KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Peace can come in many textures during the holidays. For some, it’s the energizing bustle of concerts and community events, or the warmth of a crowded house full of voices and motion. For others, it’s the stillness of a walk through snow-covered woods, a soft blanket at home, or the quiet company of someone who understands them. It shifts from person to person, and
sometimes even from one day to the next. Peace can be internal, external, or, at its best, a bit of both: a sense that life makes sense, within and around us. It’s easier to feel when we’re free from hardship, but even in the midst of challenge, it’s sometimes possible to find a quiet kind of peace when we know we’ve done our best with the time and energy we’ve been given. Peace can be elusive for parents; after all, we're the ones in charge of figuring out
how to make the family rhythm and flow work for everyone, and what brings peace to our kids may look nothing like what brings it to us. Maybe your son needs to be out with friends while you crave stillness. Maybe your daughter is hoping to hide in a corner with a book while you're in full-on glitter-and-cookie mode with all the cousins. Parenting is the art of balance, of helping everyone in the family thrive by seeing who they really are and doing our best to honor it. It's not easy, and it's
never perfect, but we try. When kids feel known—when they hear “I see that you love this, that you need this, and I’ll help you find your way to it”—they flourish. That sense of being understood can be its own kind of peace. So as the season winds to a close, I wish you whatever kind of holiday rhythm helps you feel most like you. And I hope you’ll find moments to offer that same gift to those around you. When we make space for each other’s version of peace,
it’s more likely to find its way into the room.
—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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Come see CuriOdyssey’s frisky river otter! Watch him frolic up-close and ask an animal keeper about his story during the daily feeding.
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Experience the enchanting Garden of D'Lights, a self-guided holiday light display that transforms the renowned nonprofit Ruth Bancroft Garden into a magical nighttime wonderland. Perfect for families and pets, create lasting memories while supporting a cherished local community resource!
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Celebrate the season at the Bay Area’s premier holiday destination. A beloved annual tradition rivaling the nation’s most celebrated events, Holidays at Filoli transforms the historic estate into a wonderland of breathtaking beauty and festive delight. Day and night, there's something magical for everyone at Filoli. During the day, take a Gilded journey through the elegantly decorated House and Garden and explore Thistlewyck, an enchanting village in the Redwoods with Rose Wonders, Filoli's brand new Troll, at the heart of it all. At night, immerse yourself in the glowing wonder of Holiday Lights. Each experience reflects our mission to curate unique moments and create shared stories, inviting you to celebrate the season with family, friends, and community in unforgettable style.
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This open studio time allows children of all ages to create open-ended art using all recycled and repurposed materials! Our Art Studio Specialist is there to facilitate the use of more advanced tools for cutting, gluing (hot glue guns), and engineering art.
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Gather your family and friends for a beloved holiday tradition! The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Kaiser Permanente is back for its 17th magical season of outdoor skating and holiday festivities in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Ice skate outdoors daily November 6 through January 20, 2025. Hour-long sessions start every 90 minutes. General admission is $20 or $15 for kids 8 and under; prices include skate rental. Don’t miss our special events throughout the season, including Drag On Ice, Silent Skate, Polar Bear Skate and more! Be sure to follow us on social media at @UnionSquareRink.
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The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (WCMRS) operates the Diablo Valley Lines (DVL) model railroad, one of the most mountainous and one of the largest exclusively HO scale model railroads in the United States. This model railroad features standard gauge, narrow gauge, and interurban (overhead electric) freight and trolley lines.
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Bring in the new year aboard the New Years Holiday Lights Train. Ride vintage train cars beautifully decorated with holiday lights through the streets of Santa Cruz. Light-up hula hoopers and a live DJ will keep spirits bright and help bring in 2025 right.
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The Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement invites you to participate in the 4th Annual Downtown San Rafael Elf Hunt! Some rogue elves have left the North Pole and were last spotted inside businesses on 4th Street from Lincoln to H Street. Come out and enjoy Downtown San Rafael's shops, restaurants, and beautifully decorated windows while you search for these tricksters.
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Recharge your winter wonder with luminous artworks that will surprise and delight the whole family—paint with light and shadow, soak in colors, and play with exhibit prototypes in the Light Lab. Don’t miss Glow, our seasonal exhibition that celebrates the art and science of light! To make the weekend extra special, join us for even more dazzling programs including Storytime Science and other light-related activities.
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Circus Bella returns to the Big Top Circus Tent for a third year with STARLIGHT – An All-New Winter Circus Spectacular. With brand-new acts, sumptuous costumes, and artists from across the US, Circus Bell brings all the nostalgia and beauty of an old-timey circus combined with the eyebrow-raising savvy & modern look of 2025. A diverse cast of 13 perform thrilling feats of balance and strength, demonstrations of grace & poise, outrageous humor, and authentic moments that bring us all together.
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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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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions in and around the Bay Area. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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- Free Mini Photo Session with Shoott! - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 12/26/2025 to 12/28/2025, See link for times
- Winter Wonderland - Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 12/26/2025 to 12/28/2025, 12:00 - 5:00pm PST
- Snow Showers - Santana Row - 377 Santana Row, San Jose, CA, 12/26/2025 to 12/28/2025, 6:00 - 8:00pm PST
- 4th Annual Great Downtown San Rafael Elf Hunt - Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District - 1000 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA, 12/26/2025 to 12/28/2025, Check Website for Time
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There are lots of places to have a birthday party in the San Francisco area! Start thinking outside the box! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens (and dozens) of ideas! In addition to venues in San Francisco, there are places in Oakland, Alameda, Pacifica, San
Leandro, Walnut Creek, Hayward, Dublin, and San…
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2025's best places to take kids in the San Francisco Bay area. Early each summer, 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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