KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jul 24: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Sat, Aug 1: End-Of-Summer Splash
Wed, Aug 5: Washington Town & Country Fair
Fri, Aug 7: RENT
Thu, Aug 13: Missouri State Fair
Thu, Aug 20: Pevely Days 2026
Sat, Sep 5: Japanese Festival
Sat, Sep 12: Rail District Festival
Fri, Sep 18: 2026 Saint Louis Art
Fair
Fri, Sep 18: The Great Forest Park Balloon Race & Glow
Fri, Sep 18: Greater St. Louis Hispanic
Festival
Fri, Sep 25: 2026 Edwardsville Art Fair
Sat, Sep 26: Fall Corn Festival in Godfrey |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a kid, summer meant St. Rocco’s Feast in the Peterstown neighborhood of Elizabeth, New Jersey. The streets were filled with music, carnival rides, vendor booths, and fairgoers... but the main attraction for 10-year-old me was zeppoles: lumps of dough dropped into hot oil, puffed golden, shaken in a paper bag with powdered sugar, and handed over hot enough to require
patience. To my young self, they were almost proof of magic. They were also my gateway drug into Italian food. Zeppoles led eventually to prosciutto and fresh mozzarella, risotto and gnocchi, pesto and puttanesca. Along the way, I learned that food has a vocabulary: crisp, chewy, silky, smoky, briny, bitter, fermented, caramelized. Knowing the names of flavors and textures helped me notice them more clearly, and knowing where dishes came from helped me see that food carries
geography, history, ingenuity, celebration, and memory. The more I tasted, the bigger the world became. Summer is the perfect season to help kids develop that kind of appetite... for food and discovery. Visit a farmers market and learn what grows nearby. Pick berries and notice how they taste when harvested just a second ago with your own hands. Try the food truck serving something you’ve never ordered. At a festival, ask what country or region a dish comes from, what ingredients give it its flavor, and who traditionally makes it. Kids don’t have to like everything. Exploration still counts when the verdict is “Not for me.” As tour guides to
our kids’ universe, we can help them notice that food connects downward to the Earth and outward to people. Name the flavor. Name the texture. Name the place and the tradition. Then take another bite. Sometimes an entire world opens through one little bag of fried dough.
—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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Summer isn't over yet; there's still time for Climbing Camp! Join us at Upper Limits for a 5-day camp packed with climbing, games, water days, and new friends! Choose from half-day or full-day options at our Maryland Heights and Chesterfield locations. Spots are limited, but there's still time to join the fun! Our final week of camp begins August 17. Save $10 with code CLIMBINGCAMP2026 and make the most of the rest of summer! Register here: https://www.upperlimits.com/summer-camps/
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Journeying from the snowy peaks of the North Mountain to the heart of Arendelle, Frozen KIDS tells the story of fearless princess Anna as she embarks on a daring adventure to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have accidentally trapped their kingdom in winter. Along the way, Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, and the lovable snowman Olaf to bring back summer and heal a frozen heart.
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The Jersey County Fair has so much to experience. From carnival rides, delicious foods, animals, vendors, the exhibit hall, and grandstand events, there will surely be something for everyone. Our fairgrounds are located North of Jerseyville, with easy access to parking and ground events. The Jersey County Fairgrounds is open during fair week, with various events scheduled throughout the year. We have been offering multiple attractions at the Jersey County Fair since 1869. Come out and experience the Jersey County Fair, where you will leave with new memories.
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Join us for a FREE, family-friendly event open to all girls, whether you're a current Girl Scout or just curious to learn more!
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This Disney favorite seizes the day at The Muny after nine years! When New York’s powerful newspaper publishers raise distribution prices, charismatic teenage newsboy Jack Kelly rallies his fellow “newsies” to strike back. Inspired by a true story and based on the 1992 film, the Broadway smash features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Harvey Fierstein. With empowering anthems, jaw-dropping choreography, nonstop thrills and a timeless message of standing up for what’s right, Disney’s Newsies delivers an electrifying evening of theatre the whole family will cheer for.
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Get ready for a spellbinding experience at our July Jubilee of Magic! This in-person event is packed with fun, laughter, and jaw-dropping tricks perfect for kids. Bring your little ones and watch their eyes sparkle with wonder as veteran magicians dazzle the crowd. Don't miss out on an unforgettable day filled with magic and excitement! Please visit IBMRingOne.com or get your tickets NOW at https://www.eventbrite.com/manage/events/auto-create/1990038994202/preview
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Join us for a Mario Kart Tournament in the Gaming Lounge! This will be a purely social, fun tournament, focused on teamwork. Participants will be divided into teams so that each team has players of all ages. Teams will compete for points. The team with the most points at the end of the event will win gift cards! Mario Kart will be played on Nintendo Switch. Controllers will be provided (Pro and Joycon). We will also serve snacks, water and soda for all participants during the event.
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Macedonia Baptist Church, 3110 W Sunshine Street in Springfield, Missouri, will once again be hosting this year’s Ozarks Berry Festival. As always, all proceeds from this event will benefit the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, as they endeavor to bring hope and restoration to children and families throughout Missouri. Crafts, quilts, food, and a variety of berry/fruit desserts are just a few of the reasons why so many people visit the Ozarks Berry Festival. Top off your favorite cobbler or piece of pie with a scoop of ice cream, and you’ll experience a day full of fun, food, and fellowship for your entire family. A variety of handmade crafts and quilts are donated to the Children’s Home from all over the state to be auctioned and sold at the Festival.
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Join us at the "Taste of the Greek Festival" on Saturday, July 18th from 11am to 7pm & Sunday, July 19th from 11am to 5pm at the St. Nicholas Family Life Center. Eat, drink, dance! Join us for a fun filled event for the whole family! Delicious Greek food & pastries available for dine-in or carry-out - Greek music - dance performances - Greek wine & beer - olive oils by Olea Estates - gift shop - free admission - free parking - open to the public!
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Come celebrate 100 years of Route 66 during Wildwood’s three-day Cruise • Tunes & Taste celebration, July 17–19, 2026. From classic cars and motorcycles to live music, local food, historic experiences, and family activities, Wildwood’s historic Route 66 corridor will transform into a one-of-a-kind community festival inspired by America’s most iconic highway!
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Best places to take kids in St Louis in 2026! 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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Nothing says SUMMER quite like going to an amusement park with your family! We've put together a great list of ones you can visit within driving distance of St. Louis. So, pack the sunscreen, load up the car and head out on a grand adventure!
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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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It's almost time for fruit picking! Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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