Weekend Events Round-Up: April 20-22

Earth Day weekend is almost upon us. There sure is a lot going on around Ann Arbor for kids, teens and tots too! It kind of makes my head spin actually! We'll be busy with the first weekend of soccer and the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (Go Team South Arbor Charter Academy!). We'll probably also hit a few of the local Ann Arbor Earth Day celebrations, especially Sunday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center.

What do you have on the books for the weekend? Have any plans already penciled into the planner? Here's the weekend round-up, chocked full of suggestions for your weekend fun with the kids!

Friday, April 20

• 2:00 p.m. Watch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas at the Dexter District Library (3255 Alpine St., Dexter).
• 4:00 p.m. Teens can make their own t-shirt bracelet at the Dexter District Library (3255 Alpine St., Dexter). This free event for teens in grades 5-12 requires preregistration. Please bring an old t-shirt to recycle too!

The free movie this weekend is Happy Feet Two at the Quality 16.

Saturday, April 21

• Take the family to check out a free movie! See Happy Feet Two during the Free Movie weekend at local Quality Theatres, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m.
• 10:00 a.m. Your preschooler (age 1-5) will get a kick out of celebrating Earth Day at the Leslie Science and Nature Center (1831 Traver Rd., Ann Arbor) planting seeds in a recycled container. The children will also enjoy a unique story time session and live animals or nature exploration. The program is only $2 per child.
• 10:30 a.m. Earth Day Mobileat the Ypsilanti District Library.
• 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Help salute Earth Day and learn about ways to promote a sustainable environment with the treat trail at Whole Foods (3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor). Kids will follow an interactive treasure trail, hunting for the answers. All participants will receive a free treasure bag of treats. Bring a pen or pencil to help you collect your answers.
• 1:00 p.m. The kids will have fabulous fun with body paint during a free Michael’s Craft’s (3655 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor) Make-it, Take-it event.
• 1:00-4:00 p.m. Teen Drawing Lab at the Ann Arbor District (343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor). Teens in grade 6+ will learn to draw the human hand during this free art program, there will even be a hand model on site to “lend a hand”.
• 2:00-3:30 p.m. Make a Tin Can Herb Garden at the Ypsilanti District Library (8975 MacArthur Blvd., Superior Township). Kids ages 7-18 can plant their own herb garden for eats all summer long! 

The whole family is sure to find a fun
activity to celebration Earth Day  in Ann Arbor.

Sunday, April 22

• Take the family to check out a free movie! See Happy Feet Two during the Free Movie weekend at local Quality Theatres, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m.
• Noon-4:00 p.m. Earth Day celebration at the Leslie Scienceand Nature Center (1831 Traver Rd., Ann Arbor).
• 1:00-3:00 p.m.  Kids ages 3+ can decorate a trendy tote for Earth Day at Michael’s Crafts (3655 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor). This is a free craft event while supplies last.
• 1:30 p.m. Kids 12 and under can see the movie Charlotte’s Web free at the Michigan Theater (603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor) during their Family-Friendly Film Series.
• 2:00-4:00 p.m. Know what a geodesic dome is? Come help build one at the Ypsilanti District Library (5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti).

Ann Arbor Area Earth Day Activities

It's important to me to involve my children in nature and the world around them. Here are some Earth Day events that are happening this week in and around Ann Arbor - Best of all most of the events are FREE!

Wednesday April 22:

Seed and Seedling Swap, 10:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the Growing Hope in Ypsilanti. Bring seeds and seedlings you want to swap with other gardeners!

Earth Day Plastic Bag Trade - Be among the first 200 customers to shop at Whole Foods on Earth Day, and get a free Whole Foods Market Better Bag with your purchase! You can also recycle 10 plastic grocery bags for recycling to receive a free Better Bag in exchange. Surprise ecology oriented give-a-ways will continue throughout the day. Wednesday's are ALSO Kids Club day!!!

Friday April 24:

Tiny Tot Time—Earth Day 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the Leslie Science and Nature Center in Ann Arbor. Stop in for a carnival of indoor and outdoor hands-on activities. Explore the joys of forests, fields and fauna through hikes, songs, stories, puppets, games and crafts. Stop in to the Critter House to visit Frieda the iguana and her animal friends or meander past our Resident Raptors to spy on owls, hawks and other raptors. $7.00 per child, ages 1-3 years with a caregiver, siblings are welcome. Pre-registration not required—pay at the door!

Saturday April 25:

Celebrate the Earth’s Birthday at the Ypsilanti Public Library at 2:00 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day through storytime. Other activities include snacks, "make our own compost", and seed planting. Registration required - 482-4110 ext. 1340.

Dance for the Earth, 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. at Downtown Home and Garden. Join the hottest Earth Day party in town. Dancing, Earth Day theme costumes, drum parade, and silent auction featuring local artists and earth-friendly items.... Proceeds support the Ecology Center's Mary Beth Doyle Environmental Health Fund.

Sunday, April 26:

Celebrate Ann Arbor's annual Earth Day Festival at the Leslie Science Center from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. This FREE, family friendly event features music and entertainment, hands on activities, live animal demonstrations, a Clean Energy Expo, and displays from local environmental, non-profit, and governmental organizations. At 2:30pm an All Species Parade will wind through the festival with those costumed as animals and plants.