KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Jun 6: Jurassic June Kickoff Party
Sat, Jun 13: City of
Edwardsville Route 66 Festival
Sun, Jun 14: The 5th Annual St. Louis Ice Cream Social Cones (and Cups) for Kids
Fri, Jun 19: Juneteenth Celebration
Sat, Jun 20: Pride St. Charles
Sat, Jun 20: Father's Day Fishing Derby
Sat, Jun 20: St. Louis SERA Rodeo
Sun, Jun 21: Kimmswick Father’s Day Car Show
Sun, Jun 21: Father's Day Skate
Sun, Jun 21: Juneteenth & Father’s Day Kickball Tournament
Fri, Jun 26: Fireflies and Friends Festival
Sat, Jun 27: PrideFest
Sat, Jul 11: Green Living Festival
Fri, Jul 24: Nerf War: On Ice! |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One summer afternoon during a family camping trip in New Jersey when I was about 6 or 7 years old, a horse fly suddenly appeared next to my ear and started following me everywhere I went. I’m sure that, from its own perspective, it was just going about its business doing ordinary horse fly things, but to me it felt enormous, ominous, and purposeful. I can't remember if it
actually bit me, but I can still summon the hot panic of not being able to get away from its threatening buzz. To my small self, that fly wasn't a little distraction, it was a crisis with wings. The memory surfaced recently when my daughter Ella sent me the above photo, taken in Quintana Beach County Park, near Houston. The point was clear: Proceed, and you will be under attack, and not by any adorable Northeastern bugs you might be used to. No, these bugs were born in Texas. Beware. Sometimes that is exactly
how challenges feel, especially to kids: Problems loom much larger to them than they do to adults with decades of experience. A broken toy, a skinned knee, a mistake in front of the class, or a slight misunderstanding with a friend may be a fly in the ointment to us, but a Texas-sized monster to a child. The trick is to validate the feeling without validating helplessness. We stand beside them and say, Yes, I know, this feels huge. The bugs, even if they're not as large as they
think, are real. They watch us shoo them away and learn gradually to do it for themselves. If I had seen the sign above, my first instinct would have been to flee back to the safety of the car. And Ella said it was not exaggerating, at least not by much: The moment she stepped onto the property, giant mosquitoes descended, and they were hungry; even leggings soaked with OFF Deep Woods did not deter them. She assures me that the photo she got of the Bay-breasted Warbler was
worth all the bites on the backs of her knees. She knew better than to show me the damage. Clearly, the script has flipped.
—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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“Unstoppable Starts Here” with Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri! For a limited time, families who are new to Girl Scouts can join with an Extended Year Membership through September 30, 2027, for just $91 for girls and $42 for adults. By joining now, girls can jump into summer fun right away with exciting camps, hands-on programs, outdoor adventures, and new friendships before the school year even begins. Then this fall, girls will be connected with a local troop so the journey can continue all year long. Start early, save more, and discover new adventures, leadership opportunities, and unforgettable memories through Girl Scouts!
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Food Truck Frenzy features a wide variety of the most popular local food trucks in a family-friendly park setting. You only need to bring your appetite and a blanket or chairs. Like many O'Fallon events, admission and parking are free. Enjoy a tasty evening of food truck fare and other fun activities!
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Summer Starts Now! St. Peterfest has become a staple of the parish over the past decade. Come out on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30 to find out why so many people keep coming back every year!
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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 Dome is where victories take flight, and we need you there for every game-winning drive. 2026 is here, and the only way to experience it fully is live and in person. Don’t miss your chance to see the action firsthand — let’s fill The Dome, home of the BEST FANS IN THE LEAGUE!
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Discover a deeper appreciation for the great outdoors at our all-day, free event! Meet and engage with STEM experts and organizations related to outside life, activity, work, and play. Explore and enjoy!
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The Saint Charles Market is hosting our annual Strawberry Festival on May 30th. Join us for this special day filled with lots of strawberry goodness!
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Made with Pride is BACK, y’all! Golden Gems and Tower Grove Pride are teaming up to bring this colorful celebration of local LGBTQ+ creativity back to City Foundry STL on Saturday, May 30 from 11AM to 4PM!
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Thanks to the support of our individual donors, Building Futures is able to offer free Saturday workshops for young builders in our community. These 3 hour hands on workshops give students the opportunity to design, build, problem solve, and explore STEAM concepts through real projects in a safe and creative environment.
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Full Steam Ahead To The Island Of Sodor! Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails! pulls into The Magic House for a limited-time adventure that brings the Island of Sodor to life. Created by Minnesota Children’s Museum and inspired by the beloved Nick Jr. series, this interactive exhibit invites families to climb aboard for STEM-based learning through imaginative play. Explore iconic destinations like Knapford Station and Sodor Steamworks, climb into Thomas’ cab to trigger train sounds, fix Percy’s wobbly wheel, and even suit up as a conductor to sell tickets. With engaging challenges that encourage problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration, this exhibit is packed with opportunities to build foundational science, technology, engineering, and math skills. Plus, enjoy a nostalgic retrospective featuring model engines, original drawings, and memorabilia from the Rev. W. Awdry’s timeless creation. Don’t miss your chance to be a “Really Useful Engine”
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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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Light becomes dark as Art City transforms into GLOW CITY! Glow City is a neon dreamscape where art, light, and imagination collide. Join us under the black light for glow-in-the-dark arts, crafts, and spin art creations.
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The O'Fallon Hoots are a summer collegiate wooden bat baseball team and a member of both the Prospect League and the CarShield Collegiate League. We strive to deliver #ForTheFan entertainment and service in everything we do.
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- Storytelling: May - Missouri History Museum - Missouri History Museum, Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, USA, Friday, May 29, 2026, 10:30 am
- Sunset Concert Series - 370 Lakeside Park - 370 Lakeside Park, Lakeside Park Drive, St. Peters, MO, USA, Friday, May 29, 2026, All Sunset Friday concerts start at 6:30 p.m., food/beverage sales start at 6 p.m., unless otherwise stated.
- Food Truck Frenzy - Sports Park - Sports Park, State Highway K, O'Fallon, MO, USA, Friday, May 29, 2026, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
- The Tempest - Shakespeare in the Park -
Forest Park - Forest Park, St. Louis, MO, USA, Friday, May 29, 2026, 8:15 pm
- Songs and Stories - Babies & Toddlers - Maplewood Public Library - Maplewood Public Library, 7550 Lohmeyer Ave, Maplewood, MO 63143, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 10-10:30 am
- BIG DINO BASH! Featuring St. Louis Dinosaur - Brentwood Public Library - Brentwood Public Library, 8765 Eulalie Avenue, Brentwood, MO 63144, United States, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
- FREE Saturday Workshop - 2720 N 13th St Saint Louis, MO 63106 - 2720 N 13th St Saint Louis, MO 63106, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
- Longmeadow Rescue Ranch Wagon Days - Longmeadow Rescue Ranch - Longmeadow Rescue
Ranch, Saint Josephs Road, Union, MO 63084, United States, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 11 am - 3 pm
- SciFest: The Great Outdoors Expo - Saint Louis Science Center - Saint Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Strawberry Festival - N Randolph St - N Randolph St, St Charles, St. Charles, MO 63301, United States, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 7:30 am- 1 pm
- Washington Farmers’ Market Sprouts Kids Club - 323 W Main St - 323 W Main St, Washington, MO 63090, United States, Sunday, May 31, 2026, 8 am- 1 pm
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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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