KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Jul 25: National Carousel Day at the Balboa Park Carousel
Tue, Jul 28: National Water Park Day at Sesame Place San Diego
Fri, Jul 31: Saplings - San Diego Botanic Garden
Sat, Aug 1: San Marcos Family Campout
Fri, Aug 7: Disney ‘80s-‘90s Celebration in Concert - The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Sun, Aug 9: Hillcrest CityFest Street Fair
Wed, Aug 12: Family Night Craft - City of San Marcos California
Fri, Aug 14: SkyFest Big Bear
Fri, Aug 21: Sesame Place's First Responders Weekend
Sat, Aug 22: 39th
Annual Philippine Cultural Arts Festival in Balboa Park |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a kid, summer meant St. Rocco’s Feast in the Peterstown neighborhood of Elizabeth, New Jersey. The streets were filled with music, carnival rides, vendor booths, and fairgoers... but the main attraction for 10-year-old me was zeppoles: lumps of dough dropped into hot oil, puffed golden, shaken in a paper bag with powdered sugar, and handed over hot enough to require
patience. To my young self, they were almost proof of magic. They were also my gateway drug into Italian food. Zeppoles led eventually to prosciutto and fresh mozzarella, risotto and gnocchi, pesto and puttanesca. Along the way, I learned that food has a vocabulary: crisp, chewy, silky, smoky, briny, bitter, fermented, caramelized. Knowing the names of flavors and textures helped me notice them more clearly, and knowing where dishes came from helped me see that food carries
geography, history, ingenuity, celebration, and memory. The more I tasted, the bigger the world became. Summer is the perfect season to help kids develop that kind of appetite... for food and discovery. Visit a farmers market and learn what grows nearby. Pick berries and notice how they taste when harvested just a second ago with
your own hands. Try the food truck serving something you’ve never ordered. At a festival, ask what country or region a dish comes from, what ingredients give it its flavor, and who traditionally makes it. Kids don’t have to like everything. Exploration still counts when the verdict is “Not for me.” As
tour guides to our kids’ universe, we can help them notice that food connects downward to the Earth and outward to people. Name the flavor. Name the texture. Name the place and the tradition. Then take another bite. Sometimes an entire world opens through one little bag of fried dough.
—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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Ms. Debbora’s School of Dance invites young dancers ages 3–8 to Dancing Barbie Dream Camp, July 20–24 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Campers will explore tap, ballet, jazz, and tumbling while enjoying crafts, music, friendship, and plenty of Barbie-inspired fun. Children are encouraged to arrive dressed in Barbie-tastic pink as they celebrate Barbie’s many careers and the message that girls can do anything. The camp costs $170 and takes place at 14005-B Midland Road in Old Poway Village. Offered in partnership with the City of Poway, registration is available through Poway.Org/Classes for a week of dancing and imagination!
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Experience the ultimate combination of music and ambiance at Cannonball, thanks to San Diego’s finest local artists. As you enjoy delicious sushi and breathtaking ocean views, let the soothing sounds of live acoustic music transport you to a state of pure relaxation. Book your table now!
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Come and enjoy our free Zumba for Kids program for babies and toddlers. This program involves music and movement to help kids strengthen their motor skills. It is followed by social playtime and healthy, nutritious snacks provided after the program.
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City residents and visitors can enjoy free family-friendly live concerts with local artists every summer. Bring lawn chairs and blankets, and enjoy local food vendors. Umbrellas and canopies must be taken down at sunset. Pets and alcohol are not permitted. This year, concerts run from July 9, 16, 23, 30, and August 6. Concerts start at 7:00 pm and end at 9:00 pm.
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Spend your Thursday evenings at the Civic Center Quad, where live music fills the air! Concert begins promptly at 7:00 PM. Be sure to arrive early so you can secure a great seat and take the time to enjoy delicious treats from a variety of local food vendors.
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Watch a favorite film under the stars with the ocean as your backdrop. From a relaxed seat in the sand to an elevated private bonfire experience complete with s’mores, tailor your movie night exactly how you want it—simple, social, or indulgently unforgettable.
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Exclusively at LEGOLAND® Resorts – limited-time, high-energy soccer celebration, featuring LEGO® soccer heroes, interactive soccer games and epic LEGO build activities.
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Walk in the footsteps of a true Midway Sailor during an unforgettable after-hours adventure aboard the USS Midway Museum! Once the museum closes to the public, you can explore the ship through engaging, hands-on activities inspired by life at sea. Tour the ship from top to bottom, even venturing deep into the engine room to discover how this massive aircraft carrier was powered. Going behind-the-scenes, you'll learn what daily life was like for Sailors and how the ship operated. Enjoy exclusive time on the flight deck under the stars, then settle in for the night and sleep in authentic Navy racks just like the crew once did. In the morning, wake up to a hot breakfast and continue the adventure with new activities that reinforce history, teamwork and the Midway legacy. We are excited to welcome youth groups and families on board to experience our new Overnight Adventure Program.
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Spend an evening on the farm with family and friends at the annual Campout! Bring a tent or RV for camping under the stars. Limited space- make sure to submit your application to reserve your spot! Reservations are $30.00 per tent/rv. No hookups. You may set up any time after 10:00am on Saturday, and your area must be packed up by 4:00pm the following day. RSVP by July 7, 2025. No refunds within 2 weeks of the event.
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The Pride 5K Run & Walk is always a highlight of Pride Week festivities. As many as 1,700 runners and walkers, from around the world, participate and raise approximately $40,000 for our charity partners. Every year, funds raised at the San Diego Pride 5K generate significant donations for our charity partners – San Diego Pride and The LGBT Center’s Youth Housing Project.
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Live artist demonstrations + community craft time on July 18, from 11am–1pm! All ages and all levels of curiosity are welcome. If you love craft, want to learn something new, or simply enjoy watching artists at work, come spend the morning with us. We’re excited to celebrate traditional craft with you next month — July 18 — as we join artists, institutions, and craftspeople who make up the heart of our craft community. In partnership with Handwork 2026 by the Craft in America.
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CHECK YOUR LOCAL LOCATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION! Summer is here, school is out, and this is your chance to spend some extra time with your kids. If you’re looking for affordable family activities, don’t miss Regal’s Summer Movie Express! During summer break, enjoy a series of great family movies returning to the big screen. Each week from June 1 to August 13 get $1 Summer Movie Express tickets starting at 11AM Monday through Thursday. All attendees of a Summer Movie Express title will receive $3 off a cup of refreshingly cold Dippin’ Dots ice cream and a Snack Pack, which includes a junior-sized drink, popcorn, and fruit gummies.
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SkyPark is pleased to announce the return of our popular Tunes in the Trees concert series. Friday nights, from 7pm to 9pm, join us for live music, dancing, food and fun! Doors open at 5pm so that you can grab dinner at St. Nick’s Patio & Grille or Billy’s BBQ House before the show. The Pedal Pub will remain open for your enjoyment as well.
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Drop-In Play is for walking toddlers & kids ages 1-8 to play and explore art materials in a safe, open environment with no formal instruction. Kids can move between different sensory stations at their own pace, sparking their curiosity and creativity. This class encourages hands-on discovery, allowing children to experience art through touch, sound, color, and texture.
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2026's best places to take kids in San Diego as voted by parents. All of San Diego's most popular places to take kids, as well as favorite Arts Educator, Sports Educator, and STEM educator! Plus there is LOTS more to do in San Diego! Get great ideas
here!
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Nothing says SUMMER quite like going to an amusement park with your family! We've put together a great list of ones you can visit within driving distance of San Antonio. So, pack the sunscreen, load up the car and head out on a grand adventure!
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the San Diego 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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The San Diego Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near San Diego that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check out
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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