday, April 11th, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Downtown Holly Springs Main Street! This free, family-friendly festival bursts with fun—live music, delicious food trucks, local artisans, and dazzling cultural showcases celebrating our vibrant community. Kids will love the Activity Zone featuring face painting, inflatables, games, and races galore. Plus, don’t miss the epic Mayor Race between Holly Springs Mayor Mike Kondratick and Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert—come cheer your town to victory! Gather your family, friends, and neighbors for a full day of laughter, flavor, and small-town pride at Holly Springs’ biggest celebration of spring!
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My Fair Lady is a timeless musical that delves into the transformative power of language, identity, and social class in early 20th-century London. At the heart of the story is Eliza Doolittle, a spirited flower seller with a thick Cockney accent, who encounters the esteemed phonetics professor Henry Higgins. Fascinated by her unrefined speech and bold personality, Higgins makes a bold wager: he will teach Eliza to speak and behave like a proper lady of high society.
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Pimento cheese is a southern delicacy worth celebrating. Come enjoy the nation’s only festival dedicated specifically to pimento cheese! Enjoy live music and other activities at Downtown Cary Park, grab a drink from local breweries, and taste some of the best pimento cheese samples from local restaurants. You can even test your skills in the pimento cheese sculpting contest.
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Join us for our Renaissance Festival on April 11 and 12 at the beautiful Spring Haven Farm! Step back in time and experience the magic of the Renaissance with a weekend full of adventure, entertainment, and fun for the whole family. Our festival will feature over 50 vendors spread throughout the farm, offering unique handcrafted goods, artisan products, costumes, jewelry, and much more. Enjoy a variety of live attractions and performances happening across the grounds, bringing history and fantasy to life. From interactive experiences to lively entertainment, there will be something exciting around every corner. Indulge in delicious food and refreshing drinks, with plenty of options to satisfy every taste. Whether you're craving savory treats or sweet delights, our food vendors will have something special waiting for you. Come dressed in your best Renaissance attire or simply as you are, and immerse yourself in a festive atmosphere filled with music, laughter, and unforgettable…
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Triangle 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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CSAs are becoming more popular each year! Farm-to-table fresh weekly produce is a wonderful option for families, to connect kids with what they eat and the wider community.This is KidsOutAndAbout's big list of local community-supported agriculture.
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Triangle 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 Triangle? 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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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