KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The Christmas I was 10, my sister and I woke up at our usual ridiculously-early hour and raced downstairs to the tree. Something was different: fewer gifts than usual, no giant boxes, no bike-shaped mystery lumps. But nestled among the smaller packages were envelopes that turned out to be plane tickets to Bermuda. We were leaving that very morning, which
explained why my parents had not objected to being awakened at 5:30. Decades later, I don’t remember what else I got that year—or most years—but I remember being bundled up and giddy, heading to the airport while it was still dark. I remember pink sand, caves, and the little cakes they served at teatime. It's all still as fresh to me as the air was at Grotto Bay Beach. That trip taught me something I wouldn’t have been able to say at the time:
Presence creates the memories, not the presents. Of course, we all want our kids to have a magical holiday. But when we think back to our own childhoods, what sticks isn’t the stuff, it’s the doing. The zoo trips, the plays, the sporting events, the concerts, the hands held during the adventures. That’s why my long-time holiday mantra is “Do it, don’t dust it.” Experiences are the gifts that last the longest, especially when we do them
together. They don’t pile up in a closet; they plant themselves in our memory. So if you’re still pondering what to give the people you love this year, consider a show, a class, a day trip, a membership, a season pass. Something that says “I see you, you matter, let's do it together." Need ideas? Head to our Local Memberships & Season Passes page! It's your ticket to the perfect gift... and it's guaranteed clutter-free.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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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I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
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Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
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Preschool is more fun — and educational — by learning outdoors at the Saint Louis Zoo! Join us for our Second Nature Zoo Preschool Open Houses and learn about our Reggio-inspiredprogram, where children’s interests guide their learning. Students spend 50% of their day outdoors and draw inspiration from animals and nature. NEW: Starting with the 2026-27 academic year, preschool will be a full-day program, and the new classrooms will be located in the Zoo’s new Destination Discovery area! Open house is Sunday, Jan. 4 from 9 am to noon. Learn more at stlzoo.org/preschool.
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The Better Family Life Kwanzaa Holiday Expo is an annual event highlighting the fourth principle of KWANZAA - UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics) - catering to the individual or business looking to promote or sell their product or service. This 2-day event is fun for the whole family with ive entertainment, music, food, workshops and more.
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The Winter Celebrations festival is inspired by holiday traditions from around the world. It is a free, family-friendly festival that features different performances and family art activities each day. No tickets or reservations are required to attend Winter Celebrations.
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Witness and experience the magic of more than a million twinkling lights during the 40th annual Brewery Lights at the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery! Starting on November 22nd, guests are invited to stroll down Pestalozzi Street to marvel as the brewery is turned into a remarkable holiday experience with something for everyone.
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Don’t miss our community celebration of Hanukkah with the Missouri Botanical Gardens at Garden Glow. Tickets can be purchased through the Missouri Botanical Gardens website. Free Music and Vendors at 12pm. Garden Glow Opens at 4:30pm
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Experience holiday magic with a special visit from Mrs. Claus, traveling all the way from the North Pole! Mrs. Claus will share her favorite winter stories in our cozy Story Time Theater, all decked out for the season. Along with one of Santa’s elves, she’ll lead kids in festive songs and dances, including a jolly sing-along of Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Kids will get to shake jingle bells along to the music during the performance. In addition to story time, there will be a variety of hands-on holiday activities, including making reindeer antlers, snowman puppets and more. This event is included with Museum admission.
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Celebrate the Festival of Lights with one of St. Louis' most beloved holiday traditions—the Annual Brothers Lazaroff Hanukkah Hullabaloo at The Grandel Theatre and The Dark Room, located at 3610 Grandel Square in the heart of the Grand Center Arts District. This year’s celebration will be another unforgettable night of music, culture and community.
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Santa’s Magical Kingdom is like no other place on earth! Experience a glorious celebration of more than FOUR MILLION shimmering lights nestled among a wondrous & whimsical world of animated scenes and electrifying special effects. Every scene is custom designed to bring childhood fantasies to life. Drive through 35 acres of holiday magic where reindeer soar overhead, elves frolic in the trees, and ice cream sundaes are as big as a boat! Or for a special treat, experience all the sights and sounds of the Kingdom aboard the Santa Express Train or on a festive Old Fashion Holiday Wagon ride!
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The public is invited to view the exhibit “Winter Traditions: An Exploration of Celebrations” at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site during the month of December. The exhibit will be on display in the site’s Shaw House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. “Winter Traditions” explores Missouri’s unique cultural journey and the traditions that have influenced it. The exhibit touches on winter traditions from Haiti, Italy, Indigenous cultures and more. Admission is free, and there is no need to register. For more information, call the historic site office at 573-883-7102.
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Who’s that hooting it up each December evening?? Owls that’s who. You will learn what makes them such effective nighttime hunters and why they hoot so much this time of year. We will then take a short walk and see if we can entice any owls to fly in and talk to us. Dress appropriately since we will be outside part of the time (warm clothing including gloves and flashlights).
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Take a dip under holiday lights with festive music at this one-of-a-kind pool party! Enjoy cheerful decorations, tasty snacks, refreshments and holiday spirit, plus pizza with Santa. Don't forget your towel and dry clothes!
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Illuminated Echoes is a full-length dance work created by award-winning artist Tommie-Waheed Evans for COCAdance, COCA’s modern and contemporary pre-professional dance company. The piece is inspired by the light installations of artist James Turrell and combines dance, sound, and visual art to create an unforgettable experience. Evans mixes light, movement, and sound, allowing the audience to take part in a sensory journey that challenges how we think about performance. Like Turrell’s work, which focuses on how we see and understand space, Evans uses light not just to shine on the dancers but to shape their movements and change how the audience sees everything. As the choreography and light shift, a conversation is created between the dancers and their environment. This encourages the audience to see space and movement in new ways.
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For half a century, this festival has made the holiday spirit of the past come to life for the young and young at heart. With a unique blend of storytelling, history, and fairy tale whimsy, guests are welcomed into a world of yuletide nostalgia and fantasy where reindeer fly, sugarplums dance in your head, and an array of international ambassadors invite you to explore unique holiday customs from around the world.
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- Belleville Chirstkindlmarkt - Public Square, Belleville, IL, USA - Friday, December 12, 2025 to Sunday, December 14, 2025, see website for times
- St. Charles Christmas Traditions® - 230 S Main St, St Charles, MO 63301, USA - Friday, December 12, 2025 to Sunday, December 14, 2025, various times
- History Exploration Days: Holiday Toys and Games - Missouri History Museum, Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, USA - Friday, December 12, 2025 to Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10 am - 1 pm
- Forsyth School Science Saturday - Forsyth School, 6235 Wydown
Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, USA - Saturday, December 13, 2025, 9:30 AM
- Craftibility: Art and Story Time for Preschoolers - Brentwood Public Library, 8765 Eulalie Avenue, Brentwood, MO 63144, USA - Friday, December 12, 2025, 10:00 AM
- Festive Friday - 1 Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA - Friday, December 12, 2025, 10 AM to 9 PM
- Winter Celebrations 2025 - 1 Fine Arts Drive, St.
Louis, MO, USA - Friday, December 12, 2025 to Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10 AM to 4 PM
- Songs and Stories - Babies & Toddlers - Maplewood Public Library, 7550 Lohmeyer Ave, Maplewood, MO 63143, USA - Friday, December 12, 2025, 11 AM to 11:30 AM
- 2025 KWANZAA Holiday Expo - Better Family Life Inc, 5415 Page Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112, USA - Friday, December 12, 2025 to Saturday, December 13, 2025, see website for times
- MICDS Tuition Assistance Application Workshop - MICDS, 101 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63124, USA - Saturday, December 13, 2025, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST
- Explore & Play - Jefferson County Library - Arnold Branch, 1701 Missouri State Rd,
Arnold, MO 63010, USA - Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10:00 AM
- Kimmswick Elf Hunt - 6041 3rd St, Kimmswick, MO 63053, USA - Saturday, December 13, 2025 to Sunday, December 14, 2025, see website for times
- Old Belleville Historical Luminary Walk - Mascoutah Avenue, Belleville, IL, USA - Saturday, December 13, 2025, 5 PM to 9 PM
- Holiday Pop-Up Shop -
Laumeier Sculpture Park, 12580 Rott Road, Sappington, St. Louis, MO 63127, USA - Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10 AM to 4 PM
- YogiSmart at St. Louis County Libraries - Private, St Louis, MO 63042, USA - Saturday, December 13, 2025, times vary
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA - Saturday, December 13, 2025, see link for times
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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Winter Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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The St. Louis area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in
festive activities.
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St. Louis 2025 holiday events and activities...Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The activities we've listed here
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the St. Louis 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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Best places to take kids in St Louis in 2024! Once again, our readers have spoken! Thousands of parents voted in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in
special categories like favorite spot for indoor play, favorite nature center, favorite museum, and much more!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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