KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The Christmas I was 10, my sister and I woke up at our usual ridiculously-early hour and raced downstairs to the tree. Something was different: fewer gifts than usual, no giant boxes, no bike-shaped mystery lumps. But nestled among the smaller packages were envelopes that turned out to be plane tickets to Bermuda. We were leaving that very morning, which explained
why my parents had not objected to being awakened at 5:30. Decades later, I don’t remember what else I got that year—or most years—but I remember being bundled up and giddy, heading to the airport while it was still dark. I remember pink sand, caves, and the little cakes they served at teatime. It's all still as fresh to me as the air was at Grotto Bay Beach. That trip taught me something I wouldn’t have been able to say at the time: Presence creates
the memories, not the presents. Of course, we all want our kids to have a magical holiday. But when we think back to our own childhoods, what sticks isn’t the stuff, it’s the doing. The zoo trips, the plays, the sporting events, the concerts, the hands held during the adventures. That’s why my long-time holiday mantra is “Do it, don’t dust it.” Experiences are the gifts that last the longest, especially when we do them together. They don’t pile
up in a closet; they plant themselves in our memory. So if you’re still pondering what to give the people you love this year, consider a show, a class, a day trip, a membership, a season pass. Something that says “I see you, you matter, let's do it together." Need ideas? Head to our Local Memberships & Season Passes page! It's your ticket to the perfect gift... and it's guaranteed clutter-free.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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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I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
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Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
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Bring your family and friends out to Santa’s Village where you can enjoy festive activities including Ice Fishing, Blizzard Ball and Rudolph Racers. You can decorate cookies and even create your own Christmas tree ornament at Craft Corner. Filled with thousand of sparkling Christmas lights, there are many photo opportunities throughout Santa’s Village. Food and snacks are available as well as hot chocolate and coffee. Although you must have reserved Christmas Train tickets to board the train to see Santa, you may still enjoy thousands of lights and festive decorations throughout Santa’s Village without any reservation.
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Bacy by popular demand, this holiday season…a waterfront ice rink in the heart of Newport Beach! Enjoy ice skating with views of the water and Lighting of the Bay
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Friday, Nov 28 - Tuesday, Dec 23: Join us for Christmas on the Farm at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark! Included with admission: Animal Center, Holiday Photo Ops, Tractor-Drawn Wagon Rides, Holiday Store, Combine & Harvester Slides, Pick Your Own Fields (pickings an additional fee), Letters for Santa, Animal Shows, Reindeer, Visits with Santa (Santa visits are included with admission! Make sure to bring your camera!)
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By day, Descanso blossoms and chitters with cheerful and welcoming, sunlit landscapes. By night, Enchanted Forest of Light transforms the gardens into an entirely different realm of magic, mystery, and incandescence. Enchanted’s inventive installations cultivate a parallel world with light, color, and ambient music that transform familiar garden spaces into whimsical, dramatic, and sublime botanical artscapes.
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Let’s do some cleaning so it doesn’t wash out to sea! Thank you for bringing along either work or gardening gloves, a refill water dispenser, and dress for weather. We will provide reuse trash bags, drinking water, and light snacks. Complimentary parking passes are given at check-in and are valid until 12:30 pm upon completion of cleanup.
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The beautiful grounds of Theatricum transform into an outdoor Winter Wonderland featuring: Artisan Holiday Marketplace* Special Performances Festive Food and Drink Caroling and Singing Madrigals Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus Winter Holiday Stories from a Variety of Traditions … and much more! PLUS! It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry on the mainstage following the Faire at 5pm (with add-on ticket) *Want to be a vendor? Email office@theatricum.com
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Take a step back in time and join us for a Victorian Holiday at the Queen Anne Cottage! The historic core of the garden will be transformed into a holiday marketplace featuring local vendors, Victorian entertainment, visits with Santa, and walkthrough tours of the Queen Anne Cottage. Enjoy themed refreshments while browsing handmade goods, decorate an English Christmas crown and create a Victorian pickle ornament at the children’s craft table, and experience the charm of daily Victorian life by exploring the inside of the historic Queen Anne cottage, open to the public for a limited time during this celebration.
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Experience Wild Lights at The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College — a dazzling nighttime adventure where you can explore the zoo after hours beneath thousands of holiday lights! Join us select nights in November and December for a festive evening filled with stunning lights displays, festive cheer, and unforgettable family fun. Visit with Santa on Nov 29th, Dec 6th, and Dec 13th, or get creative during our Family Cookie Decorating Nights on Dec 13th and Dec 21st. More details are on our website.
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With older kids in school, enjoy a special morning geared to our littlest guests. During Toddler Tuesdays, some of the play spaces are adapted for the “littles,” which means younger-skewing activities like a toddler take-over in Ramps & Rollers or Baby Olympics obstacle challenge. Plan a playdate with friends or have some one-on-one time with your little one.
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All of our classes will be performing onstage at our festive, interactive holiday concert! Enjoy tasty treats and refreshments while listening to joyful singing, percussion, piano, saxophone, flute, and more. Even our littlest music makers will have a part! New to Music Rhapsody? Join our classes now and be a part of this special night.
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- Farmers Market - Runway Playa Vista - Runway Playa Vista - 12775 Millennium Drive, Playa Vista, CA 90094, Friday, December 12, 2025, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm PST
- Way to Play Day - Pretend City
Children's Museum - 29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618, Friday, December 12, 2025, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Los Angeles - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, December 12, 2025 (See link for times)
- Doheny State Beach Community Beach Cleanups - 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA, Saturday, December 13, 2025, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Christmas For Kids - St. Paul's First Lutheran Church, Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA, Saturday,
December 13, 2025, 9:00 am Registration/Drop Off, 11:15 - 11:30 am Pick Up
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Los Angeles - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Saturday, December 13, 2025 (See link for times)
- Celebración de las Artes - Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Sunday, December 14, 2025, 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
- Visit with
Santa - Main Street Mercantile, 62 N Main St, Fairport, NY 14450, Sunday, December 14, 2025, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Los Angeles - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Sunday, December 14, 2025 (See link for times)
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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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The San Fernando Valley area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and
engaging in festive activities.
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KidsOutAndAbout is America's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, so click
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Dallas 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! Find venues in Burbank, Calabasas,
Glendale, Hidden Hills, and San Fernando.
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2025's best places to take kids in the San Fernando Valley. Each May-June, thousands of parents vote in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Our Top 20 results page is an annotated list of the winners, both of the top 20 slots and
of the three category winners: Who won for Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM Educator?
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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