KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. So please click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. If you're interested, check out the 2025 list here to
see who won last year. |
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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 24th Spring Joshua Tree Music Festival returns May 14–17, 2026 – four nights and three days of live music, movement, mindfulness, and magic in the Mojave desert.
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Take a free tour of Orange County's award-winning home for the performing arts and see Segerstrom Center in a whole new light! Led by Segerstrom Center volunteer Docents, guests will explore the remarkable campus while experiencing the details and history of this cultural arts hub located in the heart of Orange County.
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Join Canyon Lake Library and Mentoring Tiny Humans for a fun-filled Bored Play Day! We'll have a variety of activities to keep you entertained, including: Board games: Gather your friends and family for a friendly competition, Puzzles: Put your thinking skills to the test with a challenging puzzle, Coloring: Unleash your creativity and express yourself through coloring, Fun activities: We have a variety of other games and activities to keep you busy.
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Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The Grammy award-winning music and the infectious energy of its mesmerizing choreography and breathtaking performances has left audiences in awe and established Riverdance as a global cultural sensation. To celebrate this incredible 30th year milestone, Riverdance will embark on a special anniversary tour, bringing its magic to audiences around the world. This spectacular production rejuvenates the much-loved original show with new innovative choreography and costumes and state of the art lighting, projection and motion graphics. And for the first time Riverdance welcomes “The New Generation” of performers, all of whom were not born when show began 30 years ago.
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Science comes to life at the 5th Annual Beckman Arts & Science Family Festival! Join us for an exciting afternoon where hands-on experiments, live performances, and interactive exhibits spark curiosity for innovators of all ages. Explore robotics, build engineering projects, race LEGO cars, observe the sun through telescopes, meet live animals, and create take-home inventions—from LED creations to mechanical robots.
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Guided tours of Heritage House are available to book online! Join us every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to learn more about Riverside!
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Come see us at the Runing Spring Farmers Market that occurs every Saturday morning (Late-March to mid-November) from 9am to 1pm. Click to see the location in The parking lot next to the Runing Springs library, California. Come listen to live music, check out our special activies, like our holiday craft fair in December. See pictures of what we've been upto at recent markets by visiting the Facebook page for the market.
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Do you know a child who loves the ocean? Ocean Investigators is a series of programs at the Aquarium for participants 7-12 years old, that encourages exploration of marine life. Each 2-hour class includes theme related activities, guided gallery tour, interaction with our animal care staff, and a keepsake journal. See below for each program theme, activities, and dates.
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Join us for Mountain Story Time at the Big Bear Discovery Center. A family-friendly program with stories and hot chocolate, perfect for all ages.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Los Angeles - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17, 2026, See link for times
- Mountain Story Time - City of Big Bear Lake California - City of Big Bear Lake California, 39707 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, CA, Friday, May 15 and Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:30 - 2:30pm PST
- Bored Game Day - Canyon Lake Library - Canyon Lake Library, 31594 Railroad Canyon Road, Canyon Lake, CA 92587, Friday, May 15, 2026, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
- Little Artists - Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library - Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library, 14901 Dale Evans Pkwy, Apple Valley, CA 92307, Friday, May 15, 2026, 11:00am - 12:00pm PST
- Tours - Heritage House of
Riverside - Heritage House of Riverside, Riverside Heritage House, Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA, Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17, 2026, Check Website for Time
- Little Seedlings Story Time - Sherman Library and Gardens - Sherman Library and Gardens,
East Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar, CA, Friday, May 15, 2026, 10 am - 10:30 am
- Beckman Arts & Science Family Festival - Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11:30 AM
- Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social - Heritage House, Sunday, May 17, 2026, 12:00 p.m.-4 p.m.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Inland Empire 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 Inland Empire! 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Inland Empire? 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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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