KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Fri, Jun 19: National Indigenous People's Day
Sat, Jun 20: Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
Sat, Jun 20: National Indigenous Peoples Day
Sat, Jun 27: Golden Spike Days
Sun, Jun 28: Greek Day on Broadway
Mon, Jun 29: Summer Camps- Webb's Holiday Acres
Sat, Jul 4: Coquitlam Pride 2026
Thu, Jul 16: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert
Sat, Jul 18: Celebrate Mount Pleasant Park Festival
Fri, Jul 24: Disney’s The Lion King Live in Concert
Sat, Jul 25: Burnaby Pride |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: "The best thing about your newsletter," said a reader who met me in person at an event last June, "is the sheer number of things to do, and the fact that they're just packed in there, all in one handy place." "Thanks!" I said. I may have glowed a little. "And the worst thing about your newsletter," she continued, "is the guilt trip. I know
you don't mean to lay that on us. We can't do it all, so it means we read about so much we can't do. Especially in summer." She was right, in one sense, of course. June and July are the most packed months of the calendar: Kids are out of school, families are ready for fun, and our communities respond. Each local organization gets to post its own events on our calendar for free, and many are featured in this newsletter, so what's happening is right there in front of
you. But I get it! And I hereby remove the guilt. Ego te absolvo. Of course, good families try to expose their kids to great things, but no one has the time, money, or energy to do it all. This stuff needs to be spread out over a childhood, not packed into a single summer, much less a single weekend. So make a family bucket list for Summer 2026. An easy way to do that is to take our annual survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids, which is open through June 20; it has dozens of places to have fun this summer, even though you only vote for your top 3! And you should also use our 50 Ways to Love Your Summer article for ideas that require zero technology, zero travel, and zero dollars. Above all, go easy! Remember, summer is no time for grades! The only prize is the summer that's right for your family.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
|
|
|
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 Vancouver 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 |
|
|
|
Discover an unforgettable summer in sunny Tsawwassen at Southpointe Academy. Designed for students entering Grades 1–12, our Summer Programme offers enriching experiences in academics, STEM, and the arts within a caring, engaging community where every learner is encouraged to grow. Whether your child is building new skills, exploring a passion, or discovering something entirely new, Southpointe provides a summer filled with creativity, confidence, and connection. Led by experienced educators and instructors, each programme is thoughtfully designed to inspire curiosity and joyful learning through hands-on experiences and meaningful friendships. Spaces are extremely limited and expected to fill quickly. Explore our full range of summer offerings and register early to secure your child’s place in an unforgettable Southpointe summer!
|
|
|
|
Award-Winning Summer Camps That Kids Love and Parents Trust: Looking for an unforgettable summer for your child? Renaissance Academy of Learning’s Wondercamps offer exciting week-long adventures filled with creativity, learning, and fun. Children can explore art, STEM, robotics, cooking, dance, outdoor activities, games, and more in a safe, engaging environment led by experienced instructors. As a **BC Parent Gold Winner for Favourite Art, Music, Drama & Dance Camps** and recognized among the **Top 3 in Richmond’s Best Awards**, Wondercamps have become a trusted choice for Lower Mainland families. With themed camps running throughout the summer, convenient Richmond locations, flexible care options, and hot lunch available, there’s something for every child to discover and enjoy.
|
|
|
|
Last chance to make waves this summer at Vancouver Aquarium's AquaCamp! Designed for ocean explorers ages 5–12, AquaCamp combines hands-on activities, animal observations, science experiments, outdoor play, and unforgettable underwater adventures—all in one fin-tastic week. Guided by experienced aquarium staff, campers will discover marine ecosystems, learn about ocean conservation, and connect with amazing animals while building confidence, curiosity, and new friendships along the wave. Camp sessions are booking up fast, and availability is limited—secure your spot before your preferred dates swim away.
|
|
|
|
The White Rock Jazz & Blues Festival, Presented by REMAX Colonial Pacific, features free outdoor jazz & blues performances on June 6 & 7, ticketed intimate jazz shows on June 3 & 4 (performers TBA), and gala ticketed shows on June 5 & 6 in Blue Frog Studios featuring Alex Browne & His Boulevardiers (June 5) and Boney Fields (June 6) Come to White Rock as we celebrate jazz & blues throughout our community!
|
|
|
|
Discover the vibrant atmosphere of the Shipyards Night Market, nestled in the heart of North Vancouver. Every Friday night, locals and visitors gather at the Shipyards District to indulge in a culinary extravaganza, explore unique artisan vendors, enjoy live music and DJ’s while unwinding in the beer garden. This one-of-a-kind experience is brought to you by the CONIFER Entertainment Society working in collaboration with a community of passionate individuals dedicated to creating unforgettable memories.
|
|
|
|
Soccer & Technology from the FIFA Museum, presented in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, makes its North American debut right here in Vancouver. This new exhibition takes visitors behind the scenes of the beautiful game, showing how innovation has shaped its evolution. Visitors will discover the role of technology in soccer today through five distinct zones: Broadcasting and Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing and Fair Play, Staging the Game, and Innovation Lab. So, whether you’re a lifelong soccer fan or simply fascinated by the science, this feature exhibition will shine a spotlight on parts of the game we don’t often see. Score!
|
|
|
|
The District of West Vancouver invites everyone to attend the West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest! This two-day festival brings people together through food, music and culture. Join us as we celebrate the multicultural diversity of West Vancouver!
|
|
|
|
Doors Open Richmond is a free annual celebration that raises civic awareness and showcases the diverse, multicultural places and communities of the city. Since launching in 2008, over 334,400 visitors have explored Richmond’s most popular museums, faith-based institutions, cultural organizations, food & beverage establishments, civic centres, and much more. Doors Open Richmond 2025 welcomed 23,900 visitors to 52 participating sites and worked with 510 volunteers who contributed over 2300 hours to make this event a success.
|
|
|
|
Hats Off Day has been a grassroots festival celebrating the best of the Burnaby Heights community since the early 1980s. Today, the event has gradually grown from a small sidewalk event to a day-long celebration that begins with a Family Fun Dash, followed by a mainstreet-style Parade and Street Festival.
|
|
|
|
This program is for teens ages 12-18 in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and their allies. Come make a flower crown to accessorize for Pride Month in a fun group setting.
|
|
|
|
The City of New Westminster and the New West Soccer Club are getting you into the soccer spirit with sports, food and fun for the whole family on Saturday, June 6th in Queen's Park.
|
|
|
|
Stop by Eagle Acres to visit the animals, enjoy the festival, or support your cycling friends as they return from the Valley Gran Fondo ride for the festival in the field after. Please follow parking directions for this FREE event.
|
|
|
|
For 30 years, the Fraser Valley Children’s Festival has been bringing families together through creativity, laughter, and hands-on fun, and 2026 marks a very special milestone. Join us as we celebrate three decades of imagination, community spirit, and unforgettable childhood memories at beautiful Fraser River Heritage Park.
|
|
|
|
Join us for a family-friendly birthday celebration with music and story by Bob Singleton! Hear, see, and imagine as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents a musical world of friendly penguins, monkeys, ducks, and other animals celebrating the Unicorn’s birthday. Bring your favourite unicorn items, wear your best unicorn outfits, and get your picture with the Birthday Unicorn at this charming, fantasy and fun-filled symphony experience.
|
|
|
|
Get creative and design your dream lip product! Join us and customize lip gloss and balm made from plant oils, butters, and beeswax. Mix and match food grade flavour oils, cosmetic grade pigments and create your own unique combination. We've got a range of flavour options, from classic Vanilla to Blue Raspberry, Chocolate, Strawberry, Mint, and Honeydew Melon. And to add that perfect pop of colour, choose from a range of cosmetic grade pigments or shimmery micas. Each group will make and take home 5 lip glosses and 5 lip balms. No experience required and all supplies are included.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Vancouver 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Vancouver 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's almost time for fruit picking! Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens.
|
|
|
Wishing you and your family health and happiness!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
