Weekend Events Round-Up: July 27-29

The weekend is here, and even though it looks like the Ann Arbor area may have rain today (possibly foiling some outdoor plans) there is plenty to do for the kids. I personally am hoping the rain holds off just a wee bit (or finishes by 5:00-ish) so that we can sleep in a tent tonight without getting wet - Yes it's a family camping weekend! 

For those of you looking for Ann Arbor events, there are many including free dinosaur tours, story time programs, free tours at the Rentschler Farm, a weekend festival in Chelsea, and Maker Fair at the Henry Ford. So get your weekend planner out, grab a pencil and add a few fun events to your weekend plans!

The Kids Zone at the Chelsea Sounds & Sights Festival
should have lots of fun for the entire family!
Check out all the fun, free activities offered.

This weekend, area families can enjoy Chelsea's Sounds & Sights 3-day festival in Downtown Chelsea (M-52/Main St.). Most of the festival is free fun, with a $5.00 cover for the festival social tent, so there should be lots to see and do. Festival goers will find an art market and demonstrations, children’s entertainment and activities, a classic car show and an open-air art market. Times for this festival are Thursday: 6:00-11:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon-11:00 p.m.

Friday, July 27

Check out our amazing universe at the Dexter District Library (3255 Alpine St., Dexter)during a free kids program. Your kids will learn about and explore the mysteries of outer space, planets and stars!  11:00 a.m. free admission for ages 5+.

Your kids won't even know they are learning as they sharpen their math skills during a free educational program sponsored by Mathnasium of Ann Arbor. Stop by the Ann Arbor District Library (Traverwood Branch) at 1:30-2:30 p.m. for this free program for kids in grades K-3.

Mathnasium coaches present math games and strategies that improve math skills, understanding of concepts, and overall school performance while building confidence and forging a positive attitude toward the subject. 

If the rain doesn't let up, your teen might get a kick out of this event for teens age 15+. AT 2:30 p.m. teens can stop by the Ypsilanti District Library (229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti ) to watch The Lord of the Rings :The Return of the King. Enjoy  J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy saga, eat some popcorn and stay for a lively group discussion.

Need to shake it a little after a hectic week? Then the entire family will likely enjoy the Just Dance! Dance Off! at Ann Arbor District Library (343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor) at 6:00-8:30 p.m. The free event, geared for teens in grades 6+ (and adults!)will allow everyone to cut a rug on the Wii for prizes. Awards will be handed to the participants with the flyest threads, most swagger on the dance floor and of course the winners of the dance- off. 

Take the entire family to a drop in art session at the FLY Children's Art Center at 6:00 p.m. for amazing duct tape art. The program cost is only $10 per participant and helps the center provide classes for youth in need. Register at info@flyartcenter.org.  Kids can make a stylish purse that looks like vinyl, a cute and functional rose that uses a pen as the stem, a duct-tape wallet, or a cool piece of unique wall art, the choice is yours. The class is best suited to students ages 8 and up.

Maker Fair Detroit always has such wonderfully creative sites -
The kids will have a ball checking it all out!

Photo: Flickr user CaZaTo Ma

 Saturday, July 28

Take your Jr. Maker to the Grange Junior Makers program at the Pittsfield Grange (3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor) at 10:00 a.m. then head to Maker Fair Detroit for a bigger display of creativity! Your kids will be glad to check everything out, and who knows it might get theirs AND your brains working OT.

Is racing around the track your idea of fun (virtual racing that is!)? The the Ann Arbor District Library Smash Kart: Summer Season Round 2 (343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor) is the place to be! Teens (grades 6+) can participate in a fun free event with prizes awarded for Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart Double Dash team and single player events AND new prizes for trivia, outrageous outfits and more! 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Beat the heat by taking the family to enjoy Summer Splash Days at Veterans Memorial Pool (2150 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor) from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Kids ages 6-12 can join in the fun with water balloon events, water baseball, raft races and a hula hoop relay. Regular pool admission prices apply.

Check out the stars during a planetarium show at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History (1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor) at 12:30 p.m. For only $5 see the night sky with complete clarity including viewing all of the phases of the moon. 

Participate in some fun art classes at the FLY Children's Art Center this weekend.

Sunday, July 29:

The Kerrytown Market & Shops (407 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor) have a courtyard concert featuring Drummunity at 1:00 p.m. This free concert is a great way to start your Sunday together. Kinds even get the chance to play on a collection of hand drums and percussion toys. 

Feeling crafty? Then take kids ages 3 and up to Michael's Crafts for a free craft project. From 1:00-4:00 p.m. kids will explore India during their Passport to Imagination event!

Want to know more about amigurumi? Then be sure to join Amigurumi Crochet Happy Fun

at Ann Arbor District Library (3090 E. Eisenhower Pky, Ann Arbor) at 2:00-5:00 p.m.In this program, teens and adults learn to make small crocheted (or knit) toys. The library will provide the supplies and show participants how to make amigurumi (using our "crochet cam"). Plan on attending the entire program to complete your project. 

Learn about the Art of the Stereoscope at the FLY Children's Art Center (Dansen Bldg - 32 N. Washington, Suite 5, Ypsilanti). Learn the history of the stereoscope, and build and decorate your own stereoscope camera and viewer in this unique 2:00 p.m. workshop. Pre-registration is required, the class size will be limited, and tuition is $30 per student. Contact info@flyartcenter.org for more info, or to sign up!

Check out the stars during a planetarium show at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History (1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor) at 2:30 p.m. For only $5 see the night sky with complete clarity including viewing all of the phases of the moon. 

The Dog Days of Summer at Hudson Mills

Have a blast during the Dog Days of Summer at Hudson Mills Metropark (8801 N. Territorial Rd., Dexter), on July 28, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Your two and four-legged friends will have a howling good time participating in training clinics, watching dog herding demonstrations or participating in the various doggie contests. 


The event cost $2 plus a vehicle entry fee into the park.

Free Gym America "Olympic Gymnastics" Event

 

Does your child like gymnastics? Are you interested in introducing your child to gymnastics at the 2012 London Olympics? Then check out this free event sponsored by Gym America Ann Arbor.

On Tuesday July 31, Gym America is hosting a free event - An Olympic Experience - for kids. Starting a 6:30 your child, ages 3+ can have fun bouncing in a bounce house, participating in Olympic-style events in gymnastics and track, and even have their photo taken on an award stand with a gold medal. This family event will even have prizes and give-aways. Then at 8:00 p.m. stay to watch the gymnastic finale.

The event takes place at the Saline High School Gym (1300 Campus Parkway, Saline MI). Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

New URL Same Content: Ann Arbor Mom Blog For Families

Get the same great content including free events, activities
for the family and the weekend events round-up at the
Ann Arbor Mom blog at  http://annarbormom.blogspot.com/

I mentioned earlier today that it appears someone swiped my URL and has loaded it with (gasp) an advertising site. The company is not local and isn't really offering value to Ann Arbor parents - Unless it's for local ads which are piggy-backing my success as a blog. It does appear that this was a problem with my billing and payment of the purchased URL - So yea today ended on a REALLY cruddy note!

Since the Ann Arbor Mom Blog IS a blogger site though, I've always had  http://annarbormom.blogspot.com/ so please make note of the change and bookmark it to come back to. (Often if you don't mind!) At the Ann Arbor Mom you will always get the same great content including free events, activities for kids, and round-up of  weekend events for your planner.

As a blogger I've been working on something else regardless - Something that makes me happier and hopefully you happier as well. For now though, I'll be here pouting.

Weekend Events Round-Up: July 20-22

Things have been a bit crazy for me the past few weeks. Vacation, client work, hauling kids to-and-fro camps, attending Cub Scout Summer Camp with my son and attending many activities. It certainly isn't out of the ordinary for me, but it makes life... Well it makes life a bit harried. It also means that some of the blogs don't get posted.

Today when I logged on to get to a quick weekend round up I realized that - Someone swiped my URL. I am looking into the why, but for now, and as always, the blogger has been and will always be the official Ann Arbor Mom blog site. I have been providing helpful information to Ann Arbor families for years without selling out completely to products and advertisers and would like to continue providing a call out to area businesses, events and activities that are helpful to area parents. I'll get to the bottom of this - eventually. It makes me sick to think of all of the links to the "other" site that are floating around there now...  But I digress.

As a parent, as a blogger and as a professional I have been considering changing things up considerably and this may be the poke in the rear I needed.

At any rate what are your weekend plans? My son and I are running (or likely walking) Color Run Ann Arbor. We're both really excited and should be very colorful Sunday afternoon. Otherwise I get to be part of the sandwich generation taking my mom in for some knee surgery. Hope you all have a beautiful weekend in Ann Arbor enjoying the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, the great outdoors and this beautiful, much cooler, Michigan weather!


Friday, July 20

• Ann Arbor Art Fair
• Planet Rock free climbing event 1:00-4:00 p.m. Preregistration required.
• Family Jump Time at 5:30 p.m. Canton Pump It Up 
• Family Game Night at 6:00 p.m.Learning Express of Ann Arbor
• Or what about the Drive-in Movies!

Saturday, July 21

• Ann Arbor Art Fair
• Rentschler Farm Museum Tours
• Hunting Mastodons 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Museum of Natural History
• Night Crew Owls free program at the Ann Arbor District Library-Pittsfield at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
• Free Dinosaur Tours at the University of Michigan Natural History Museum at 2:00 p.m.
• Babymouse for President party at 2:00 p.m. at the Ypsilanti District Library-Michigan
• Pop-up Card free craft at the Ypsilanti District Library-Superior at 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, July 22

• Hunting Mastodons 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Museum of Natural History 
• Free Dinosaur Tours at the University of Michigan Natural History Museum at 2:00 p.m.
• Conservation Stations free educational program at the Ann Arbor District Library-Downtown 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Hunting Mastodons at University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

Learn about Mastadons in Michigan during a free program
at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History.

Saturday's (July and August 2012) at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. families can explore Mastodon hunting by early Michigan inhabitants. Learn more about how archaeologists study artifacts and learn about the evidence of interactions between people and Mastodons as the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History (1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor) offers this free program to area families. You even will get to make your own cast of a tool that may have been used in the hunting of Mastodons, a Clovis Point! 

Museum entry is free however donations are welcome. For more information visit the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History website.

Weekend Events Round-Up: July 6-8

Do you have electricity?  I'll have to admit I'm loving being away from that heat! YUCK. But we're still off doing a ton with the kids. Need ideas for your kids this weekend? Check out a few of these activities!

Friday, July 6

Check out the Kidszone with Ann Arbor Cohousing at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival Top of the Park 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 7

Help the kids understand nature in a whole new way by taking them on a bird hike at Hudson Mills. It's happening bright and early at 7:30 a.m., but the early bird gets the worm. Besides it'll happen before the heat of the day hits. There is a small fee for the program as well as vehicle entry fees into the park. After the walk, be sure to enjoy all that Hudson mills has to offer families!

Take your young builder to the Kids Building Workshop at Home Depot from 9:00 a.m. - noon. This weeks program is being sponsored by Penske, and the kids will be building a moving truck!

Kids open stage at Oz Music 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Check out the Kidszone with the U-M Psychology Department at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival Top of the Park 5:00-8:00 p.m. Baacchanal also hits the stage at 7:30 p.m. with some spectacular sites!

Sunday July 8

The July Wildflowers should be blooming, so be sure to check them out during a prairie hike at Independence Lake Park at 2:00 p.m. Join a Washtenaw County Parks and Rec naturalist when they meet in the 4pm. lot across from construction work at Gamble Group Center.


It's closing night for the Ann Arbor Summer Festival Top of the Park but there is still lots to do. Check out the Kidszone with the U-M Psychology Department at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival Top of the Park 5:00-8:00 p.m. and stick around for Bing Bang Boom at 6:00 p.m. the last in the AADL Kids Rock Series!

Teens open stage at Oz Music 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Garden Programs at the Matthaei Botancal Gardens

Does your family like to dig in the dirt? Perhaps gardening is a pasttime at your home? Here are two programs that you might find fitting for the family.

Let your family enjoy the gardens at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Come and listen to stories that take place in gardens and then make a garden decoration to take home for your own garden. This program is $5.00 and is happening July 13 at 10:00 a.m.

The second program happens on July 25 at 10:00 a.m. and explores the Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden at Matthaei. Learn about the herbs and spices in the conservatory then make an herbal ice tea and a sachet to take home to enjoy later. The cost for this program is also $5.00.

It's never too early to get the kids into exploring the garden, however both of these programs might be best for older kids and teens! For more information and to register be sure to visit the Matthaei Botancal Gardens website.