KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Dec 26: Kwanzaa Celebration 2025 at The Saint Louis Art Museum
Sat, Dec 27:
Kwanzaa Celebration - Natural Bridge Branch
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Year's Eve Skate at Skate City Fun Spot
Wed, Dec 31: New Year’s Eve in the City at City Museum
Wed, Dec 31: Family Fun: Noon Year's Eve Party at St. Charles
City-County Library - Kisker Road Branch
Fri, Jan 2: Alton Eagle Ice Festival 2026
Sat, Jan 24: National Skating Month
Celebration at Brentwood Ice Arena
Sat, Jan 24: Loop Ice Carnival at Delmar Loop
Sun, Jan 25: St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School Open House
Sat, Feb 7: Open House at The Soulard School
Sun, Feb 8: Purina Pet Parade
Sat, Feb 14: Bud Light Grand Parade of Mardi Gras
Fri, Feb 20: Stories in the 100 Aker Wood at DaySpring Arts and Education
Sat, Feb 21: SCC Summer Camp Celebration at Community Education |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice—Robert Frost’s “darkest evening of the year.” It’s when we in the Northern Hemisphere most appreciate human inventiveness: We flip a switch, and light floods the room. It feels like magic, but it’s not. It’s the result of generations of curious, determined humans trying to make life better, brighter, safer. That’s why my
family celebrates Lightbulb Day every December 21. It’s our homegrown holiday honoring the inventors and problem-solvers whose insights fuel our lives. We toast our favorite technologies, learn some history, imagine the future. Past years’ MVPs include contact lenses, antibiotics, the internet, veterinary science,
and the Covid vaccine. This year’s front-runner: artificial intelligence. Last weekend, I had breakfast with a friend and her 13-year-old daughter, Lily. Lily said she loves math and science but struggles with how her teachers approach the humanities, especially writing. When I showed her how AI can help her learn in the way she learns best, her face lit up. So I went home and wrote a how-to article for Lily, her mom, and any of you with kids in middle school or older: How Students Can Use AI to Learn to Write (Without Giving Away their Brains). AI isn’t here to think for us. It’s here to help us think more effectively with our own minds. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to our kids. In this new AI age, the real danger isn’t
the technology itself, it’s the temptation to hand our brains over to it and say, “Here, you do all the work.” So this Lightbulb Day, I’m raising an Erlenmeyer flask, not just to the great inventors of the past, but to Lily, and to every young person learning to think with tools rather than letting tools do the thinking. Because the real magic isn’t flipping the switch; it’s understanding where the current comes from, and imagining what we’ll power with it in the
future.
—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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Annually, on December 21st, we experience the darkest day of the year. It's also the perfect day to appreciate and celebrate human reason and ingenuity. Why celebrate reason or ingenuity? Without them there would be no lightbulbs, indoor toilets,
antibiotics, baby monitors, or eye glasses. Grim!
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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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Dance the shortest day of the year away! An event in which everyone has a reason to dance!There will be: DANCING! (non-critical/non-judgmental movements in a safe place) a table to make resolution/intention ribbons to dance with, DJ spinning all the favs,bring your tambourines /shakers/bongos to join in!
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Share the joy of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet with family and friends. Give the gift of a spectacular holiday experience featuring an international cast, whimsical puppetry and opulent costumes and sets, hand-crafted by the finest artisans of Europe. Go back to a simpler time and make memories your family will cherish forever. Celebrate the season with America’s most beloved Nutcracker tradition! Tchaikovsky’s timeless score sets the stage for a Christmas your family will never forget. Get tickets today!
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Experience the magic of the holidays as St. Louis native Kennedy Holmes joins the SLSO to perform seasonal favorites and exciting twists on timeless classics. A cherished tradition, this festive performance promises to fill the air with cheer. From the joyous sounds of sleigh bells to new renditions of beloved tunes, this concert brings the season to life in a way that only the SLSO and hometown favorite Holmes can.
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Begin your holiday celebration when you experience the enchantment of Christmas at the "Christmas Wonderland" holiday light display. The "Grandpa Gang" has been at it again transforming Rock Spring Park in Alton, Illinois into a Winter Wonderland. Visitors can drive through the park to view more than 4 million lights decorating the park! This year the popular Enchanted Forest where visitors vote on their favorite decorated tree returns to the park, as do visits with Santa Claus! Take your own free photos with Santa! Walkthrough night is always the first Monday after Thanksgiving (6 p.m. - 9 p.m.) for anyone who wants to brave the cold and get an up-close-and-personal view of the holiday light show!
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Dive into holiday fun at our SpongeBob Christmas Skate on Saturday, December 20th from 10AM–12PM! Kids can meet and greet SpongeBob, snap photos at the Christmas at the Krusty Krab photo booth, and enjoy festive treats like Patrick’s Peppermint Sundae. We’ll also have a Krabby Patty Hunt and SpongeBob trivia on the floor for prizes. It’s a holiday skate adventure straight out of Bikini Bottom—perfect for the whole family! Admission is $8 per skater with $5 skate rental (if needed).
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Come join us for a festive Kwanzaa Celebration at the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center! Enjoy a day filled with music, dance, food, and community spirit as we honor African heritage and culture. Bring your family and friends to partake in the joyous festivities. Don't miss out on this special event that celebrates unity, creativity, and faith. Vendors, bike giveaway, poetry, music, open mic, dance performances.. Let's come together to embrace the seven principles of Kwanzaa and create lasting memories. See you there!
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Take a wintery ride on a golf cart at the Ballwin Golf Course to see Santa and enjoy hot chocolate and pictures. Bundle up as you ride the cart path to Santa's special location, and count all the candy canes on the way. Those that count the right number of candy canes will receive a special prize at Santa's location on the course. But beware of the MEAN GREEN GROUCH who will disrupt your trip. He has been extra mean this year and will do anything he can to make you miscount the candy canes. Kids are encouraged to be on their best behavior on their way to see Santa, the MEAN GREEN GROUCH with have enough naughty for the whole group.
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Happy Howlidays! The Endangered Wolf Center is ringing in this holiday season with a festive adventure. Invite your friends and family to enjoy s’mores around the campfire, hot cocoa, cookies, and holiday refreshments. The evening will feature our spin on caroling, as we sing with the wolves under the night sky. The howls from our American Red Wolves and Mexican wolves are some of the rarest sounds in the animal kingdom, so you won’t want to miss this spectacular symphony. Be sure to mark your calendars to join us for this unforgettable holiday celebration.
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Meet our naturalist at the Green Rock Trailhead for a social winter hike. You can park in the lot in front of the Visitor's Center and walk back towards the bridge to find the trail. Hikes are steep but at a slow pace. This is a great opportunity to get outside and see nature at a different time of year than you might be used to! Even in winter, there is so much to enjoy and learn about in the woods. Hikes will take place in the cold or snow but will be canceled if temperatures are dangerously low. Dress and prepare for the weather. We will walk a portion of the trail before heading back. You can expect to be out for 1-1.5 hours depending on the temperature. All ages welcome!
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Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis has been America’s favorite holiday tradition for 40 years! Grammy Award winner Chip Davis has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound. This year’s show will feature classic Christmas hits from the Mannheim Steamroller holiday albums along with multimedia effects in an intimate setting including 15 musicians playing more than 20 instruments against a backdrop of dazzling multimedia effects – capturing the spirit of the season in an immersive yet intimate setting. Davis will direct and co-produce Tour performances with MagicSpace Entertainment. Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis is co-produced by MagicSpace Entertainment. The company is a boutique producing and presenting firm focused on first-class properties and productions. Based in Park City, UT, the company has produced and presented national tours, Broadway shows, concerts, museum exhibits and sporting…
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The Magic House hosts Free Family Night every third Friday of the month from 5-8 pm. These special nights enable a family (up to two adults and four children) to visit the Museum at no cost. Free Family Nights are sponsored by Emerson.
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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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- Free Fridays- The Saint Louis Art Museum - The Saint Louis Art Museum - 1 Fine Arts Drive Forest Park, St. Louis, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, 10 am to 9 pm
- FREE Third Fridays - Craft Alliance - 5080 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, Friday, December 19, 2025, 6-9 pm
- Free Family Nights -The Magic House - 516 S Kirkwood Rd, St. Louis, Friday,
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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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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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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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