KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Feb 17: Mid-Winter Break: CRAFT-ernoon at Lake City Public
Library
Wed, Feb 18: Northwest Flower & Garden Festival 2026 at Seattle Convention Center
Thu, Feb 19: February Art Walk Edmonds
Fri, Feb 20: North Seattle Tot Shabbat Stroum JCC at Congregation Beth Shalom Seattle
Fri, Feb 20: Artist Hangout, A Club for Teens at Northwest Art Center
Sat, Feb 21: Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! The Musical! at Admiral Theatre
Sat, Feb 21: Black History Month Soirée 2026 at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Sat, Feb 21: Lunar New Year Celebration at The Village
Sat, Feb 21: Saturday Family Concert: Bug Friend at Town Hall Seattle
Mon, Feb 23: Mandarin Story Time - Lunar New Year! | Sammamish Library |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Next week, my husband and I are heading to a Valentine's Evening behind-the-scenes tour of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, New York. It’s the same Frank Lloyd Wright museum we’ve
visited several times, but this version is fancily dressed for the holiday: candlelight, champagne, treats, and a fresh perspective on something familiar. That’s the real magic of Valentine’s Day: It’s one of those perfectly made-up holidays, constructed out of paper hearts, glitter, and good intentions... and it manages magically to transform our spaces, our schedules, and our spirits. As publisher, I've had a 25-year front row seat to
communities around the country who turn nothing into something every February. This year, visitors can say "I Love Thee" in a Victorian mansion in Riverside, CA while a re-enactor in a top hat explains the romantic origin of the Hershey’s Kiss. Frying Pan Farm Park in
Virginia will help kids say "I Love MOO!" with farm animal puns. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center invites everyone on a Valentine's Express Steam Train ride that is more light-hearted than steamy. And next Saturday, biologists at the California Academy of Sciences will hand out heart-shaped valentines to their African penguins—who will then present them to their mates to help line
their nests. Not all Valentine’s Day celebrations require you to get out and about, though; just muster some creativity and apply it to stuff you already have lying around the house. Cut hearts from red paper and tape them to the door. Dress in scarlet or rose or salmon pink. Light a candle at dinner while you're eating heart-shaped cheese, toast, bacon, or lasagna (here are 25 fun recipes from Food Network). When you and your kids dress up your world together, you’re not just celebrating love, you’re celebrating creativity. And they're learning the life skill of transforming ordinary stuff around them into something special. It only takes one step beyond the good intention to make it
so. Love can be grand, indeed. But it doesn’t have to be grand to be great.
—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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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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Summer camps at The Center for Wooden Boats give young people the chance to learn, explore, and build confidence on Seattle’s waterfront. From beginner sailing for first-time sailors to hands-on woodworking and boatbuilding camps, our programs combine
skill-building, teamwork, and outdoor adventure. Campers learn to sail small boats, work safely with tools, solve problems, and develop independence in a supportive, welcoming environment. Camps run throughout the summer for ages 5–14, with experienced instructors and a strong focus on safety, curiosity, and fun. Scholarships are available to ensure cost is not a barrier. Explore sessions and enroll now to give your child a summer they will remember.
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What’s better than baking challah alone or grabbing one from the store? Making it together with your J community! Braid, shape, and create delicious challahs while connecting with friends old and new. Afterward, take your dough or baked loaf home to share
and enjoy with loved ones.
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The Seattle Boat Show is back, and Seattle Boat Company is excited to welcome you to Seattle's biggest event in boating! Whether you want to buy, rent, gear up, or simplify life on the water, our team is here to help you find the right fit.
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Cascade Symphony presents its annual and very popular Family Concert with a performance of Francis Poulenc’s delightful “Story of Babar the Elephant,” narrated by longtime Seattle radio host, Dave Dolacky, with visual aids to entertain the children. This
concert also features the talented winner of our annual Rising Stars Competition.
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Do you and your children love to be outdoors in nature? This free workshop will introduce children and their adult chaperones to the goals and practices of nature journaling. We recommend you bring a blank notebook or journal with you.
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- Lap Sit Baby Story Time | Redmond Library - Redmond Library, 15990 Northeast 85th Street, Redmond, WA, Friday, 02/05/2026 - Saturday, 02/06/2026, 12 pm - 1 pm
- Celebrate Black History Month
at People's Community Center - People's Community Center & Pool, Martin Luther King Junior Way, Tacoma, WA, Friday, 02/06/2026, See website
- Celebrate Black History Month at People's Community Center: Open Art Activities for Youth - People's Community Center & Pool, Martin Luther King Junior Way, Tacoma, WA, Friday, 02/06/2026, 5 pm - 7 pm
- Storytime at the Garden - Preschool - Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main St, Bellevue, WA, Friday, 02/06/2026, 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
- Family Story Time - Shoreline Library - Shoreline Library, 345 Northeast 175th Street, Shoreline, WA, Friday, 02/06/2026, 10 am - 10:30 am
- La Hora de Cuentos | Greenwood Public Library - Greenwood Branch - The Seattle Public Library, 8016
Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA, Friday, 02/06/2026, 11:15 am - 12:15 pm
- Youth Nature Journaling -Bellevue Botanical Garden - Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main St, Bellevue, WA, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
- Free Dental Screenings - Hands On Children's Museum, 414 Jefferson St NE, Olympia, WA, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 2–4 pm
- Black History Luncheon at the People's Community Center - People's Community Center & Pool, Martin Luther King Junior Way, Tacoma, WA, Saturday, 02/07/2026, 12 pm - 3 pm
- Black History Month Celebration - Black Night Market, Tacoma Armory, South Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, WA,
Saturday, 02/07/2026, 2 pm - 8 pm
- 2nd Sundays at 2: youth music event with open mic + improv jam - Seattle Drum School of Music, Lake City Way Northeast, Seattle, WA, Sunday, 02/08/2026, 2PM
- Chess Club for Kids and Teens - Shoreline Library - Shoreline Library, 345 Northeast 175th Street, Shoreline, WA, Sunday, 02/08/2026, 1 pm - 3 pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Seattle 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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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Seattle area? 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Seattle 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! In addition to Seattle there are
locations in Mercer Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Newcastle, Shoreline, Renton, Lake Forest Park, Redmond, Kingsgate, Kenmore, and SeaTac.
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2025's best places to take kids in the Seattle area. 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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