Holiday Weekend Events July 1-4, 2011

Have fun staying in town during the holiday
weekend with parades, free events and
concerts for the whole family!

If you are one of the many Ann Arbor families staying home this July 4th weekend, there is plenty to do around town! From parades to fireworks, to free crafts and building events and even some fun with science!Find an interest for every member of your family.

Friday, July 1 Events:

Begin the long weekend visiting the Dexter District Library to see Dan the Creature Man. Kids come and meet his "Rockin' Reptiles" at 11:00 a.m. for a quality face-to-face meet and greet. This live animal program is a free event for kids of all ages.

If staying closer to Ann Arbor is what you are looking for, then consider a couple of free crafty events for the kids. At 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Tree Town Toys (2611 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor), kids ages 5 and older can create their own rocket from a toilet paper roll, string and a balloon for rocket ship fun. Also at 2:00 p.m., kids (PK through Grade 5) can create their own 4th of July craft at the Ann Arbor District Library - Pittsfield (2359 Oak Valley Dr., Ann Arbor).

Then inn the afternoon head over to the Lakeshore Family Fun Event to find a carnival atmosphere with three nights of fireworks, amusement rides, a petting zoo, a live shark encounter (hopefully NOT in Ford Lake!), a car show, talent contest, arts & crafts, on-stage entertainment, and much more! Everything except the carnival rides is free for the family. Check the website for program times!

Saturday, July 2 Events:

For a weekend of family fun, Whitmore Lake is hosting a free Independence Day Celebration downtown Saturday through Monday. But if you searching out a better understanding of local history? Take a tour of the Waterloo Area Historical Society Farm Museum (13493 Waterloo-Munith Rd., Grass Lake). Tours run throughout the weekend 1:00-5:00 p.m. An entire family can find admission very reasonably at $5/adults and $2/children allowing families a better understanding of farm life in a long-lost era.

Need a set of coasters for the folks arriving for the BBQ later in the day? Set your kids up for the free building clinic at Home Depot to solve that dilemma. From 9:00 a.m. - noon, kids can build their own coaster set for the party!

For the musically-inclined, there is something to do Saturday as well. Find a free class at 10:00 a.m. for kids ages 6-8 at Tree Town Toys. Kids will learn to use their voices, bodies and instruments to explore music and movement. To reserve your spot, call 734.929.6545.

Sunday, July 3 Events:

Sleep in and relax, THEN pop out to take the kids to get slimed! From 1:00-4:00 p.m. kids can make their own Slime at Tree Town Toys. Slime is a mixture of glue, water, food coloring, and Borax that you surely don't want messing up your own home, so head over for the low cost event for a science experiment they are sure to remember.  Your children will get to keep their own bag of Slime for only $1.
Then after dinner, stroll on over to the Ingalls Mall (915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor) at 6:00 p.m. to see Recess Monkey. The free concert sponsored by the AADL will provide kid-friendly, parent-loved music and humor in high-energy sets the whole family will love; Rocking in Independence Day couldn't be more fun. 

Monday, July 4 Events:

Parades, parades and more parades, many even offer kids the opportunity to decorate their bikes, trikes and wagons and participate in marching in the parade! Check out my list of Ann Arbor area Independence Day Parades!