KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Fri, Mar 6: Bennett Place School Day
Sun, Mar 8: Second
Sundays: KPop Demon Hunters at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Thu, Mar 12: Eager Explorers: Diggin' the Dirt at Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
Sat, Mar 14: St Patrick’s Day “Paddy on the Green”
Festival at Lafayette Village - Raleigh
Sat, Mar 14: Kilpatrick Irish Dance School Performance @ The Plant
Tue, Mar 17: Leprechaun Village at Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
Sat, Mar 28: March Tour and Explore at the Refuge at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge
Sat, Apr 4: The Comedy, Magic & Mentalism Show Featuring Gary Goodman at Holly Springs Cultural Center
Sat, Apr 4: Parents' Night Out at Cirque De Vol |
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
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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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Children’s Art Classes of Cary has an open house 2/28, 3–5 pm with free art play, goodie bags, and a raffle for a free month of classes. 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. Art 1 registration closes March 1, with
remaining trials on 2/21 and 2/28, and all other classes close May 1.
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We are excited to host our annual School Day event at Bennett Place State Historic Site on Friday, March 6th, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm! The event will feature historic sites from across the state, 19th-century trades, and community partners, serving as a
tremendous venue to learn more about North Carolina's state history. Families can freely roam from station to station, engaging in hands-on activities throughout the event. Register using the attached link today!
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The Ailey Young House, located in the 300 block of North White Street, will be open 1 pm - 4 pm on Friday, February 27. No registration is required. The Ailey Young House may be the oldest remaining African-American historic building in Wake Forest. It has
historical significance as a rare example of Reconstruction-era African American architecture, the home of Ailey and Henry Young, and childhood home of Allen Young, a significant citizen and educator in Wake Forest. It is believed that the house was constructed as rental housing by Wake Forest College Professor William G. Simmons and was one of a number of houses along a stretch of N. White Street known as "Simmons Row." These houses appear on the 1915 to 1936 Sanborn Fire Insurance map. After
Professor Simmons' death in 1889, his widow, Mary Elizabeth subdivided his land and sold most of it to African American families.
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After premiering Off-Broadway last season, A Taste of Ireland ― The Irish Music & Dance Sensation returns to stages across the USA in 2026, performing the show that has entertained thousands around the globe. Laugh, cry and jig into the night with a
production that is Celtic, for this generation. Performed by former World Irish dance champions, and featuring dancers from Lord of the Dance and Riverdance, A Taste of Ireland transports the audience through the story of Ireland’s tumultuous history delivered with a pint of Irish wit. Watch world-class performers blend melodic folk mash-ups, live jaw-dropping acapella tap battles and heartwarming storytelling. Featuring revamped classics of Danny Boy, Tell Me Ma, Wild Rover, and many more
well-known songs, the show’s reimagined contemporary score blossoms alongside the brash Irish charm of the live dance cast. A Taste of Ireland merges cultural traditions, modern flair, and craic galore, to deliver a performance that has been leaving…
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In 2026, the inaugural North Carolina First in Freedom Festival will celebrate more than 250 years of our Nation’s story and culture viewed through the lens of historical eastern North Carolina events and the arts. Local counties, cities, towns, and
communities will unite with local historians and historical sites to host events and activities, as well as with our arts and business communities.
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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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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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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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