KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: A tumble is not a verdict; it's information. And kids are natural data analysts. That's what a mom half a generation older than me told me when I was getting ready to have kids, and I took it to heart. So I was secretly a little thrilled the summer my daughter Madison was almost 4, when she took her first big splash off a slippery log into a
creek. Here's why: To succeed in life, everyone needs to learn to stretch to the edge of their abilities... to gather courage from their toes, to calculate, to balance, to wobble, to slide... and eventually to succeed. Kids can learn this early if the grownups in their orbit help them see the mud and bruises that come from a tumble as badges to be worn proudly: a fail-until-we-succeed philosophy in action. That's how personal fulfillment happens, and it's how human progress happens,
too. Summer is childhood's best laboratory, where sensory experiences stick as lifelong learning. School has grades and rubrics and consequences; summer has grass stains and do-overs. An amusement park ride can teach the difference between fear and danger. A hands-on museum can teach that when your tower collapses, you simply vow to rebuild it taller. A farm can teach that maybe you don’t like strawberries from the grocery store, but
you do like the ones you picked yourself, still warm from the sun. A climbing gym can teach your muscles that “I can’t” really means “I can’t yet.” And summer camps are entire worlds built around trying something new with no transcript following you home. Last week, the KidsOutAndAbout.com team launched our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey. It's a way to thank the people who make your community a great place to raise kids. Equally important, it’s a giant menu of local opportunities for your kids to stretch their legs, their minds, and their bravery this summer. Use it to create your summer bucket list! Then step back and set your family’s summer dial to “safe to fail.” Watch your kids climb, build, stumble, and try again.
Let them splash.
—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. |
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On the FLY STL Studios is NOT your typical summer camp. At our camps kids don’t just perform—they learn to FLY. Campers experience aerial silks, trapeze, harness flying, dance, acting, and circus arts, culminating in a fully produced live showcase each week. Each themed session blends creativity, confidence, and real skill development in a safe, professionally rigged environment led by industry experts. With a low camper-to-coach ratio and a phone-free focus, kids stay present, active, playful, and inspired. If your child is ready for something unforgettable this summer, this is where imagination takes flight.
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Youth baseball and softball players ages 6–14 are invited to join a FREE, fun-filled instructional clinic May 26–28, led by professional Gateway Grizzlies staff and sponsored by Mid America Chevy Dealers. Open to all skill levels—no league experience required—participants will be grouped by age and rotate through engaging stations designed to build and sharpen essential skills. Children with special needs, ages 6 and up, are also warmly welcomed. Each session runs from 8:00 AM–12:00 PM in Granite City, Arnold, and Sauget. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn, play, and grow! Register now at baseball.youthsportsclinics.com. Select St. Louis using password “playball.”
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Plan your AWESOME birthday Bricks 4 Kidz ® party! Have a Bricks 4 Kidz® party in your own and we bring the party to you!! Or book space at recreation centers, restaurants, parks, or any location of your choosing. Party package starts at $300 for up to 15 children and includes 2 Bricks 4 Kidz® Party Hosts for up to 90 minutes of LEGO activities, games, challenges, and building and Party favors for each child! Contact Bricks 4 Kidz ® at [email protected] |
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The St. Paul Parish Picnic is a beloved annual community event hosted by St. Paul Catholic Church, bringing together parish members and local residents for a weekend of fun, food, and fellowship. Held in May, the picnic features a variety of family-friendly activities including carnival rides, games, live entertainment, and food booths. Highlights include a community parade, bingo, face painting, and a traditional chicken dinner. With opportunities for socializing, volunteering, and celebrating faith, the event creates a welcoming atmosphere for all ages and continues to be a cherished tradition in the Fenton community.
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After last year’s incredible turnout, the St. Louis County Greek Fest is back again! We look forward to welcoming you May 22 - 25 to enjoy authentic Greek food, live music, and dancing. See you this Memorial Day Weekend!
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We are back and couldn’t be more exciting for the event happening May 22nd – 24th at Frontier Park in St. Charles, Missouri. We will have a fun filled weekend with Music, Irish Dance, Culture, Children’s area, Food and Tasty Beverages.
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The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball organization and a member of the Frontier League. The Grizzlies play at picturesque GCS Ballpark in the St. Louis suburb of Sauget, IL. Located just a mere 100 yards from I-255 (10 minutes from downtown St. Louis), the Grizzlies offer affordable, family, fun to all baseball fans within the SW Illinois and the Greater St. Louis area. While attending Grizzlies games, you will enjoy fantastic baseball at the professional level, pre and post-game activities, nationally recognized food and exciting promotions. Throughout the year, some of the promotions come with the best fireworks display you will ever see and even an appearance from a celebrity or athlete.
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Make plans to spend the weekend at the farm—it’s Strawberry Festival time! Gather your family and friends and head to our Belleville Farm for a fun-filled celebration of the season. Enjoy delicious festival food, sweet strawberry treats, and refreshing strawberry-themed cocktails while live music sets the mood all day long. Explore the farm and capture the moment at our many photo-worthy spots, then settle in for an easygoing day of music, food, and fresh air. Kids will love the pony rides, petting farm, children’s play area, and carnival rides, while adults relax, sip, and soak up the festival vibes. It’s a joyful, all-ages farm festival full of flavor, music, and memories—exactly how summer should feel. 10am–5pm (fee charged for select activities)
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The St. Louis African Arts Festival is held in beautiful Forest Park. Each year the festival attracts a diverse audience of thousands of local residents and out-of-town visitors during the Memorial Day weekend. The Festival draws the community together in celebration of the rich contributions of Africa and the African Diaspora (diaspora–people settled far from their ancestral homelands). The annual event enjoys partnerships with major local cultural institutions as the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Public Library, the Muny, and Washington University in St. Louis.
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Explore fire trucks, ambulances, school buses, police vehicles, and MORE with JCL-Northwest during this annual event. Following the Northwest Chamber of Commerce Memorial Day Parade, all ages are welcome to tour, traverse, and inspect these cool trucks! Light refreshments provided. Stop by anytime between 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM! No registration required.
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Ever dreamed of encountering the mythical? Your chance is here! Our exclusive events bring you face-to-fin with real-life mermaids. Get ready for an enchanting experience unlike any other. Mermaid encounters are free with your admission ticket or Membership.
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The Sprouts program will kick off on May 3! We look forward to seeing all of our youngest market shoppers again! Our goal is to introduce children to a variety of fresh, local produce while encouraging families to shop at the Washington Farmers’ Market.
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Kick off summer in style at Collinsville’s 7th Annual Firework Festival! Enjoy an evening filled with delicious food, live music, local vendors, family-friendly fun, and a spectacular fireworks show to light up the night sky. Bring your friends, bring your family, and celebrate the start of summer with us!
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Coming this spring and summer, Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO explores the wondrous connection between art, science, and nature through 21 intricately designed and interactive installations located throughout the Garden. This mesmerizing display is the first exhibition of its kind in Missouri. Created by artists Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk, HYBYCOZO’s large-scale geometric sculptures reveal the hidden systems that shape the natural world—expressed through light, shadow, and monumental form. As sunlight and illumination filter through intricate designs, shifting patterns bloom across the landscape, inviting you to explore, reflect, and feel a deeper connection to the world around you. Experience the beauty and mystery of nature's geometry by day, by night, and only at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
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Robots are experiencing a Renaissance! They’re approaching autonomy by reading up on existentialism and pondering the cosmos over a cocktail in Beatnik Bobs. These particular, peculiar robots are built with everyday objects by St. Louis artists Bill Christman and Dave Rudis.
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- Songs and Stories - Babies & Toddlers - Maplewood Public Library - 7550 Lohmeyer Ave, Maplewood, MO 63143, Friday, May 22, 2026, 10-10:30 am
- Toddler and Me—Music Together - Saint Louis Art Museum - Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, MO, Friday, May 22, 2026, 1 PM
- St. Louis County Greek
Festival - Assumption Greek Orthodox Church - 1755 Des Peres Road, Des Peres, MO 63131, Friday-Sunday, May 22, 2026 to Monday, May 25, 2026, Friday-Sunday 11 am-8 pm; Monday 11 am-3 pm
- Sunset Concert Series - 370 Lakeside Park - Lakeside Park Drive, St. Peters, MO, Friday, May 22, 2026,
6:30 p.m. start; food/beverage sales start at 6 p.m.
- Arnold Farmers Market - Arnold Farmers Market - 2400 Bradley Beach Rd, Arnold, MO 63010, Saturday, May 23, 2026, 8 am- 12 pm
- Ferguson Farmer's Market - 501 South Florissant Road - 501 South Florissant Road, Ferguson, MO, Saturday, May 23, 2026, 8 am- 12 pm
- Lake Saint Louis
Farmers & Artists Market - Lake St. Louis Farmers And Artists Market - Meadow Circle Drive, Lake Saint Louis, MO, Saturday, May 23, 2026, 8 am - 12 pm
- North City Farmer's Market - 2700 N 14th St - 2700 N 14th St, St. Louis, MO 63106, Saturday, May 23, 2026, 9:30am- 12pm
- Touch-A-Truck - Jefferson County Library - Northwest Branch - Missouri PP, High Ridge, MO, Saturday, May 23, 2026, 10:30 am- 1 pm
- St. Louis African Arts Festival - World's Fair Pavilion - Concourse Drive, St. Louis, MO, Saturday-Sunday, May 23, 2026 to Monday, May 25, 2026, Sat - 10 am-8 pm; Sun - 11 am-8 pm; Mon - 10 am-6 pm
- Washington Farmers’ Market Sprouts Kids
Club - 323 W Main St - 323 W Main St, Washington, MO 63090, Sunday, May 24, 2026, 8 am- 1 pm
- Marquette Park Pool Opening - Dunn-Marquette Recreation Center - Minnesota Avenue, St. Louis, MO, Sunday, May 24, 2026, 12-3 pm
- Memorial Day Weekend Fireworks Celebration - Eastport Plaza Drive - Eastport Plaza Drive, Collinsville, IL, Sunday, May 24, 2026, 4-10 pm
- National Memorial Day Concert Live Stream - ONLINE ONLY - ONLINE ONLY, Sunday, May 24, 2026, 8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 6pm MDT / 5pm PDT / 4pm AKDT
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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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the St. Louis 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the St. Louis area? 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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