Today’s Forecast

58º | Rain | 90% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:12 a.m. | Sunset: 5:58 p.m.

It’s play time in the Twin City

Where to have fun with kids in Winston-Salem

Children running around concrete splash pad. Another child is getting splashed in the face in the middle. A blue structure is dumping buckets of water.

The perfect way to cool off on a hot day. | Photo by City of Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks via @ws_recreationparks

We’re not kiddin’ around. From major attractions like the Kaleideum to hidden gems like Gateway Nature Preserve, there’s something in the Twin City for children of all ages. You’ll have no trouble entertaining the youngsters with our list of kid-friendly activities.

👟 Get moving

Washington Park Playground, 1490 S. Broad St.
Dinosaurs make this public park a prehistoric delight for families. They’ll need plenty of energy for the two-story slide, monkey bars + a rock climbing wall. Kids will remember getting up close and personal on the back of the T-Rex.

Yellow and blue playground jungle gym in the background. A brown dinosaur has its mouth open facing the camera. A rock and wooden pellets are on the ground. — Get up close and personal with prehistoric predators at Washington Park.
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Photo by WStoday

Ice skating at the Annex Ice Rink, 414 Deacon Blvd.
Kids can get comfortable on the ice during cold weather months. The public skating schedule varies daily. Kids will remember the anticipation of stepping onto the ice after a break for the Zamboni.

🧠 Educational activities

Forsyth County Public Library System, multiple locations
Explore recently-released selections, take part in storytimes, and try a Music and Movement class (for children ages 2 through 6). Kids will remember finding their favorite book or author and taking them home to read together.

Reynolda Museum of American Art, 2250 Reynolda Rd. | 🎟️ Family memberships available
Children under 18 get free admission to the museum housed in the 1917 home built by the Reynolds family. Hands-on workshops, activity cards, and discovery lessons will guide them through the grounds. Kids will remember following the clues and discovering treasures with the scavenger hunt.

🎳 Indoor adventures

Young child holding putt-putt club in a dark room with neon lights illuminating the course. — Practice your hole-in-ones at ROAR.
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Photo courtesy of Mayfield Hospitality

ROAR, 633 N. Liberty St.
This complex downtown includes boutique bowling, golf simulators, an arcade, and The Bunkr gaming center. Kids will remember exploring multiple floors of games and entertainment.

24 more ideas this way

Asked

Kid-friendly bars and breweries are:

A. A life-saver for me and my family
B. A fun place to gather with a group of friends
C. Places I actively avoid

Where's your playground?

Events

Monday, Feb. 12

“Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of The South — An Oral History” | Monday, Feb. 12 | 4 p.m. | Rhoades Conference Center, Robert L. Strickland Center, 2100 Silas Creek Prkwy., Winston-Salem | Free | Hear Dr. E. Patrick Johnson perform works that dive into the complexities of coming of age in the South.

Tuesday, Feb. 13

“Tracing Threads from Art to Science” | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Brendle Recital Hall, 1775 Wake Forest Rd., Winston-Salem | Free, RSVP | Award-winning science writer David Quammen will discuss the relationship between landscapes, biodiversity, and public health.
Valentine’s Day Pop-Up | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | SaySo Coffee, 15 Brookstown Ave., Winston-Salem | Free entry | Find your special someone a gift from the heart made by Flores Del Soul florist and local artist AK Landreth.
Winston-Salem City Council Candidate Forum | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 5:30 p.m. | Forsyth County Central Library, 600 W. 5th St., Winston-Salem | Free | Hear candidates for City Council answer questions submitted by citizens.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

Valentine’s Day Bash | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 4-9 p.m. | Tucker’s Tap Yard, 1010 N. Liberty St., Winston-Salem | Free entry | Celebrate the day of love with a dog kisses booth, music bingo, and specialty cocktails — pets must be registered before attending.
Valentine’s Day Tasting | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 5-8:45 p.m. | easytalk, 905 S. Broad St., Winston-Salem | $75 | Taste five courses of pastries and cocktails with chef Michael Bass.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Featured

Lesser-Known Beer Company is in the running to be named one of America’s favorite new breweries. You can vote for the brewery on South Broad Street in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice poll until Monday, Feb. 26 at 12 p.m. (WXII 12 News)

Coming Soon

“Believe nothing you hear, and only half of what you see.” See the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy for yourself at the Mayfair Club at ROAR next month. Tickets to the macabre cocktail experience on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 are $45.

Arts

Here’s your next opportunity to take a ceramics class. Registration for spring classes at Sawtooth School for Visual Art opens tomorrow, Feb. 13 at 9 a.m.

Sports

Carolina Core FC has released the schedule for their inaugural season. The Triad’s new professional men’s soccer team will play 14 of 28 games at Truist Point in High Point — the first game at the stadium is scheduled for June 1.

Award

Members of Mount Tabor High School’s boys indoor track and field team are state champions. The Spartans won the NCHSAA 4-A state championship, which was hosted at Winston-Salem’s JDL Fast Track, with 41 points. (Winston-Salem Journal)

Concert

Hear choral groups made up of K-12 students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools perform at the All County Chorus on Friday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. The annual performance at RJ Reynolds Auditorium is free and open to the public.

Try This

Looking for a romantic staycation this Valentine’s Day? Book a night at Excelsior at the Manor House. A new operator recently opened the property at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons.

Feel Good

We’re putting together a map of local love stories for Valentine’s Day. You can still submit your memories to our local love map today, Feb. 12 for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Cause

Want to help provide a safe and supportive learning environment for children? Crossnore Communities for Children’s “Promise of Home” campaign includes support for a new trauma-informed charter school. Learn more + see how you can make a difference.*

Finance

Discover a brighter financial future with Money Pickle, your gateway to personalized financial advice. Connect with vetted financial advisors, handpicked to provide fiduciary guidance that directly aligns with your goals for investments, retirement, and beyond. Schedule your complimentary video consultation.*

Pets

Show off those puppy dog eyes

Submit your pet for Forsyth Humane Society’s 2025 pet calendar contest

Picture of a white dog sitting on a street painted with a rainbow with trees in the distance.

Colt was all smiles after being named runner-up in the 2024 competition. | Photo by Desilu Pet Portraits courtesy of Forsyth Humane Society

If you’re anything like us, you probably have lots of photos of your four-legged family member. Put them to good use by entering Forsyth Humane Society’s #SAVEFURSYTH 2025 pet calendar contest.

Review the official contest rules then submit a high-resolution photo of your dog or cat. Your pet does not have to be adopted from Forsyth Humane Society or live in Winston-Salem to qualify. You’ll pay a $10 entry fee, which includes 10 votes for the photo you submitted.

Anyone can vote for photos that are submitted. Each vote costs a $1 donation and there’s no limit to how many you can buy. Submissions and votes will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29.

The pet with the most votes wins a professional photo shoot, a spot in next year’s calendar, and complimentary copies. We think the real winners are the animals looking for loving homes, who will benefit from your donations.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambridge

From the editor

I’m a sucker for romantic comedies. My favorite is probably “27 Dresses” but I will watch them all. Can you guess the most popular rom-com in NC based on Google search trends?

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