Weekend Events Round-Up: Oct 5-7

The leaves are changing, the air will be crisp and clean, so what will you be doing around Ann Arbor with the kids this weekend?  I'm sure your family will find plenty to do with the many great events and activities in the weekend events round-up. We'll be hitting the soccer field and otherwise doing yard clean-up. It stinks but it's got to get done!

Friday, October 5:

Spend the Night at the Museum for some Fun Friday Night at University of Michigan Museum of Natural History (1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor). The museum will be open until 9:00 p.m.  Get free admission, see a planetarium show for only $3 at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. There is also a free story time in and a “Making a Good Impression” demonstration at 6:00 p.m.

Free movies are the way to go this weekend!

Saturday, October 6:

The free movie this weekend is Rango, which plays at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.

Kids will also enjoy participating in the Home Depot kids free building clinic from 9:0 a.m. - noon. This weekend the kids will be building a fire truck!

Saturday may be the perfect day to check out the free Apple Daze Festival at Monument Park in Dexter (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). Families will find a classic car show, craft booths, kids activities and games, hay rides to the Dexter Cider Mill, pony rides, live entertainment and so much more.

The younger set may appreciate a good (and free) concert at the Ann Arbor District Library (343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor) at 11:00 a.m. Sing along to Fandagumbo with Julie Austin And David Mosher. The concert is perfect for your preschool aged child through grade 3.

Want to slip in a free educational opportunity? Then head to the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History (1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor) for the hands-on presentation called "Fossils: Making a Good Impression" at 11:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. This free program (geared for kids 5 and older) will explore how fossils are created, what parts of animals become fossilized, and how old are the earliest fossils? Families will get to discover how fossil casts are made in the museum by making their own casts to take home too!

Excite the kids about fire safety month while building their own Firetruck at Home Depot.

Sunday, October 7:

The free movie this weekend is Rango, which plays at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.

Kids in grades K-5 will enjoy making a bubble craft at the Ann Arbor District Library (3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor) at 1:00 p.m. Get a chance to explore the science of making bubbles by trying different recipes for home-brewed bubbles and find out which ones make the best ones!

From 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. enjoy the 2nd Annual Ypsilanti River Day at Frog Island Park. Glide down the Huron on a canoe or kayak (single or double) enjoying all of the colors the river has to offer. You can even enjoy gliding into Ford Lake then hitch a ride back to Frog Island. The last boat will be available for rental at 3:00 p.m. with the last ride from Ford Lake being available at 4:00 p.m. Boat rentals for the day are $15-25 and cash, credit, or checks will be accepted. After your boat ride, step over to Riverside Park for an Antique Truck show (Pssst I heard the Leog guy will be there with thousands of Legos for the kiddo's too!)

Get a second chance to explore the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History's hands-on presentation "Fossils: Making a Good Impression" at 3:00 p.m.

The 10th annual Creature Feature happens this weekend at the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum too (220 E. Ann St., Ann Arbor). From 6:00-8:00 p.m. the museum will come alive with animals from around the world - families will interact with animal experts and see uncommon animals such as owls and hawks, wallaby or kangaroo, porcupine, emu, coyotes and more for only $10! In addition to the wild animal exhibits, hands-on activities will take place throughout the Museum. Refreshments will be served. All proceeds from the event will benefit facility and exhibit enhancements taking place to celebrate the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum’s 30th anniversary.