KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Thu, Feb 12: Dear Garden, at JC Raulston Arboretum
Sat, Feb 14: Backyard Bird Counting at Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
Fri, Feb 20: Little Women: presented by Southern Wake Players Community Theater at Holly Springs Cultural Center
Thu, Feb 26: Eager Explorers: Animal Homes at Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
Sat, Feb 28: NC First in Freedom Festival
Sun, Mar 1: A Taste of Ireland at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Fri, Mar 13: Snow White Presented by Carolina Ballet at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Fri, Mar 13: Hollywood Hits - North Carolina Symphony Orchestra |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Next week, my husband and I are heading to a Valentine's Evening behind-the-scenes tour of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, New York. It’s the same Frank Lloyd Wright museum we’ve visited
several times, but this version is fancily dressed for the holiday: candlelight, champagne, treats, and a fresh perspective on something familiar. That’s the real magic of Valentine’s Day: It’s one of those perfectly made-up holidays, constructed out of paper hearts, glitter, and good intentions... and it manages magically to transform our spaces, our schedules, and our spirits. As publisher, I've had a 25-year front row seat to communities
around the country who turn nothing into something every February. This year, visitors can say "I Love Thee" in a Victorian mansion in Riverside, CA while a re-enactor in a top hat explains the romantic origin of the Hershey’s Kiss. Frying Pan Farm Park in Virginia will
help kids say "I Love MOO!" with farm animal puns. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center invites everyone on a Valentine's
Express Steam Train ride that is more light-hearted than steamy. And next Saturday, biologists at the California Academy of Sciences will hand out heart-shaped valentines to their African penguins—who will then present them to their mates to help line their nests. Not
all Valentine’s Day celebrations require you to get out and about, though; just muster some creativity and apply it to stuff you already have lying around the house. Cut hearts from red paper and tape them to the door. Dress in scarlet or rose or salmon pink. Light a candle at dinner while you're eating heart-shaped cheese, toast, bacon, or lasagna (here are 25 fun recipes from Food Network). When you and your kids dress up your world together, you’re not just celebrating love, you’re celebrating creativity. And they're learning the life skill of transforming ordinary stuff around them into something special. It only takes one step beyond the good intention to make it so. Love can be grand, indeed. But it doesn’t have to be grand to be great.
—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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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.
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Elevate Your Next Birthday Bash at Urban Air Raleigh!
Looking for a stress-free, action-packed birthday party? Urban Air Raleigh is the ultimate indoor adventure park for kids and teens! With trampolines, climbing walls, slam dunk zones, obstacle courses and more, there’s something for every guest to enjoy. Our party pros handle all the details—from setup to cleanup—so you can focus on making memories. Whether they’re bouncing, climbing, or racing through the park, your birthday star will have a blast.
Easy. Epic. Unforgettable. Book your Urban Air Raleigh party today and let the fun take flight!
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Welcome to the North Carolina Transportation Museum!
The N.C. Transportation Museum is a historic site, once home to one of Southern Railway’s major steam locomotive repair facilities located between Washington, DC, and Atlanta, GA, and a museum featuring all types of transportation history – railroading, automotive, aviation, and more!
Visitors can take a 25-minute train ride around our 60-acre site pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive and explore our displays and exhibits. We also host a variety of fun events for kids! Visit our website to learn about upcoming events, see our seasonal train ride schedule, and more!
Plan your visit today for a trip into the past at the museum that moves you!
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Look closely at original works of art and find inspiration to create your own projects guided by expert artists during these two-hour studio workshops. Sessions include a guided gallery tour plus time in the art studio to complete your own work of art.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special session of Family Studio that has you crafting your own handmade cards! Take inspiration from love-ly works of art in our galleries and explore a variety of printing and collage techniques in our art studios to create a set of cards. All materials are included. Best for families with children ages 5 to 11. All participants (children and adults) must have a ticket. Separate exhibition tickets are not required.
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Astronomy Days has been rescheduled to Feb. 7–8. Get ready for lift off! Join us at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences for a celestial adventure that explores the wonders of the universe through technology, telescopes, engaging talks by scientists (including
special guests) and plenty of hands-on activities. Space enthusiasts of all ages will delight in embarking on this journey through the cosmos!
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Let us entertain your kids while you do something for YOU! Kids will get a chance to play for 3 hours while we have a Circus FUNdamentals style class – hooping, aerial silks, games, juggling, plate spinning and more! We promise to wear them out! Kindly
pre-register to help us plan ahead.
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The Southern Farm Show is the largest annual agricultural exposition in the Carolinas and Virginia. Filling the NC State Fairgrounds, the show hosts over 400 exhibitors, agricultural meetings, workshops and training, and everything farmers need to prepare
for the coming growing season.
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- 2026 Southern Farm Show – Agriculture
Supply Exposition Center, Trinity Road, Raleigh, NC, February 4-6, 2026, See website for details
- There's a Yeti in the Garden! – JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh,
NC, February 3-8, 2026, During Garden Open Hours
- Astronomy Days (rescheduled to Feb. 7–8) – North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, February 7-8, 2026, 10am-5pm
- Fifth Annual Burning of the Baggage – North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, Lincolnton High School, North Aspen Street, Lincolnton, NC, February 7, 2026, 10 am - 4 pm
- Family-Friendly Tours – North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607, February 7, 2026, 10:30
am - 11 am
- Get Wild: Let's Explore Lichen! – Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve, Raleigh, NC, February 7, 2026, 1:30 PM
- Camelot Academy Open House – Camelot Academy, Proctor Street, Durham, NC, February 7, 2026, 10:00AM
- Garden Discovery Hours: Perfect Pairs – JC Raulston Arboretum, Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC, February 7, 2026, 11:00AM - 1:00PM
- Garden Story Walk – JC Raulston Arboretum, Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC, February 7-9, 2026, During Garden Open
Hours
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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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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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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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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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