KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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: Knight Camp
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: 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 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 |
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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!
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A free, accessible festival for all, from families to devoted football fans. Experience FIFA World Cup™ matches live on screens across the site, then keep the celebration going with live music and entertainment from Canadian and global artists throughout the grounds. Set within the historic PNE Grounds at Hastings Park, the FIFA Fan Festival™ Vancouver immerses you in football activations, elevated food and beverage offerings, and interactive experiences from commercial partners.
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Join us for a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration. Gather your friends and family, and bring a blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy a day of music, dance, culture, and community. Opening remarks & protocol at 9:30am, with the main event starting at 10:00am.
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Looking for something to do between world cup soccer matches in Vancouver on June 20. Take the Skytrain to our Games and catch the skirl of the pipes, the flash of tartan and maybe a wee dram of whisky. The 129th British Columbia Highland Games has it all. It’s the sights and sounds of the Scottish Highland’s right here in BC. Our traditional Scottish highland games welcomes everyone to enjoy the best in Pacific Northwest piping, drumming, pipe bands, highland dancing, Scottish Heavy Events, whisky school, kids activities, massed pipe bands and a lot more. All taking place in Town Centre Park in Coquitlam. Easy access via Skytrain. Vendor program and volunteer applications now open. Event tickets on sale now.
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There are a number of activities going on that you can enjoy during the Midsummer Festival. Among them are two almost full days of live music with the a number of individual artists, groups and choirs. There will be performances by the Scandinavian Dancers and the Vikings in the Viking Village, including songs, games and a real Viking raid – beware of the Norse! At the Midsummer Marketplace, you find over 50 vendors with shopping kiosks with lots of exciting products and crafts. There will be cultural displays, kids’ activities, a troll forest, carnival games and a vintage Volvo car show by the Volvo Club of B.C.
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Honour and recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day by joining us for a free community celebration at Civic Square (6100 Willingdon Ave). The celebration features activities for the whole family, a variety of performances including dance, live music, spoken word, and storytelling, and an Indigenous artisans market. Burnaby Art Gallery’s BAG on a Bike mobile printing station will also be onsite. Families can also have fun learning Indigenous games or participate in soccer drills with Hope and Health. This family-friendly event is free to attend and everyone is welcome. With a SkyTrain station nearby, we encourage you to take transit or choose an active transportation option such as walking or cycling. Event takes place rain or shine. Please dress appropriately for the weather.
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Celebrate the father figure in your child’s life with a cute cardboard crown customized just for them with Makedo! Makedo is a set of kid-friendly construction tools that fosters imaginative play, all through STEAM learning. Register early, space is limited. For ages 6+ with a parent or caregiver.
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Join us for a vibrant and exciting community celebration at our annual Summer Fair! This family-friendly event will feature an array of interactive attractions, live performances, and delicious food, offering something for everyone to enjoy.
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If you live in the Pitt Meadows or Maple Ridge area and have never been to Airport Day before—COME JOIN US! This is one event you won’t want to miss. What makes this event so special? Showcasing the incredible GA and commercial aircraft that proudly call YPK home. Our static aircraft display is always the highlight for the community — and we can’t wait to make it even bigger this year! NEW this year: We’ve added an accessible parking area for vehicles with a registered parking permit decal. Please note that public parking will be limited.
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Find belonging in nature. Drop in for a rainbow themed nature scavenger hunt that celebrates the intersection of identity, community and the natural world. Search the land for colours, textures, and living beings that reflect the diversity and resilience of 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Finish the scavenger hunt and take home a Two-Spirit pride button. Fun and meaningful for adults and children alike.
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B.C.’s Family Fishing Weekend is an annual celebration of fishing that coincides with the Father’s Day weekend. In 2026, the three-day event takes place from June 19th to 21st. This is a great chance to get together with family and friends and try fishing!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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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