KidsOutAndAbout's weekly e-newsletter for the Rochester area
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Save the Date
Fri, Nov 21: KIDz CITY FALL/ WINTER SALE 2025 at Kidz City Consignment Sale
Fri, Nov 21: RMSC Holiday Bazaar Nov 21-23, 2025 at Rochester Museum & Science Center
Sat, Nov 22: Family Trek in the Twilight at Seneca Park Zoo
Sat, Nov 22: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory at Kodak Center
Tue, Nov 25: Elmo & Friends Say Hello at Kodak Center Thu, Nov 27: Gratitude Run 5K, 1-Mile, and 50-Meter Kids Dash at OBF Fri, Nov 28: A Magical Christmas Adventure starts at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure Fri, Dec 5 - Sun, Dec 7: Hadestown: Teen Edition at Stages
Sat, Dec 6: Family Fun Day: Stars With Santa: Dec 6 & 13, 2025 at Strasenburgh Planetarium
Sun, Dec 7: OrKIDStra: Frosty in Snowland at Eastman Theatre Fri, Dec 12: Christmas at RCCM 2025: FREE FAMILY FUN at Rochester's Greatest Indoor Christmas Spectacular! |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When I was about four years old, I turned to my mother and asked, “Mommy, do you know what I’m thinking?” She said no, that no one can know what’s going on in someone else’s head unless they say it out loud. I was instantly relieved. “Good!” I said, emphatically. This family story points to something we all figure out eventually: No one—not even those we love most—can
truly know us completely. That’s because our minds are crowded with thoughts, memories, emotions, and those little sparks of insight that are hard to pin down for ourselves, let alone explain to someone else. So no matter what, we can only really share just a slice of who we are. Some people might say that being selective about the parts of ourselves we show to people means we're being fake, but I don't. Full transparency isn't even possible, so the goal is sincerity. As long
as what we share is true to who we are, we’re being honest. Selective, but sincere. This is especially helpful to remember during the holidays, when we’re surrounded by lots of people, sometimes all at once. Some of them we love dearly. Others... less so. So when Aunt Viv is going on (again) about the zoning board, you don’t have to confess how bored you are. Just focus on what’s real—the part you truly mean—and say that. “So sorry that's getting in your way, Aunt Viv. But I
just have to say: Your pecan pie is amazing.” So, this holiday season, try to tune your radar to see the good stuff. Say out loud what you honestly appreciate. And take comfort, as four-year-old Deb once did, that no one can read the rest of what’s going on in your head. That’s a superpower we all have. Use it wisely.
—Debra
Ross, publisher
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Connect more. Do 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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KidsOutAndAbout.com is conducting a short survey to better understand how families are navigating the fast-changing world of AI. We're asking all parents, grandparents, and caregivers—whether you're tech-savvy or not—to weigh in. Your input will directly shape upcoming national resources designed to help families guide kids wisely and safely. The survey closes soon, so please take 60–90 seconds to be part of this important effort.
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Weekends Nov 28 - Dec 21, 2025: Another Magical Christmas Adventure awaits at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg! The Lodge, in full holiday splendor, will host Santa’s Wonderland where you’ll decorate cookies, write letters to the North Pole, take holiday photos, and more before boarding your trolley for a journey through Hidden Valley’s Mystical Forest. There you’ll see herds of bison and elk, Randy the camel, llamas, and blackbelly sheep roaming the wintery terrain. Upon your return, pet and feed a variety of live animals in open-air stalls. Four consecutive weekends starting Black Friday, November 28 – December 21, 9am-4:30pm. Reservations Required. Book online at hiddenvalleyadventure.com. Allow 3 hours for the full experience.
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November 22 - December 27, 2025: A Tale of Hope, Humor, and Heart. Rochester’s favorite holiday tradition returns with an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story that begins with a wish made by young Tim Cratchit. Over the course of one night, notorious grump Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts. But will their intervention prompt him to change his “humbug” ways? A Christmas Carol reminds us that it is never too late to have a change of heart. Geva welcomes patrons ages 5 and up to A Christmas Carol. Click here for tickets.
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Stokoe Farms is the ultimate destination for creating cherished holiday traditions, offering the largest selection of REAL Christmas Trees in the area. Opening on November 22nd, the farm provides a magical experience for families, complete with tractor-drawn wagon rides, festive activities, a charming Country Gift Shop, and a variety of freshly cut and pre-cut trees. This year, visitors can enjoy the new Cocoa & Cookie Corner, serving deluxe hot chocolates, cider, and freshly baked cookies. Beyond trees, the farm features giant slides, a straw fort, a Live Nativity, and the popular Hillbilly Hen House Chicken Show. Unique attractions include a mob of kangaroos, a Nature Trail, and Christmas Animal Encounters, where guests can meet joeys, armadillos, and more.
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Join us this Saturday, November 22, from 10 am to 3 pm, to browse and buy unique gifts from talented local artists and crafters. We're featuring a selection of handmade treasures—perfect for finding thoughtful, one-of-a-kind presents for everyone on your list. Support local, shop small, and kick off the holiday season with us! Plenty of free parking!
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November 26, 28, 29, and 30, 2025: Your Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Rochester City Ballet celebrate 26 years of a holiday tradition: The Nutcracker at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre! Be whisked away to a magical land of sparkling snow and delectable sweets as Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score pairs with beautiful ballet. This story of a young girl’s Christmas Eve dream never fails to touch the heart! Click here for tickets.
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Sunday, December 7, 2pm: Join your RPO at Hochstein Performance Hall for a magical winter wonderland featuring music celebrating all winter holidays and sparkling seasonal surprises! With festive fun and a snow adventure on stage, this heartwarming event is the perfect way to celebrate the season with live music together! Join us one hour before the concert for fun, holiday themed crafts!
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At St. Ambrose Academy, faith, learning, and community come together to inspire young minds. Serving students from Preschool through Grade 5, we celebrate a diverse student body where every child is valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. Our programs for 3- and 4-year-olds offer half- and full-day options, providing a caring start to each child’s educational journey. Students thrive through experiences that nurture the whole child — spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually. From service projects and music to art, athletics, and after-school clubs, learning at St. Ambrose Academy is full of joy and purpose. Call 585-288-0580 to schedule your tour today!
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Thursday, Dec 4, 7pm at Kodak Center: This critically acclaimed holiday celebration that the whole family can enjoy brings Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang together live on stage as they uncover the true meaning of Christmas and perform songs from the unforgettable musical score of legendary composer Vince Guaraldi. The Broadway-style production complete with immersive sets, lighting, choreography, and colorful costumes has sold more than 300,000 tickets over the prior holiday seasons. Children under 2 years of age do not need a ticket to sit on an adult's lap.
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The seventh annual City of Rochester Roc Holiday Village, presented by ESL Federal Credit Union, returns December 5–28 at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park with sixteen days of free holiday fun. Enjoy free ice skating and skate rentals, visits and photos with Santa, kids’ crafts, and festive holiday celebrations. Take on the I Spy Scavenger Hunt and Adventure Map, or catch special ice rink events like sled hockey, curling lessons, and figure skating performances. Warm up by the fire pits, sip hot cocoa for a cause at The Giving Cup, and soak in the lights, music, and cheer of Rochester’s favorite winter festival.
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This December, CountryMax stores are spreading cheer with FREE family-friendly holiday events that support local charities and animal organizations close to our hearts. From pony rides and therapy animal meet-and-greets to craft stations and holiday treats, every event brings joy while raising donations for community partners. Find a FREE event at one of the following CountryMax Store locations. Dec. 5 at Webster benefiting Heritage Christian Stables Dec. 6 at Baldwinsville benefiting Purpose Farm Dec. 6 at Auburn benefiting Finger Lakes SPCA Dec. 7 at Oswego benefiting Brayhope Farm Dec. 13 at Brockport benefiting Pirate Toy Fund Click for details: https://www.countrymax.com/2025-holiday-events/
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This holiday season, give your family the gift of joy and create cherished memories on the ice! Ice skating is a favorite pastime, bringing joy to families and friends. Come experience the thrill yourself at Tim Hortons Iceplex during one of our special Public Skating sessions! Public Skating is a relaxed, all-ages time on the ice, ideal for casual skaters and beginners. We loaded up our schedule through the New Year with multiple sessions per day during holiday breaks. It's the perfect way to spend time together! Check our online calendar for the most up-to-date hours and plan your festive family outing. Sessions sell out, so purchase your advanced tickets today!
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This holiday season, The Summit is delighted to sponsor two signature events for the entire family right here in Rochester. At the RMSC, visit “Astronaut” and learn the reality of a space explorer’s experience. It’s an interactive exhibit for the whole family. Visit Rochester Museum & Science Center for tickets and opening times. Join our scavenger hunt for your chance to win a prize! Then, head on over to the George Eastman House for “Sweet Creations,” where the historic mansion is filled with gingerbread creations from local organizations and companies. Visit the George Eastman Museum homepage for more information. Be sure to check out our Sweet Spaceship Creation for your chance to win a LEGO® set and a family membership to the Museum. The Summit is thrilled to give back to the community and make events such as these possible! For these and more events, visit summitfcu.org!
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Strong Museum Memberships make great gifts and create lasting memories! Purchase a membership between November 17 and December 1, 2025 with promo code HOLLY10 to save $10 on an annual membership. Buying a membership as a gift? Purchase a membership activation form that can be used to start a membership at a later date! All members receive museum admission for one year, six parking validations and four rides on the train or carousel, $1 discount on guest admission tickets, ropes course and butterfly garden tickets, 10% discount in the museum shop, ACM Reciprocal Network Discount of 50% off admission for up to six people at participating ACM museums, and member-only exhibit previews and discounts on select museum programs.
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Head over to the Aquarium of Niagara on Saturday, November 22nd for Fin-tastically Wicked. For one short day, the Aquarium of Niagara is getting an Oz-tastic makeover! Join us to learn how you can be a source "For Good" for our oceans. Together, we can defy the gravity of our changing climate's impact on our our aquatic emerald cities. Enjoy a singalong with the Pink AND Green Witches, watch a Wicked-themed sea lion presentation, create bubble crafts and magic wands, and more! All activities are included with general admission. This event is sure to be pop-u-lar—get your tickets today!
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Load up the car, grab some cocoa, and get ready for the most festive tour in town, The RG&E Holiday Lights Tour! Your Holiday Lights Tour Kit is your all-access pass to a sparkling lineup of homes decked out in dazzling displays of holiday cheer. Follow your tour map, check out the NEW activity book, and share your bright moments on social media using #HLT2025 to spread the sparkle. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season—fun, family, and giving all wrapped up in one unforgettable experience!
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The Pirate Toy Fund's main toy drive for 2025, where they press hard to collect 30,000 toys, is November 28 - December 6. Go shopping with your kids and ask them to pick out a toy they know a child in need in our community would love. Then drop off the NEW, UNWRAPPED TOYS at any area Wegmans locations, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Eastview Mall, Marketplace Mall, the Mall at Greece Ridge, Howard Hanna Real Estate, or Mark's Pizzeria. ...and feel great that you're helping kids in our area at the time they most need comfort and joy. Click here to find out where the crew will be in person each day of the drive. CLICK HERE to donate toys online!
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Private schools and alternative schools in the greater Rochester, NY area: Rochesterians have dozens of options for educating their kids. This is KidsOutAndAbout's education highlight page, containing specially featured schools and also our master list of local schools. If your school is not on our list but should be, please email us at ross@kidsoutandabout.com.
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Private Schools in the Rochester, NY area: Try it before you buy it... and even before you visit! This is KidsOutAndAbout.com's video sneak peek into local private school experiences in the Rochester area. If your school should have a video on this page, please send a link to the school's video on YouTube or Vimeo to ross@kidsoutandabout.com.
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Hamilton, playing at RBTL's West Herr Auditorium Theatre Nov 18-30, 2025 is the perfect Thanksgiving family outing. It reminds us that each of us, no matter our age, has the power to build rooms where things happen. Read KidsOutAndAbout.com's review to learn how to prepare your kids to make the most of the performance.
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'Tis the season in Rochester! This is KidsOutAndAbout.com's annual 101 Holiday Events list of ways to make the holidays special in our area for 2025. Activities for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
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Some highlights of FREE events this weekend, November 21-23: - Special All Ages Storytime with Local Author Nkiruka Nnamani - Henrietta Public Library, November 21, 2025,
10:30AM
- Library Campout - Webster Public Library - November 21, 2025, 6:00PM - 7:30PM
- LEGO Junior Builders - Rush
Public Library - November 21, 2025, 4:00PM - 5:00PM
- Free Mini Photo Session with Shoott - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, November 22-23, 2025, See link for times
- Kids Draw Festive Scene Snoopy - Apple Eastview November 22, 2025, 12:00PM - 3:00PM
- Thanksgiving Family Storytime - Brighton Memorial Library, November 22, 2025, 2:00PM - 2:30PM
- Expecting and New Parent Health: See if Your Family Qualifies (Paid Research Opportunity) - Rochester Institute of Technology
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Wishing you and yours good health and happiness!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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