KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Jun 30: Black Bear Paint Night at Cherry Creek Falls Event Center, for Adults & Teens, ages 14+
Wed, Jul 1: Salish Sea Storytime - July | Harbor WildWatch
Wed, Jul 1: The Concert Truck - Renton | Liberty Park
Thu, Jul 2: Nordic Stories: Moomin and the Birthday Button | National Nordic Museum
Fri, Jul 3: For Which it Stands: The Many Threads of the American Flag
| MOHAI
Fri, Jul 3: Native Storytelling with Itsa Shash
Sat, Jul 4: Everett 4th of July 5K | Run 2 Be Fit
Sat, Jul 4: 5K Edmonds 4th of July Run & 1k Family Fun Run
Sat, Jul 4: 4th of July Parade in Downtown Burien
Wed, Jul 8: Music in the Park with Mariachi - Family Fun Extravaganza
Wed, Jul 8: KeyBank Movies at Marymoor Park |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: I’m a sucker for songs in 6/8 time, no matter the music style. I don’t know why that ONE-two-three-FOUR-five-six swinging rhythm so captures me whether it’s fast or slow, but there’s no denying that it does. And I might not even notice this rhythm, but for one little fact: I’m a thoroughly mediocre cellist. I took cello lessons from age 8 to age 14; during
those years, I graduated from “truly bad” to “moderately acceptable,” at least acceptable enough to play in orchestras where my individual sound would be drowned out by the better kids’ playing. But even as unskilled as I was, I know I am happier as an adult for having played: I can understand music from the inside. I hear patterns and styles and instruments with far different ears than I would have had I not studied music early in life. Understanding what makes your heart sing helps
you be on the lookout for more, and that makes your life better. Summer is the perfect season to help kids grow their ears. Yes, check out the big open-air concerts from your local orchestra, municipal band, or jazz ensemble. But also keep an active ear out for the smaller stuff: free concerts in parks, weekly community series, festivals, buskers, church lawn performances, library gigs, and whatever band happens to be playing near the funnel cakes. When you hear something,
name it: bluegrass, salsa, soul, swing, zydeco, classical, funk, folk, rock, rap, mariachi. Kids don’t have to like everything, but knowing the names of things helps them understand what they do like, and gives them handles for finding more of it later. A couple of tips: If you know you're headed in the direction of something new, play a sample of the style before you leave so kids have a hook on which to hang the experience. While you’re there, help them notice one thing: the
bass line, the drummer, the singer’s breathing, the way people move. That will help the music swirl around in their minds long after the last note fades. Remember, music isn’t only on stages. It’s in carousels, movie scores, worship services, elevators, malls, ballparks, and the ice cream truck coming around the corner. So as tour guide to your kids’ universe, don’t ignore the invisible! Point your ears toward the music, tune everyone's radar, and grow.
—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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Seattle area. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the people who
create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! You have my personal and fervent thanks for your participation! —Deb |
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Each week brings new adventures during the Summer Splash! Festival of Fun! Our event calendar is filled with exciting activities and special guests that spark creativity, curiosity, and wonder.
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Gear up for mini golf! This summer, the Olympic Sculpture Park transforms into a one-of-a-kind mini golf course, bringing together sports and art on the waterfront.
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Prepare for liftoff! Artemis Adventure with LEGO Bricks launches you into the world of space exploration, challenging you to think, build, and problem solve like an astronaut. Inspired by NASA’s Artemis missions, this all-ages exhibition combines real-world science with the limitless creativity of LEGO bricks.
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The City of Tukwila welcomes the community to come together for its Sixth Annual Juneteenth Commemoration. This year’s theme is Black Joy as Resilience. This free outdoor event will be held at the Sullivan Center at Tukwila Village, 14350 Tukwila International Boulevard, on Friday, June 19, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Complimentary food for the first 150 guests will be prepared by Kayla’s Kookin. The food and commemorative gifts are sponsored by Public Health – Seattle and King County.
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Did you hear? — NAAM’s biggest celebration of the year is back! Join us at Judkins Park and the Museum on Friday, June 19th, for our 2026 Juneteenth Celebration, a day where movement becomes our rhythm, art becomes our voice, and community becomes the sound that connects us.
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Summer is around the corner and it's a great time to enjoy the nice weather and longer days by starting your weekend off with a run! This is also father's day weekend and a great chance to see dad break a sweat. Our 400-meter kids dash will be at 9:15am and all other events start at 9:30am. In addition to our normal events we are offering a special event race with our duathlon option.
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Celebrate Plant-Based Living at the Annual Veg Fest! Join us at Redmond Downtown Park for a lively celebration of vegetarian, vegan, and raw food goodness. Savor mouthwatering dishes, discover creative recipes, and experience the vibrant flavors of plant-powered cuisine. This family-friendly festival offers live entertainment, engaging activities for kids, and plenty of opportunities to learn, sample, and connect with the community. Whether you’re fully plant-based or simply curious, come be inspired by a joyful celebration of health, sustainability, and compassionate living. Admission is FREE. Please RSVP to attend.
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Kick off summer in Seattle with a BANG! The Fremont Fair is taking over 6 city blocks of the *ICONIC* Fremont Neighborhood during Solstice Weekend and ushering in summer with 2 stages of live music, 200+ craft vendors, beer gardens, art cars, a Dog Parade, and so much more. Find your way to the Center of the Universe!
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Seattle Magic Shows presents : Monthly Family Magic Show at the Seattle Center. The longest running Family Magic Show in Seattle. Find out why families keep coming back year after year to see this interactive stage magic show. Amazing illusions, mind reading and comedy magic where your kids get to be part of the show.
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Waterland Arcade will be open on Father's Day from 12-5pm! Enjoy a little pinball and a cold brew or bring the whole fam to get your game on!
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Join us for a day filled with classic cars, sleek rides, and plenty of family fun. From vintage muscle cars to modern marvels, there's something for every automotive enthusiast to admire. Stroll through rows of meticulously maintained vehicles, chat with proud owners, and snap photos of your favorites. The Strawberry Festival will also be happening, we'll have food vendors serving up delicious treats, music to set the mood, and activities for the kids.
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Celebrate Pride and our LGBTQ+ community at the Zoo! June 20-21 | 9 am – 4 pm at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
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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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Seattle 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 Seattle Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near Seattle that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check out our
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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