Weekly Event Round-Up

Independence Day is past us and the kids are beginning to get on our nerves? OK maybe that's just me and our household. I am however still looking for free kids activities!  Here are several this week that should be brought to the attention of frustrated parents throughout Ann Arbor.


In honor of the final Harry Potter movie coming out this week,
try your hand  at playing a Muggle version of Quidditch
this Friday at the Ypsilanti District Library!

Start tonight be getting squeaky clean, or at least let your kids and tens create their own felt ball. The technique requires warm water and soap, so at least they'll be clean from the elbows down.

At 7:00 p.m. at the Ann Arbor District Library - Mallets Creek Branch (3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor) kids and teens can create wool felted balls to make a string of beads or a pet toy for a furry friend. For more information, call the Youth Department at 327-8301.

Tuesday also promises fun with the Rave Free Family Film Festival (4100 Carpenter Rd., Ypsilanti) when the family sees Marmaduke at 10:00 a.m. The free movie festival is every Tuesday and Wednesday for two chances at fun.

The AADL Pittsfield Branch (2359 Oak Valley Dr., Ann Arbor) has a fun activity for teens. Kids in grade 6 and up, can sew a colorful pocket for their iPod or MP3 player using colorful felt, embellishment items, and embroidery thread. All supplies are provided free.

Keep the fun rolling mid-week by learning to make root beer Wednesday at the Ypsilanti District Library's Wacky Wednesday program. From 3:00-4:30 pm at the Whittaker Branch (5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti) kids can join in on the fun making their own sudsy head of root beer to enjoy. Families might also want to consider watching a bit of magic when Jeff Wawrzaszek visits the AADL Pittsfield Branch at 2:00 p.m. or the Traverwood Branch (3333 Traverwood Dr, Ann Arbor) at 7:00 p.m.

Tree Town Toys (2611 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor) is also a great resource for free craft activities for the kids (as well as many at a very low cost!) and the "Draw a Framed Masterpiece" event from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. is no exception. Kids can choose from 12 different frame designs to create a masterpiece using crayons, markers, or stamps.

If outdoor skills are what you are looking for (or if you are a scouting family as I have) then head over to the AADL Mallets Creek Branch (3090 East Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor) of the library for Outdoor Survival Training 101 With Bivouac. From 7:00-8:30 p.m. learn about emergency basics for camping, hiking or exploring out in the wild. Maybe it will even help your child earn a scouting elective!

Rounding out the week on Thursday at 3:00-4:00 p.m. at the YDL-Whittaker enjoy a free art session courtesy of the FLY Children's Art Center or create a paper bag puppet at Tree Town Toys 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Then wrap up the week by watching a Magic Carpet Theatre performance at the Dexter District Library at 11:00 a.m. or by participating on a Muggle version of Quidditch 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the YDL-Whittaker branch - Just remember to arrive on time to be assigned to a house/team.

Whatever your choice, there are many great free events this week in and around Ann Arbor! Be sure to comment on your favorites area activities too, it helps me know what to blog about.

Need: Kids to Help Set a World Record at Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory

Come one, come all to participate in the third Chelsea Teddy Bear Company world record attempt on July 30! 

Help the Chelsea Teddy Bear Co.
set a new world's record in
celebrating the 50th Anniversary
of the World Wildlife Fund.



In celebration of the World Wildlife Fund 50th Anniversary, the Chelsea Teddy Bear Co. is attempting to break yet another world record by creating the WWF panda logo out of stuffed animals. At 1:00 p.m. on July 30, families from throughout Washtenaw county and Southeast Michigan will gather on the CTBC driveway to place their bears into the logo. The design will cover approximately 614 square feet and will include 3,000 stuffed animals and bears!

The Chelsea Teddy Bear Co. is located at 400 N Main Street in Chelsea. Check the website for information for the event and to get directions to the Chelsea Teddy Bear Co.

Discover the Henry Ford During Free Family Fun Days!

Friday, July 15, is another Target Family Fun Days at the Henry Ford Museum with free admission to the museum courtesy of Target. The free day will include live musical performances and make and take activities and projects for the kids. So be sure to check out all the museum has to offer including the Discovering The Civil War exhibit!

Kid's Passport to Fun at Michael's Crafts

July is a great month to be patriotic, take vacations and learn about new experiences.  That's why taking the kids to Michael's (3655 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor), can help achieve that. Throughout the month, kids ages 3 and up can participate in the free Passport to Fun from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. where they will find crafts highlighting different countries each day.

Below is a listing of the free programs available this month:

• July 2: America - Children will make a Warrior Shield and Bead Flag and may enjoy free face painting too!
•  July 5: Italy - Sun catchers and pizza are a great way to experience that Tuscan sun! 
•  July 7: Australia - Make a koala craft mate!
•  July 9: India - Raise your hand for henna and elephants!
•  July 11: Russia - Celebrate Russia with nesting dolls and a Russian bear.
• July 14: France - Paint like a French impressionist painter. (I was hoping for baguettes!)
• July 16: UK - Crowns and shamrocks are sure to rule!
• July 19: Japan - Oragami and block printing sure sound like fun.
• July 21: Greece - Kids create their own Olympic torch and Greek pot.
• July 23: Mexico: Create a unique Mexican sun and Tissue paper flower.
• July 26: China - Make beautiful sand art and tangrams.
• July 28: South Africa - Create a friendship bracelet to keep or give plus make an animal pin.
• July 30: Brazil - It's time for CARNIVAL with a mask and learning about the amazon while creating a snake.

I only wish we could get passport stamps for all of these wonderful places and kids activities. We are sure to you enjoy several of these days, will you?

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!