Weekend Events Round-Up: June 28-30

I meant to post this last night, however I was a bit preoccupied fretting over whether our basement would flood. It didn't thankfully and the water has now receded.

Me standing in the middle of our intersection next to my home!

My back-yard at it's worst! We had a water park for a while.

Yes, yes, I fretted and simply didn't get things posted. But there is lots to do in Ann Arbor tonight including Ann Arbor Summer Festival's Top of the Park events and performances for families - The KidZone, Superhero, a kids music workshop, musical performances, and the movie the Iron Giant - Just check out the A2SF listing for all of the great events happening!

The  62nd annual Ann Arbor Jaycees Carnival (Pioneer High School) is running this weekend too with free admission before 9:00 p.m. Find rides, midway games, food and fun. Carnival hours are 4:00-11:00 p.m. Friday, noon-11:00 p.m. Saturday and Noon-9:00 p.m. Sunday. More information at carnival@a2jaycees.org.

For parents with young children, the grand opening of the new play area at Briarwood Mall on Saturday (11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) might be a perfect diversion. Radio Disney will be there to celebrate as well, so older siblings will enjoy that. The free event will include a ribbon cutting, and special give-aways every 15 minutes. Kids can also get free temporary tattoos, enjoy a coloring activity station and interactive gaming station. 

What's on your weekend planner?


Friday, June 28

• 10:30-11:30 a.m. Baby playgroups at the Ann Arbor District Library (downtown) For toddlers and babies.
• 11:00 a.m. - noon Lori Fithian's "Drummunity!" at the Dexter District Library (3255 Alpine St., Dexter) 
• 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.  See the Joel Tacey Variety Show at the Ann Arbor District Library (2359 Oak Valley Dr., Ann Arbor) for a little comedy fun. Families will see a mix of dazzling juggling, silly music, wacky stunts, and amazing gadgets. This free event is appropriate for kids in grades K-5.
• 2:00-4:00 p.m. Film Friday's at the Ypsilanti District Library (229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti) - Watch the free movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rise of the Turtles.

Saturday, June 29

• 10:00 a.m. Dancing Babies at the Ann Arbor District Library (3333 Traverwood Dr., Ann Arbor).
• 11:00 a.m. Free Hands-on Demo at the UM Natural History Museum. Kids will learn about the evolution of whales.
• 11:00 a.m. Storytime at Nicola's Books(2513 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor) 
• 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.Planetarium show at the UM Natural History Museum
• 12:00-1:00 p.m. Open drop-in studio art time at the Fly Children's Art Studio (40 N. Huron, Ypsilanti). Cost is $5/class.
• 1:00 p.m. Raptor feeding at the Leslie Science & Nature Center
• 2:00 p.m. Free dinosaur tours at the UM Museum of Natural History
• 3:00 p.m. Make a "fireworks" t-shirt at the Ypsilanti District Library (5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti). This free event does require registration at 482-4110 ext. 1340to make a one of a kind tie-dye tee. Kids ages 5-12 need to bring their own washed t-shirts for the program.
• 4:00-5:00 p.m. Crazy Craig at the Ypsilanti District Library (229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti). Prepare your family to be astounded and dazzled by juggling, unicycle riding, and devil stick twirling. Find magic tricks, stunts, and so much more at this free performance. 
• 9:45-11:45 p.m. Kids experience a Hands on interactive event with Superhero at Top of the Park. Superhero is an interactive projection mapping experience in which participants are transformed into superheroes. Fly over Ann Arbor while enjoying many super powers like throwing light balls, becoming gigantic/tiny, and flying!
• 10:00 p.m. Whitmore Lake fireworks!

Sunday, June 30

• 12:00-3:00 p.m. Leslie Science & Nature Center Critter House open and free to the public 
• 1:00 p.m. Kids Music workshop at the Ann Arbor District Library (343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor). Kids in grades K-5 will meet The Not-Its during this free hands-on music creation workshop.  Learn to combine guitars with smooth, four-part harmonies, to create pop gems.
• 1:30 p.m. Planetarium show at the UM Natural History Museum
• 2:00 p.m. Free dinosaur tours
• 7:00 p.m. The Not-Its perform @TOP
• 9:45-11:45 p.m. Superhero @TOP

Chest deep walking on the "path"
after the flood!

So whatever you do with the kids in Ann Arbor, be sure to get out and about for fun. For your viewing pleasure, here is another shot of the Ypsilanti flood yesterday. This is the path behind my home - Pretty amazing huh? I am certainly glad our sump-pump kept pumping!

Do any of you have memories of playing in rain run-off as children? I do. And yes, we did take the obligatory disinfectant bath after splashing in all of the puddles!