Weekend Events: Heritage Festival, Free Movies and

This weekend has plenty happening from festivals, movies in the park and other fun family activities. You'll surely find something inexpensive (or free) to do! We'll be hanging out at the Heritage Festival but might also head over to Saline's ice cream social Sunday for a little more history for the weekend!
Friday, August 19:

The Ypsilanti Heritage Festival happens all weekend throughout Depot Town, on Frog Island Park and Riverside Park. The line-up for families includes a free kids play area (geared for those under 6), face painting, and plenty of entertainment. Times for the festival are Friday noon-8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Check out a Waterloo Area Farm Museum (2611 Plymouth Rd., Grass Lake) Weekend Tour running throughout the weekend 1:00-5:00 p.m. Museum tour fees are $5 for adults and $2 for children aged 5-12. Guided tours of the ten-room farmhouse, log cabin, barns, blacksmith and woodworking workshop, bake house, ice house, milk cellar, and windmill. 

In the evening, stop by the Liberty School Gym (7265 Saline Ann Arbor Rd., Saline) for free movies and fun. Starting at 6:30, families can find fun free activities from the portable Gym America gym, a balloon animal artist, an inflatable obstacle course and plenty of yummy concession stand food. Then starting at 8:00 p.m., settle the family in to watch Disney's Tangled. Call the Saline Parks & Recreation at 429-3502 with any questions.

Saturday, August 20:

Everyone loves a parade! So be sure to stop downtown Ypsilanti for the Heritage Festival parade. It starts at 10:00 a.m. at Ballard Street and Michigan Avenue and travel east on Michigan Avenue through downtown Ypsilanti, North on Huron Street to Cross Street and west on Cross Street where the parade disbands at Washington Street. Families will enjoy the bands, floats, marching units, neighborhood groups, school organizations and much, much more! (My daughter, a new Daisy Scout and I will be marching - We'll wave!)

Little Ones can get creative at Ann Arbor District Library (343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor) at 10:30 a.m. Toddlers up to 2 years old can, with an adult, can find something fun to do during this free event.

Join Legacy Land Conservancy at 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in celebrating protected lands and local foods during the Land Conservancy’s Fall Bus Tour (let's hope were the first stop, since "fall" isn't for at least another month!). Hop on our chartered coach, starting at REI (970 W. Eisenhower Pky., Ann Arbor), and enjoy the scenic drive,while visiting some of our most beautiful protected lands. Space is limited and registration is required, call 734-302-5263 or email susancooley@legacylandconservancy.org. The cost is $15 for non-members.
At 1:00 p.m. check out a free movies at the Michigan Theatre (603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor) where they are screening the 2011 Young Filmmakers’ Camp participants movies! The middle school projects will screen from 1:0-1:45 p.m. with the high school projects immediately following at 2:00-2:45 p.m. The admission is free so why not support the filmmakers of tomorrow!

Sunday, August 21:
At noon, at 100 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, through a donation from the Huron Valley Ambulance, will be giving away free children’s bicycle helmets at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Health Tent. Proper fitting of helmets by Club volunteers will also be provided to the youth!

If your family has a talented youth or teen (ages 2-14) sign them up to participate in the Children's Talent Contest at the Frog Island Amphitheater. Kids can use an original talent (no lip sync performances) to show off for cash prizes! The show starts at 2:00 p.m. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. on site.

If you are stopping by the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market, you will have a special treat at 1:00 p.m. as Joe Reilly performs at Kerrytown Market & Shops (407 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor). Families will find fun with environmental stewardship with creative lyrics and catchy melodies.

Grab a spoon and dig in as the Ann Arbor Art Center has a cute low-cost family event where everyone creates an individual ice cream bowl then is treated to an ice cream sundea. Sundae at the Ann Arbor Art Center sure sounds sweet! Families can sign up for three separate time slots for the event, 1:00-2:00 p.m., 2:00-3:00 p.m., or 3:00-4:00 p.m.

End the weekend with a sweet note with the old-fashion ice cream Social in Saline. From 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Weber-Blaess One-Room Schoolhouse (520 Woodland Dr. Saline) find fun activities for the kids including a reenactment of a school day, traditional recess games, sing-alongs, musical groups, antique cars, animals, a bucket brigade by the Saline Fire Department. This is a semi-free event, however it is a fundraiser for the Weber Blaess building so please donate generously!