Save the Date
Sat, Aug 3: Antelope Island Spider Fest 2019
Sat, Aug 3: 3rd Annual SLC Tacofest 2019
Thu, Aug 8: 2019 Salt Lake County Fair Family FarmFest
Sat, Aug 10: Indian Food Fair 2019 at Liberty Park - Salt Lake City, Utah
Fri, Aug 23: Utah Renaissance Faire 2019 at Utah Renaissance Faire
Fri, Aug 23: Drive a Supercar at Utah Motorsports Campus
Sat, Aug 24: International Folk Festival - FREE - City of Sandy, Utah at Sandy Amphitheater
Fri, Aug 30: KIDZ BOP Live 2019 - Sandy, UT at Sandy Amphitheater
Linda Sue Park's brilliant 2010 middle-grade short novel A Long Walk to Water details the real-life story of Salva Dut, an 11-year-old who, during the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1985, led 1500 other boys on a life-saving trek to a refugee camp. When he got older, Dut moved to the United States and became an activist to help build wells for communities back in South Sudan.
Park used A Long Walk to Water as her title in part because so much of life in South Sudan revolved around the daily walk to a far-away water source: One of the other 11-year-old characters, Nya, walks 2 hours twice each day just to procure enough water for her family to survive. That's right: 8 hours a day for a kid to walk in the heat to get just enough brackish pond water to cook with and keep the family barely hydrated.
A summer in prosperous North America is a very different enterprise for our kids than for Nya: We can actually enjoy it. Summer lets us experience the pleasures of sensory contrast: of heat and cold, sweet and savory, exertion and relaxation. If we slow down enough, we can revel in these sensory experiences, point them out to our kids, and reflect on our blessings.
Reading A Long Walk to Water several years ago changed how I experience the heat of summer: Now, any time I step up to a (free!) water fountain, or come inside on a hot day, fill up a glass with ice, and turn on the tap to fill it with clean, pure water, I am reminded of how lucky I am to live here and now, and how easy we have it. We even play in pools full of the stuff.
As the summer progresses, you'll find yourself beckoned by all kinds of interesting things to do with your family, as well as lots of ways to separate your money from your wallet. But a sensory summer doesn't have to cost anything to be memorable: It can be as simple as finding a good book, filling up a glass at the sink, and settling in for a read with your kids. If you're especially lucky, it might even be a just short walk to your local library.
—Debra Ross, Publisher
This Year's KidsOutAndAbout Top 20 Winners
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 as well as winners in special categories like favorite sports education and favorite arts education! Check out your fellow readers' favorites, and enjoy exploring the best of the region!
Click here for our Top 20 list.
Click here for our printable bucket list of Top 20 favorites.
Jack Kelly is a rebellious newsboy who dreams of life as an artist away from the big city. After publishing mogul Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys’ expense, Kelly and his fellow Newsies take action and all of New York City soon recognizes the power of “the little man.”
Click here for more information.
We're looking forward to being back at one of our favorite spots, Riverton Park, looking to give the Riverton community some love! Come enjoy all the festivities that this Summer celebration has to offer like harvest festivals, live performances, movies in the park and more! Come enjoy the start of your weekend with family, friends and great food!
Click here for more information.
Farmers Market at Gardner Village
The Farmers Market is back at Gardner Village! With local Utah farmers, food artisans, and artists, this market is sure to charm you with its abundance of local produce, food and handcrafted goods. This isn't just a farmers market, it's a destination that supports local entrepreneurs and the community in your backyard.
Click here for more information.
Karaoke Sundays at Dave & Buster's
Join us every Sunday from 7:30 pm - 11:30 pm for an All Ages Karaoke Night. Cover Charge is $5 per person, pay at the door Nacho Bar will be available. Full Dining and Bar Menu available. Must be 21+ to consume alcoholic beverages. Sunday Funday just took on a whole new meaning. Bring your friends and...come out and play!!!
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Traveling? Let Local KOAA Readers Recommend Where To Visit
From Connecticut to Canada and up into Canada, KidsOutAndAbout.com can help you plan the best vacation ever! Visiting family or heading out on a epic summer vacation road trip? We've got you covered! Check out each local area's choices for the Top 20 Places To Take Kids, places with FREE admission, and our world-famous events calendar! Want to dive even deeper? No problem! Search the site for kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, amusement/waterparks, nature centers, and MORE.
14 Tips to Get Your Child Ready for Nursery School
Is your child starting nursery school soon? We offer some tips to help both of you with the transition. Review them now and use the last weeks of summer to prepare your little one for their next big step so you'll both be ready to start the school year off right!
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Long, hot days. Time outside. Exploring and playing. No school. You and your kids will love all that summer has to offer. And to make sure that you don't miss out on any fun, be sure to check out our Master Guide to Local Summer Fun.
Worried the kids will spend the day watching Netflix and playing video games? We have plenty of ideas for good, old-fashioned summer fun in our article 50 Ways to Love Your Summer.
If you're interested in your kids having a summer camp experience without sending them to day or overnight camp, check out our timeless article It's Their Vacation and You're the Tour Guide: How to Organize Camp Mom. That piece provides almost endless ideas for things to do and how to structure your day. But remember: a little boredom is good for kids, too!
Take Your Child to the Theater
Late summer is a perfect time to introduce very young children to theater!
Why? Because there are so many options! Kid-focused shows and free theater in the park are everywhere right now, which means your cost and time commitment are low. Kids are heading back to school (or starting school) soon, and watching a play is a terrific literacy activity, too.
Find more reasons and tips to make the most of the season's theatrical offerings in our article Take Your Child to the Theater.
Looking for a new place to explore that's still close to home? Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun! Find free activities and splurges that are worth it. We've collected the coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from here.
Click here for more information.
A Week-by-Week Guide to Summer Camps Near You
Looking for a summer camp for your child? Look no further! Dozens of summer camps post: day camps, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, preschool, & more!
Summer 2019 camps are organized by week, by age, or by topic so you can find the perfect camps for your family!
Click here for more information.
