KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, May 9: Fun & Fearless 5K
Sat, May 9: Tulip Days at Pingle's Farm
Thu, May 14: Opening Weekend - Blossoms, Babies & Bees!
Sun, May 17: Sesame Street Live - Elmo's Got the Moves!
Mon, May 18: Nobleton Victoria Day Fair and Fireworks Show
Fri, May 22: Maker Night: Origami Society of Toronto at AGO
Fri, Jun 5:
Shrek Jr. the Musical - Crane Creations Theatre Company
Thu, Jun 11: LaSalle Strawberry Festival
Sat, Jun 13: All Colours Fair Country Night - Country Heritage Park
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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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Prepare for a thrilling tale of mystery, magic, and mayhem in The Black Spider, the comic opera by acclaimed British composer, Judith Weir. Loosely inspired by Jeremias Gotthelf’s 1842 novella, this unique opera intertwines two stories across centuries—one a medieval morality tale of good and evil, the other a modern-day mystery rooted in history. In 15th-century Poland, a tyrannical landlord sets his villagers an impossible task: to carry an entire forest to the summit of a mountain. When a mysterious Green Man offers his aid, he asks for only one thing in return—a young girl named Christina. Her choice sets off a dark chain of events, awakening the evil Black Spider and bringing chaos upon the village.
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Building on a multi-year research project, our newest exhibition will celebrate the lives of 52 women who have shaped Toronto as we know it. Spanning from the 1800s until today, this exhibition shines a spotlight on the change-makers, agitators, and revolutionaries within Toronto’s 52%. While some of these women’s stories are well known, others have gone relatively untold until today. See how many names you are familiar to you — step into their shoes, learn their stories and discover the ways they have transformed Toronto.
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Monet: The Immersive Experience is a 360º digital art exhibition in Toronto that invites you to step into the world of the French painter Claude Monet, one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the nineteenth century. Visitors will be immersed in Van Gogh’s works — from his sunny landscapes and night scenes, to his portraits and still life paintings. The installation includes the Mangeurs de pommes de terre (The Potato Eaters, 1885), the Nuit étoilée (Starry Night, 1889), Les Tournesols (Sunflowers, 1888), and La Chambre à coucher (The Bedroom, 1889). It is astonishing in scale, breathtakingly imaginative, and a completely new look at the Master’s work.
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After touring over 100 cities in 24 countries and entering CNN's list of “Must-See” exhibitions, Art of the Brick is coming to Toronto. The exhibit immerses the visitor in a cheerful and colorful world. The artist used more than a million bricks, creating over 130+ works of art that can make adults and children smile and reflect.
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Gather with family and friends to celebrate the magic of cherry blossom season as the park comes alive with spring. Enjoy a full day of programming on the grounds of Colborne Lodge Museum, including the lively sounds of Syrian musicians Diar, waltzing lessons on the lawn with Waltz Toronto, read haiku poems inspired by the fleeting beauty of the season, and, if you’re feeling inspired, write your own haiku and add it to the growing display. Browse community and vendor tables, then create a unique keepsake of a paper flower to take home to remember your delightful day under the cherry trees.
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Welcome back! Our 2026 operating season starts Saturday, May 2. Come out to the museum and check out what’s been happening over the winter months. Bring your family and friends to ride the rails and enjoy the spring weather in a unique setting.
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Discover your city on Saturday, May 2 at Doors Open Oshawa! Go behind the scenes of Oshawa's most diverse heritage and cultural sites to discover local history and celebrate our community heritage.
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Looking for a wild way to ring in spring? Don’t miss the Spring Wildlife Festival, happening at your Toronto Zoo’s Canadian Wetlands habitat on Saturday, May 2nd from 10am-3pm! This is a unique opportunity to meet some of the biggest conservation organizations in Ontario and Canada, including Parks Canada, Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, Wildlife Preservation Canada, and Heart Lake Turtle Troopers. Discover what local animals are up to at this time of year, check out fun activities and giveaways, and learn how you can protect wildlife by participating in community science at the Zoo and beyond. Then, listen for the mating calls of male toads looking for love this breeding season!
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This adaptive music performance is being presented in a family-friendly, inclusive environment that embraces neurodiversity and disability.
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Have you made your weekend plans yet? We're FREE every Sunday thanks to our sponsor KPMG! Reserve your tickets now!
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This pop-up installation explores the compelling stories and experiences of Toronto’s diverse communities who have fought for their sense of home, belonging and identity during periods of conflict and peace. This installation is created in partnership with the Toronto Metropolitan University's Masters of Digital Media program.
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A new galactic recruit, a missing star, and a bit of unexpected mayhem create the world of the Star Keepers. Every night, the Star Keepers must make sure each star is awake and ready to shine, but what happens when one goes missing? This interactive play takes kids ages 1-5 years on a journey that reminds all of us that mistakes happen, but no problem is too big if you ask for help.
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- The 52: An Exhibition - Museum of Toronto, 401 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 3A8, Canada, Friday, May 1, 2026, 12 - 6 pm
- Downsview parkrun - Downsview Park, 70 Canuck Ave, North York, ON M3K 2C5, Canada, Saturday, May 2, 2026, 9 am
- Springfest at the Aga Khan Park - The Aga Khan Park, 77
Wynford Dr, North York, Toronto, ON M3C 1K1, Canada, Saturday, May 2, 2026, 11:30 am
- Spring Fest: Celebrate Cherry Blossom Season at Colborne Lodge - Colborne Lodge, Colborne Lodge Drive, Toronto, ON, Canada, Saturday, May 2, 2026 - Sunday, May 3, 2026, 11 am - 5
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- Free Sunday at Bata Shoe Museum - Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7, Canada, Sunday, May 3, 2026, 12 - 5 pm
- Cherry Blossom Tour at Aga Khan Park - The Aga Khan Park, 77 Wynford Dr, North York, Toronto, ON M3C 1K1, Canada, Sunday, May 3, 2026, 1 - 3 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Toronto 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 Toronto 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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Wishing you and your family health and happiness,
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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