Save the Date
Mon, Oct 21: Winnie the Pooh at Hale Center Theater Orem
Wed, Oct 30: Nickelodeon Presents Double Dare Live at Eccles Theater
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 readers:
I don't know who Brad at BARK is, but I know it would be nice to meet him.
Our loyal goldendoodle, Zoe, died suddenly this spring of lymphoma. It left our family reeling, especially our other dog, Penny. In early summer, because Penny seemed dejected and lost without Zoe, we decided to get another puppy from my friend Sandy Peters, who breeds goldendoodles in her home as part of a 4H and homeschooling program. That turned out to be the right move: Welcoming Skye to the family helped Penny get back to her joyful self and was good for us humans, too.
But reminders of Zoe were everywhere: In Facebook memories, in notes from the town about her registration renewal, and in emails from accounts like BarkBox, a monthly subscription service for dog-lovers who want to lavish even more love on their fur babies. I had mixed feelings about these reminders; they always generated a sudden little jolt of love and sadness and good memories and longing all at the same time. It was only recently that I've been able to bring myself to contact folks to let them know that Zoe had passed on. When I went to transfer our BarkBox subscription from Zoe to Skye, I used their online chat service for efficient assistance.
A few days later, I received in the mail a handwritten (in cursive!) card from Brad at BARK, Barkbox's parent company. It read: I am so sorry to hear about Zoe. Thank you for letting us help spoil her. Give Skye an extra hug from all of us at BARK. Now, cynical people may argue that the company does this simply as a way to retain business, and I freely admit that this small act of kindness worked to cement me as a client for life. That's because in an increasingly depersonalized world, those who make the extra effort for personal connection really stand out. Often, the right thing to do is also strategically wise; I love it when that happens, and I love when businesses recognize it, too.
Brad knows that making kindness a systematic part of his life works for everyone. Teach your kids to be like Brad.
—Debra Ross, Publisher
2019 Witch's Breakfast at Thanksgiving Point
Celebrate Halloween with the whole family at our second annual Witch’s Breakfast, October 18 and 19, 2019! A delicious breakfast will be served alongside some spooky visitors. Make this breakfast a Halloween tradition that your family will enjoy for years to come! Each ticket also includes FREE admission to the Scarecrow Festival in the Ashton Gardens.
Click here for more information.
Garden After Dark 2019 at Red Butte Garden
Join us for an enchanted evening as we follow the Yellow Brick Road to discover nature’s ties to the merry old land of Oz. But beware, the Wicked Witch has unleashed and army of giant plant pests to help her steal the magic of the Emerald Poppy and conquer Oz. Can you help stop the Wicked Witch? Find out at Garden After Dark!
Click here for more information.
Join us this fall in the Ashton Gardens for the Scarecrow Festival, October 14-29, 2019. Enjoy the beautiful autumn colors in the expansive 55-acre gardens and dozens of imaginative scarecrows built and submitted by the community. This week long festival will also feature fun outdoor games, crafts, music and yummy food! Festival is included with regular garden admission and FREE for Thanksgiving Point Members.
Click here for more information.
Haunted Hollow at American West Heritage Center
The West has its share of stories from train robberies to double-crosses where the spirits of the deceased have unfinished business with the living. The Hollow is truly Haunted. Experience it!
Click here for more information.
Pet Spider Crafts at Willow Hill Yarn Company in Gardner Village, Utah
Who thought yarn pom poms spiders would be so cute!? Our Pet Spider Kids Craft will be available at Willow Hill Yarn Company the last 3 weekends in October on the following dates and times:
Click here for more information.
Miss Saigon at Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City
MISS SAIGON contains some scenes and language which may not be suitable for younger audience members, including scenes of a sexual nature. The production includes strobe lights, gun shots and pyrotechnic effects. We encourage patrons to consider these factors when making their decision about attending the performance. Recommended for ages 14 and up.
Click here for more information.
Join Us on a Year-Long Road Trip!
In July 2019 KidsOutAndAbout.com's Phoenix editor, Meg Brunson, traded in her 4-bedroom home for a 35' RV and her family hit the road. They plan to be on the road for approximately a year, and they've made it their mission to make memories in each of the 48 contiguous states. RVing is growing in popularity, both among those who are embarking on similar full-time living and those who use the RV for more traditional vacationing. Either way, we hope that you'll enjoy following Meg explores the US and shares her reviews of family-friendly travel destinations all over the country along the way!
You can also follow along via Instagram @FamilyRoadVentures
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.
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.
Beyond Candy: Think About Some New Halloween Treats This Year
Halloween candy is a wonderful tradition, but it's not necessarily the best choice for everyone, and it's a downright bad idea for some kids. Should you think about including some other options this year? KidsOutAndAbout editor Katie Beltramo offers up some reasons why you might want to diversify, and she offers up some easy ideas that have helped make her house a popular stop in the neighborhood for trick or treaters.
Read our article Beyond Candy.
Know a child with allergies? Navigating the candy collection can be tough, but one option is the cute Switch Witch. Read about how Audry Kisman created Switch Witch here.
