KidsOutAndAbout's weekly e-newsletter |
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Save the Date
Now through - Sat, Dec 6: Pirate Toy Fund's holiday toy drive week 2025 - here's how to donate to help Rochester's neediest kids
Fri, Dec 5 - Sun, Dec 28: Roc Holiday Village at MLK Park in downtown Rochester Fri, Dec 5 - Sun, Dec 7: Hadestown: Teen Edition at Stages Sat, Dec 6: The Harley School Open House: Lower school families (Nursery-Grade 4) Sat, Dec 6: Get Your FREE Grinch Family Photo at Messner Flooring - Greece Sat, Dec 6: Open House at Wunderville Preschool
Sat, Dec 6: Family Fun Day: Stars With Santa: Dec 6 & 13, 2025 at Strasenburgh Planetarium Sat, Dec 6: Sports Celebration at The Strong Museum
Sat, Dec 6: "Believe" performance at Studio K Dance & Fitness
Sun, Dec 7: OrKIDStra: Frosty in Snowland at Eastman Theatre Fri, Dec 12: Start date of Christmas at RCCM 2025: FREE FAMILY FUN at Rochester's Greatest Indoor Christmas Spectacular! Sat, Dec 13: Holiday Memories for Dollhouses Unveiled at The Strong at The Strong Museum Sat, Dec 13: WinterFest at Cobblestone Arts Center Mon, Dec 15: Entry deadline for giveaway to Disney on Ice Jan 1
Sun, Dec 14: RIT Tiger Tracks Train Show and Sale at RIT Model Railroad Club
Mon, Dec 15: Penfield Symphony Orchestra's "White Christmas" Concerts - Dec 14 and 15 at Penfield High School
Thu, Dec 18: Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical at OFC Creations Theatre Center / Old Farm Cafe
Fri, Dec 19: Home For The Holidays Homeschool Day at Genesee Country Village & Museum
Fri, Dec 19: A Joyful Christmas at The Hochstein School
Sat, Dec 20: Flapjack Benefit Breakfast with SANTA at Penfield First Baptist Church
Sat, Dec 20: Imagination Station with Mrs. Kasha Davis at Blackfriars Theatre |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When my husband and I started planning a family, we talked a lot about the kind of parents we hoped to be. Naturally, we looked back on our own childhoods. David had story after story about his parents—their quirks, what they cared about, who they were. But when I tried to do the same, I came up oddly blank. I could tell you what I loved as a kid, but not much about what made my
own parents’ hearts sing. I remembered that my dad had a garden when I was little, but I couldn’t say whether he enjoyed digging in the dirt, liked making things grow, or was just trying to save money on vegetables. That realization stuck with me. I didn’t want my kids to grow up seeing me as a blur in the background of their story; I wanted them to see me clearly: as someone who had favorite things, real interests, and a sense of enjoyment they could understand. I wanted them
to grow up expecting that adulthood could be full of that, too... all of the vivid experiences that make up the inner life of a regular person, especially the joys. I started using the phrase "live what you love" as a kind of parenting guidepost. Our kids are always watching, taking cues about what adulthood looks like. If all they ever see is grownups stressed, rushing, and tired, they’ll assume that’s the default. But if they also see us delighted by a song, energized by a
game, inspired by something we've learned, genuinely laughing with people we love... that’s powerful. It shows them that joy isn’t something you age out of, it’s something you grow into. The holidays are packed with tasks and to-do lists, but they’re also full of opportunities for joy. So tune your radar to what YOU love, and if you catch yourself smiling at paper snowflakes or belting out a corny carol, don’t downplay it. Let yourself have that moment. When your kids see the
joy you've just pushed into the room; it's a gift to their present and to their future.
—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. |
KOAA's Holiday Light List! KidsOutAndAbout.com has been updating its list of 150 spectacularly-lit houses in the Rochester
area since 2005! They're sorted by region and town to make it easy... bring some snacks and hot chocolate and head out for a drive! |
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The Pirate Toy Fund's main toy drive for 2025 is Fri, November 28 - Sat, December 6. Take your kids shopping this week; have each choose a toy for a child in need in our community. 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, Mark's Pizzeria, or Boscov's at Greece Ridge Mall. You'll be helping our area's kids when they most need comfort and joy! It's super-easy to donate toys online at https://ptftoystore.com/store/koaa We need to raise 30,000 toys this week... thanks in advance and hugs from your publisher!
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December 5-7, 2025: Stages presents Hadestown, Teen Edition. Following two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of immortal King Hades and lady Persephone — Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Performs in Stages' 3rd floor theater at the Auditorium. This show is suitable for audiences age 10 and up. Get your tickets now!
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Enter today to win tickets to Disney on Ice: FROZEN and ENCANTO, performing at Blue Cross Arena January 1-4, 2026. The drawing will be held Monday, December 15 for four tickets to the 4pm show on Thursday, January 1. Click to see the entry details--you'll submit an email with a special subject line.
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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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Continuing its holiday tradition, the New York Museum of Transportation, in Rush, will welcome Santa Claus on December 7, 13 and 14. He's eager to meet the kids and pose for pictures. A ride in the heated trolley, holiday decorations, complimentary cookies and hot chocolate, and the fondly remembered Midtown Plaza Monorail all add to the fun in this unique celebration of the holidays. Admission including the trolley ride is $18 adults, $14 age 3 - 14. Rides depart at 11:00, 11:45, 12:30, 1:15, 2:00, 2:45 and 3:30. Reservations are required: www.nymtmuseum.org/Christmas The New York Museum of Transportation is located just 20 minutes south of Rochester at 6393 East River Road in Rush, and can be reached from I-390 exit 11.
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November 8 - January 4: The George Eastman Museum's annual Sweet Creations Gingerbread display is a beloved Rochester family tradition! Check out the dozens of cleverly designed and deliciously decorated gingerbread houses that fill the mansion... it's a visual and aromatic treat for visitors of all ages, and is sure to put you in the holiday spirit! All of the gingerbread creations are available in an online silent auction. Free to members; included with museum admission.
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The holiday season is underway at Genesee Country Village & Museum, and there is plenty to explore! Yuletide in the Country Tours & Dinners invite visitors into homes and businesses where interpreters share scenes from Christmas Eve in the 19th century. Holiday Afternoon Tea offers a calm break with tea, sandwiches, and sweets, plus time to visit the Flint Hill Store. Families can enjoy Breakfast with St. Nick in the Meeting Center, and our Holiday Open House welcomes guests to walk through the Historic Village and see how residents prepared for the holidays. These programs are popular each year, so plan your visit soon! Learn more HERE.
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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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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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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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Join us on Saturday, December 6th from 11 AM – 1 PM at Messner Flooring in Greece (2695 W Ridge Rd) for FREE photos with the Grinch. Bring your family and friends to enjoy cookies, holiday treats, and unforgettable festive memories.
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Come explore with us at our Open House on December 10 from 12:30-2:00! Tour classrooms, visit with teachers and learn more about our program. Children are welcome! The Discovery Academy of Science & Art (DASA) Preschool is located at 597 East Ave. in Rochester. Students learn through play with our science, technology, engineering, art and math and inquiry-based curriculum, and can take advantage of our connections to local museums and cultural institutions. Teachers nurture the development of the whole child by providing a caring environment rich in discovery and imagination. Our maximum enrollment is typically 13 students for our 3-year-old classes and 15 students for our 4/5-year-old classes. We strive to make a DASA Preschool education accessible and affordable to all, and we offer a limited number of partial needs-based scholarships. Please contact us for more information.…
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December 22 - Jan 3: The most magical ride of the season starts at the Zoo! Bring your own warm beverage and snuggle under a blanket while enjoying a 90-minute cart tour through the Zoo, led by Zoo Naturalists. Member price: $20.00 per person; Non-Member price: $30.00 per person (which includes admission to the Zoo). Morning and afternoon tours are available on select days. See https://senecaparkzoo.org/holiday-magic-tours/ for more information and tickets.
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Saturday, Dec 13, 2025, 11am-2pm: Celebrate the magic of the season at WinterFest 2025! This free, family-friendly event is packed with festive fun for all ages. Bring your loved ones and enjoy a joyful afternoon filled with art, community, and holiday cheer. Highlights include: A vibrant Artisan Marketplace – perfect for holiday shopping; Live music and dance performances; Tasty food and seasonal treats; Kid-friendly crafts to spark creativity; and a special visit from Santa Claus. Click here for details.
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Brockport CountryMax is bringing back its super-popular Country Christmas family celebration on Saturday, December 13 from 1 to 4pm. Snap a pic with Santa. Take a pony ride for just $10! All proceeds go to Pirate Toy Fund. Meet goats, bunnies and more at our FREE petting zoo. Enter to win one of our fantastic raffle prizes. And purchase delicious holiday treats, cocoa or eggnog from JoJo’s Bake Shop. Enjoy FREE holiday crafts and games. Don’t forget to take home a keepsake photo from the professional photo booth. Plus, Pirate Toy Fund will be there… and for every kid’s toy donated at the event, CountryMax will donate one, too! Click for details: https://www.countrymax.com/country-christmas/
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Dec 12-14 and 17-23: Gates open at 6pm nightly. Christmas at RCCM is filled with light, wonder, and the true joy of the season! This year features five inspiring attractions: Miracle 4D, the thrilling motion ride; The Name, a holographic multi-sensory experience; Raffadali’s Great Adventure, an interactive family show starring Raffadali the Donkey; Star’s Yuletide Workshop, where kids create their own ornaments; and illumiNATIONS: Tapestry of Earth, a campus-wide spectacular with an original film, uplifting music, and The Living Tree, a 30,000-light centerpiece synchronized to thousands of colorful lights. Come anytime—shows run continuously and are completely free! For details or advance tickets, visit christmas.rccm.org. RCCM (Rochester Christian Church) is located at 3177 Lyell Road in Gates.
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Events this weekend, December 5-7: |
Wishing you and yours good health and happiness!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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