Save the Date
Thu, Oct 10: Pumpkin Nights at Utah State Fairpark
Mon, Oct 14: 2019 Scarecrow Festival at Thanksgiving Point
Mon, Oct 21: Winnie the Pooh at Hale Center Theater Orem
Wed, Oct 30: Nickelodeon Presents Double Dare Live at Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City
Fri, Nov 1: Disney and Pixar’s Coco in Concert, Film with the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall
Wed, Nov 6: Peppa Pig Live! at Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City
Fri, Nov 8: Illuminate - Utah's Light Art and Tech Fest 2019
Sat, Nov 9: Harlem Globetrotters at Vivint Smart Home Arena
Thu, Nov 14: Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment at Vivint Smart Home Arena
Dear KidsOutAndAbout.com readers:
The light had turned green, but the Mazda in front of me didn't move. I watched as the driver—let's call him Andy, both because the name sounds like an adjective and also because my real friend Andy would totally do this himself in the same situation—got out of the car and stepped a few paces over to the beautifully-landscaped median between us and the opposing traffic. While I watched, he bent over and plucked a rotting banana peel from between the autumn flowers in the display. As he was moving back toward his open door with the peel held gingerly between his thumb and forefinger, Andy caught my glance, smiled slightly, and shrugged, as if to say, "Yeah, I know I'm probably fighting a losing battle, here, but I can't help myself."
Given the fact that I'm paid to think about these things, I found myself wondering about Andy's mother as we drove on. How had she taught him not only how to be a person who doesn't toss his trash where others have to deal with it, but to be a guy who cares enough about the world that his first impulse is to clean up after others? Andy looked like he was in his late teens or early 20s. Had his mother made him clean his room while growing up? Do lots of chores? Had they taken trash bags with them when they went on hikes? Had she lectured about the need for any footprints he leaves in life need to be those that add value to the world rather than suck it away? Or maybe Andy had come to the conclusion all on his own that everyone has the superpower to make the world a more beautiful place, one banana peel at a time. Whatever path Andy (and his mother) had taken to that banana peel, I found myself feeling grateful that there are people like him in my orbit, people who see such problems as personal challenges and then act to solve them.
You can be Andy. Your kids can be Andy. So can I. I hope Andy feels as powerful as he is.
—Debra Ross, publisher
Those whacky cacklies are back for another year of WitchFest fun. If you’re thinking of flying that broomstick into Gardner Village to be a part of the brouhaha, there’s plenty in store. Whether you attend Witchapalooza Dinner Theater, Breakfast with a Witch, Moonstruck Witches Dinner, Wee Witches Weekend, Witch Displays or Witches Night Out, you’ll experience the magic of the season at this annual tradition, September 14-October 31, 2019.
Click here for more information.
Calling all Home Schooled kiddos of ALL ages! Our talented instructor will guide your child through the steps as we introduce a new technique: Charcoal outlining! You wont want to miss this colorful class, it'll be a great chance to get out, meet new people, and flex your creative muscles! Thursday, September 19th 10 – 11:30 am. Ages: Homeschoolers of all ages $18 All Inclusive
Click here for more information.
Cagney - Pioneer Theatre Company
Pre-Broadway Premiere! The musical about Hollywood’s tough guy in tap shoes. The award-winning musical follows the life of the legendary James Cagney from the streets of New York to his rise as one of the brightest stars of Hollywood, from a vaudeville song-and-dance man to the cinema’s original tough guy. The multi-talented cast includes Robert Creighton who originated the role in New York that earned him the 2016 Astaire Award. The cast tap dances through a score that blends original music with classic George M. Cohan favorites, including “Give My Regards To Broadway,” “Grand Old Flag” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
Click here for more information.
Mini Maker Faire - Thanksgiving Point
Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these "makers" to show hobbies, experiments, projects. We call it the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth - a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. Glimpse the future and get inspired!
Click here for more information.
Did you know that Saturday, September 21, is Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day Live? They call it "an annual celebration of boundless curiosity." It's a day when you can visit a local museum or cultural institution for FREE. We know it can be tough to pay admission to a new museum when you're not sure how your kids will react to what's inside. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to try someplace new for absolutely FREE. So go! We've collected some of our local favorites here. Or, you can use the link to look up the museums participating in your area. Then be sure to register and download your tickets.
Ten Ways to Enjoy Autumn Outside
As the days get cooler, do you find that your children spend more time indoors? Kids need to get outside every day!
We've got some creative ideas for making the most of the beautiful outdoors even as the days get cooler in our article Ten Ways for Kids and Families to Enjoy Autumn Outside.
Visit a Corn Maze!
Where can you combine the great outdoors, exercise, problem-solving skills, and family bonding? Why, at a corn maze, of course! Autumn means corn maze season: head outside and get lost!
Re-visit an old Favorite or Check Out a New Place with Our List of Local Corn Mazes.
Looking for some Corn Maze Tips? We've got them for you.
It's time to choose enrichment classes and programs for the 2019-2020 school year!
There are so many opportunities for extracurricular programs in all kinds of subjects in our area!
Kids can choose from academic enrichment and tutoring to technology, sports, exercise, dance, music, performing arts, and fine arts. There are classes for preschoolers, elementary age, 'tweens, and teens. Check out the options from KidsOutAndAbout's recent extracurricular newsletter and our master list of after school and Saturday classes.
Halloween's coming up soon! We collect the Halloween activities all in one place, dividing them into Halloween-Scary and Halloween-Fun. Click here for KidsOutAndAbout's list of Halloween activities in our area.
And are you in the market for a pumpkin, to eat or to carve? Click here for our big list of pumpkin patches. Discover a new place to get them this year.
Get into the Spooky Spirit with These Books!
The wind is howling, the bats are swooping, the jack-o-lanterns are flickering. . . and you and your little one are curled up, safe and snug with a stack of Halloween picture books! Our list includes stories for little ones who don't want to be scared along with suspenseful tales, classics as well as not-so-well-known choices.
Click here to find a list of fifteen of our all-time favorite Halloween read-alouds.
Should you make your own costumes this Halloween?
Halloween is only weeks away, and that means it's time to start thinking about Halloween costumes! Now, we know that making your own costume is not for every kid (or every parent!). If speed and convenience are your top priorities, by all means, pick something up at your local store. But putting together your own costumes offers the opportunity for plenty of creativity and perhaps a little family bonding time.
Our Hudson Valley editor Anne Siller explains more in her piece, "Why would anyone MAKE their child's Halloween costume?"
Need a little inspiration? We've gathered up some make-your-own ideas from readers and staff, and you can find them here.
