KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When they were handing out high school yearbook awards, some of my classmates unofficially, though cheerfully, voted me Least Likely to Become a Professional Cheerleader. I couldn’t really disagree: After all, I was a nerd before being a nerd came into fashion, much more comfortable in a library than at a pep rally. So much for
teenage predictions! Yesterday, my daughter Ella turned 25, which means KidsOutAndAbout turns 25, too. When Ella was imminent, and her sister Madison was one-and-a-half, I was realizing just how many incredible experiences for kids and families were all around us in Rochester, NY. Back then, before web calendars were a thing, finding out about stuff happening meant you had to know where to look. So during maternity leave from my old technology consulting
firm, I decided to build a place to make invisible opportunities visible, to celebrate the people who create them, and to build audiences for these great things. We’ve grown to a dedicated team of 20 people doing work that matters, serving 52 regions with 15 million readers per year and 750,000 weekly newsletter subscribers. So yes, I’m a professional cheerleader, and I love it. I love this. I love that my job is to help build an audience for the remarkable
experiences people are bringing to life. I love that our mission is to shine a light on the concerts, camps, classes, festivals, trails, museums, libraries, theaters, and local treasures large and small that become family stories and memories. Far from slowing down, we’re heading into hyper-drive for our Silver Anniversary, so stay tuned! Thank you for being part of the journey, and for giving us so much to cheer about.
—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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Toddler Storytime is a 20-30 minute program that uses stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement to help young children ages 1-3 years old develop word and sound recognition, gain background knowledge of how the world works, and encourages families to build social connections with other parents and children.
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Get ready for a silly, fun-filled adventure with The Emperor's New Clothes! The Prince is determined to find the perfect new outfit to impress the strong and independent Princess Alicia, but he's a bit too bossy for his own good! Enter Phillip and Morgan, two clever tricksters who see an opportunity to outsmart the Prince. As plans unfold and hilarity ensues, the question remains: Can the Prince win the heart of Princess Alicia, or will he be left with nothing but his own foolishness? With lively characters, playful music, and plenty of audience interaction, this story is a laugh-out-loud experience for all ages!
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Discover the deepest depths of the oceans, travel to the tops of rainforests, and blast off into outer space at your own private planetarium show. After milk and cookies, roll out your sleeping bag in one of our iconic exhibits. Snooze next to our African Penguin colony, dream beside fish in the Philippine Coral Reef, or drift off in a world of color at Color of Life! In the morning, rise and shine for breakfast time at the Academy Café—and continue your adventure with complimentary next-day admission to the museum.
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Our Farmstand is open year round and stocked with already harvested veggies, flowers, heirloom dry beans and preserves all organically grown here at Blue House Farm! We also carry sourdough bread and pastries from Rosalind Bakery, local pastured eggs from Antonio & Sons Farm, chicken, pork, and beef products from our friends at Root Down Farm and Markegard Family Grass-fed, organic seasonal fruit from Frog Hollow Farm and Blossom Bluff Orchards, local honey from State Street Honey, and lots of other goodies from our coastside community!
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5th annual free Bay Area SpringFest is on Saturday, May 2, celebrating spring with plants, arts & crafts, music and food in Downtown Concord at tree-lined Todos Santos Plaza in the largest city of upscale Contra Costa County. There will be music on the Todos Santos stage, a dozen eclectic food vendors, beer and wine garden, free activities for kids and myriad shopping opportunities. SpringFest on May 2 is from 12 noon to 7pm with free admission and ample free nearby parking in historic Downtown Concord. We are open Rain or Shine. This free outdoor fair allows shoppers to see the unique goods and services from 100 vendors, home-based businesses and commercial exhibitors. Arts & crafts, jewelry, apparel, plants, CBD products, home improvement, technology and much more will be available at SpringFest.
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In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, pick up your Passport to the Islands, visit each week, and collect your stamps as you journey through Polynesia—where vibrant stories, traditions, and island flavors come to life at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. Each weekend brings educational storytelling, live performances, and specialty food offerings inspired by the islands.
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Step into the iconic Oracle Park and experience the magic of San Francisco Giants baseball! Join passionate fans for an unforgettable game day by the bay!
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A 20-30 minute storytime for children in Kindergarten through third grade featuring picture books new to our collection.
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- Toddler Plus Storytime - Main Library - Children's Department, Main Library - Children's Department, Friday, May 1, 2026, 10:30am
- Free Spring Mini Photo Session with Shoott! - Bay Area - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, May 1, 2026 to Sunday, May 3, 2026, See link for times
- Family Storytime - Alameda Free Library, West End Library, Alameda Free Library, 788 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, United States, Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10:30am
- Family Storytime - Main Library - Children's Department, Main Library -
Children's Department, Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10:30am
- Skateboarding Day - Parking lot, Norton Street, San Francisco, CA, USA, Saturday, May 2, 2026, 11:00AM-3:00PM
- Magic Show with Magic Dan - Parking lot, Norton Street, San Francisco, CA, USA, Saturday, May 2, 2026, 01:30PM-02:30PM
- WildCare's FREE Family Nature Day in Honor of Elizabeth Terwilliger - WildCare, 76
Albert Park Lane, San Rafael, CA, USA, Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
- Family Storytime - Main Library, Main Library, Sunday, May 3, 2026, 12:30pm
- Old Woodside Store Day - Free Event - Woodside Storekeepers, Woodside Store Park, Tripp Road, Woodside, CA, USA, Sunday, May 3, 2026, 12pm-4pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the San Francisco 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the San Francisco area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the San Francisco? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're escaping
a spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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