Free Event: Campfire Fun at the Leslie Science & Nature Center

I am planning on taking my children to this fun event, I mean who wouldn't want to? It's free, sounds fun AND is educational. It would make the perfect way for a family to end their weekend. One Sunday each month from 6:30-8:00 p.m., the Leslie Science & Nature Center is hosting a campfire /story session. You bring the chairs, blankets and roasting sticks (maybe some hot cocoa and fixings for s'mores too) and they'll provide the music, entertainment and marshmallows! 

The Fireside Fun program is FREE and designed for all ages, just come out, bring the necessities and enjoy the night. I'm planning on taking my Cub Scout den and my Daisy Troop too! The dates of this fantastic program are:

Sunday, October 15

Sunday, November 19

Ann Arbor Halloween Events, Activities and Information

I don't know if it's my children's incessant begging about Halloween events that we'll do or what they want to be, if it's a result of seeing all of the Halloween candy and decorations or if it's because I just sent off my latest column to the Ann Arbor Family Press but it's probably a good time to post a list of all of the Ann Arbor Halloween events families can plan!

Find and information on Halloween events, activities, haunts and more with the Ann Arbor Mom - Find What you can do with kids, toddlers and teens in and around Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County!

This list of Halloween events will be updated as events come onto my radar...

October All Month:

• Complete Guide to: Cider Mills, Apple Orchards, U-pick Places and Hay Mazes in Washtenaw County
• Greenfield Village Hallow'een
• Detroit Zoo Boo
• Little Boo at the (Toledo) Zoo 
• Haunted Halloween Houses at the Wolcott Mill Historic Center - October 15, 22 and 29
• Crazy Hilda's Camp of No Return (teens and up)
• Wiard's County Fair

Week of October 1:

• EMU Fall Concert Symphony Orchestra Concert at Pease Auditorium - October 6, 7:30 p.m.

Week of October 7:

• Run Scream Run 5K & 10K race at Wiard's Orchards - October 7
• Zombie Run - Run for the Arb, Run for Your Life! - October 13

Week of October 14:

• Monster Smash - October 14, 12:00-3:00 p.m.
• Frankentoys at AADL Downtown - October 14, noon-3:00 p.m. 
• Trick or Treat on the Trail at Hudson Mills Metropark - October 14, 4:00 p.m.
• Farm Halloween at the Wolcott Mill Farm Center - October 14, 12:00-4:00 p.m.
• Michael's Kids Club Vampirina® Web of Friendship Craft $2.00 - October 14, 10:00 a.m. - noon
• Kapnik Orchard's Fall Apple Festival - October 14-15
• Spider Web Art at AADL Pittsfield - October 15, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
• Huron River Trick or Treat Canoe Paddle - October 15, noon-5:00 p.m.
• Pumpkins, Lanterns, & Leaves - Fall Family Event at Matthaei - October 20, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Week of October 21:

• Tots Halloween at Lake St. Clair Nature Center - October 21, 1:00 p.m.
• AADL Mallets Creek Craft: Bubbling Boo Bombs! - October 21, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
• Boo!! The History of Halloween at lake Erie Marshlands Museum - October 22, 2:00 p.m.
• Michael's Kids Club Vampirina® Friendship Bracelets $2.00 - October 21, 10:00 a.m. - noon
• Animal Haunts - Northern Neighbors at Leslie Science & Nature Center - October 21, 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
• Halloween Costume Swap at AADL Downtown - October 22, 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Friday, October 27:

• Halloween Downtown/Ypsi Glow at YDL-Michigan Library Plaza - 5:30-9:00 p.m.
• Free Halloween concert at Towsley Auditorium - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 28:

• Trick-or-Treat at the Farm at the Wolcott Mill Farm Center - 6:00-9:00 p.m.
• Michael's Kids Club Vampirina® Treat Bags $2.00 - 10:00 a.m. - noon
• Sugar Skulls and Jolly Rancher Roses at YDL-Superior - 2:00-3:00 p.m.
• Halloween at the A2 Market 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Haunted Woods at Camp Munhacke - October 28, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
• Washtenaw County Parks Halloween Bash  - 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 29:

• Hoots and Haunts Halloween at Environmental Discovery Center - 1:00 & 3:00 p.m.
• Family Halloween Party at the Natural History Museum - Noon – 5 p.m. Free
• 2017 AADL Costume Contest 12:30-3:00 p.m. 

Monday, October 30:

• Halloween at Ann Arbor Farmers Market - 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 31:

• Halloween Party at the Ann Arbor District Library (Downtown) 10:00-10:30 a.m. and 11:30-noon.

To add events to the Halloween event list, please contact me at tmayrend at gmail dot com or comment below.





Sources include: AnnArbor.com, individual websites, previous posts and Google.

Michigan Activity Pass

Explore local cultural attractions for free with your family
with the Michigan Adventure Pass.

In past years I loved participating in the Museum Adventure Pass program with my family. Then the program changed and fell off my radar for a year. In reality though, the program just changed a bit. Later this month, On May 23, it's back for the second year.

The statewide Michigan Activity Pass program works with the Library Network to provide cultural activities to families.  Families can go to their public library to print out passes, coupons, and special offers from participating cultural institutions - museums, theaters and historical locations - This is a free program too!

To learn more about the Michigan Activity Pass program and participating attractions be sure to visit the Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) website. Below is a list of the closest attractions that were on the list when I checked in.

Let me know if you take advantage of passes and where you and your family explored! Here are a few of the closest locations that can be found throughout Washtenaw County (and nearby) that offer admission using a MAP pass. They are all within a 25-mile radius of Ann Arbor.

Michigan Firehouse Museum
Yankee Air Museum
Cobblestone Farm Museum
Rentschler Farm Museum
University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Saline Railroad Depot Museum
Argus Museum
Washtenaw County Historical Society Museum
Wayne Historical Museum
Wild Swan Theater
Plymouth Historical Museum
Plymouth Community Arts Council
Michigan Philharmonic
Old Mill Museum
Maybury State Park
Mill Race Historical Village
Greenmeade Historical Park
River Raisin Territorial Park
Hamburg Historical Museum
Southern Michigan Railroad
Dearborn Historical Museum
Monroe County Historical Museum
Waterloo State Recreation Area
Monroe County Vietnam Veterans Museum and Memorial
Jiffy Mix Factory Tour

Gibraltar Historical Museum

Lakelands Trail State Park

Pinckney State Recreation Area

Sterling State Park

Island Lake State Recreation Area

Arab American National Museum

Holocaust Memorial Center

Kids Bowl Free All Summer Long

For several years now my kids have participated in the Kids Bowl Free program during the summer months when they are out of school. It is the perfect afternoon activity when the summer weather isn't cooperating, and the best part is that my children get to enjoy free bowling!

Let your kids can bowl FREE
all summer long!

Starting May 1, Ann Arbor families can take their children for free bowling at Bel-Mark Lanes. This is the only Ann Arbor bowling alley hosting the Kids Bowl Free program this year. I have been told too, that the bowling alley is under renovation, so be sure to stop in and check them out!

Bel-Mark Lanes, Ann Arbor
May 1-Sept 1
3530 Jackson Rd. | (734) 994-8433
Mon-Thurs until 6:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun until 5:00 p.m.

Looking for other convenient bowling alleys? Here are two more nearby:

Lodge Lanes, Belleville
May 1-Sept 30
46255 I-94 S Service Dr, Belleville | (734) 697-9178

Chelsea Lanes, Chelsea
April 15 1-Oct 31
1180 S. Main Street, Chelsea | (734) 475-8141

Super Bowl, Canton
May 2-Aug 31
45100 Ford Rd. | (734) 459-6070

There are many participating bowling alley's in Michigan to choose from, so check out their available times and choose wisely. Parents will only be able to register for one bowling alley per e-mail account.

In past years, if you register early, you will most likely also be offered the family pass for just $24.95 per family.  This pass is good for up to 4 adult family members (Mom, Dad, Older Siblings, Grandma, Grandpa or an Adult Babysitter) to bowl 2 games of free bowling every day during the summer along along with the children that have registered in the family.

So sign up today for this amazing summer deal.

Cool Happenings at the Plymouth Ice Festival

I love attending the Plymouth Ice Fest, and I do mean that I love it. There have been winters when the ice melts almost as fast as it's been carved, and there have been bitterly cold winters, but nothing beats bundling up and heading to Plymouth Michigan to see the many sparkly ice sculpture creations created before my eyes scattered throughout the downtown area! the past couple of years, we have even introduced the kids to the experience - My son thinks it is especially awesome to see the ice carvers cutting away "with chainsaws" at the giant ice blocks!!!

"I loved it!" says Zach Mayrend, "I like when they are carving the ice, and REALLY liked the COOL carved snowmobile!"

The 2015 Plymouth Ice Festival storms into Plymouth, Michigan January 9-11 - Friday 3:00-10:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Created specifically for the love of winter, the revamped Plymouth Ice Festival will feature over 100 ice sculptures, live music and entertainment, interactive family shows, winter-themed tasty treats and a variety of additional events to interest all ages. Several event highlights include the Dueling Chainsaws, ice carving competitions, interactive ice sculptures, a Detroit Redwings slapshot contest, and don't forget the lighting of the spectacular fire and ice towers on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. Many of the Downtown Plymouth merchants will also be holding individualized in-store events offering discounts and giveaways. An estimated 100,000 people are slated to attend the three-day event.

The Plymouth Ice Festival has ranked among the top ice festivals in the United States by promoting ice sculpture as an art form through competitions, demonstrations and seminars with standardized judging and exhibitions. To see the complete list of what's happening, be sure to check out the complete Plymouth Ice Festival schedule of events or the Plymouth Ice Fest Facebook Page.

So bundle up your troops and take a 20 minute drive to downtown Plymouth. The quaint downtown area will be alive with amateur and professional ice carvers and families who enjoy the experience. Don't forget to bring some extra cash though for fun midway food or a great cup of hot cocoa!

All photos are property of Tammy Mayrend.

Family Fun Activities at the Saline Summerfest

Updated for 2013:

The Saline Summerfest promises family fun for everyone starting tonight! The schedule of events is jam-packed beginning with an arts & crafts show at 5:00 p.m. Take a look and pop over to Saline for some good, old-time family fun! Check out some of the more family-friends and kid-friendly events happening this year at the festival:

August 9:

4:30 p.m. Tricycle Races return!
5:00-9:00 p.m. Art & Craft show

6:00-8:00 p.m. dance, karate and twirling demonstrations
6:00-8:00 p.m. car show

August 10:

7:30-8:00 and a.m. Kid's Fishing Contest Registration - Contest 8:00-10:00 a.m. Kids 14 and under.

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Vendor booths open
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Street Machines car show
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Electric car show

10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Art & craft show

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Kid's games open. The area includes an inflatable obstacle course, bouncer, face painting, and more...

Noon - 4:00 p.m. Historical Society Trolley tours
12:00-12:30 p.m. Watermelons eating contest and egg toss (On the website there is a second mention of this happening at 1:00/1:30 p.m. too!)
1:00 p.m. Karate demo
2:00-3:00 p.m. Rubber Duck Race

4:30-5:30 p.m. Kids and Adult Tricycle Race
6:30-9:30 p.m. Photo Booth

While the event is partially free, some areas, like the kids game area cost $4 for an all-day wrist band. This grants preschoolers and children, ages 2-8, unlimited activities and fun!

During Summerfest there is plenty of music and fun, it certainly all can't be captured in this brief post. For more information on the event, be sure to visit the Saline Summerfest website!

Events: Michigan Groundhog Day

When my mom and step-father moved to Novi we added a new member to the family – “Charlie” the groundhog! There were great amounts of entertainment value in watching an overly plump groundhog run from my 5 pound poodle. Hilarity and gales of laughter could be heard when he ran (and I use that term loosely), wiggling, squeezing and wedging his was into his burrow under our small backyard shed. Imagine almost any cartoon character going through and getting stuck in a small space and you’ll get a great mental image of the events! Groundhogs can be fun animals to watch, which brings me to my topic.

Saturday is Ground Hogs day, the eagerly anticipated celebration of the coming of spring. The legend is based on an old Scottish couplet, "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year." So if the groundhog sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, it means spring is just around the corner! Locally there are a couple of fun events celebrating the day.

Take the entire family out to the Howell Conference & Nature Center (1005 Triangle Lake Road, Howell 48843) to view Michigan’s own "Woody the Woodchuck’s" annual spring weather prediction.
Michigan’s Ground Hog’s Day celebration is a must see for locals, so stop by for pancake breakfast, to have your picture taken with the furry beast or simply to see when spring will arrive. Woody's prediction happens at 8:15 a.m. SHARP! For more information call 517-546-4185 or visit the Howell Conference & Nature Center website.


For those of you that can’t even manage to burrow out of your own wintry homes, Punxsutawney Phil wants to text you the results of HIS weather predictions. He'll be broadcasting his weather prediction on Tuesday to fans who sign up by texting the word "Groundhog" to 247365, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @GroundhogPhil.

The Ypsilanti Firetruck Muster

Are you interested in seeing antique and vintage firetrucks? How about watching them spray their hoses into the Huron River? Do you have young children (especially boys) in your household?
If you answered yes to at least one of the questions above, you need to stop by the Michigan Firehouse Museum's Annual Firetruck Muster at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti.

The muster is FREE for families on Saturday August 25 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Expect to see plenty of firetrucks, a few age specific events for the little ones and MAYBE get to spray water into the Huron River yourself - the awesome power of these old beauties can not be experienced any other way (Unless of course you visit the Firehouse Museum!). Check it out, if anything, it's a pleasant way to spend a lazy Saturday morning - Hope to see you there!


photos by Tammy Mayrend
photo 1: A hazy day at the Michigan Firehouse Museum Firetruck Muster at Riverside Park 2006
photo 2: Zachary Mayrend at the Firetruck Muster 2008 getting a turn at the hose!

FREE Family Adventure Passes

In 2009...

As it was a rainy, dreary day in Ypsilanti Township yesterday, I decided to take my kids to the 1:30 PM story time. Typically we like to linger in the library for a while after the stories. We'll check things out, look at new books and movies, and we always look at opportunities for the family - I'll say it, I like inexpensive or (ah-hem) preferably FREE activities, and our public library often offers up great resources!

On our way out, I noticed a small, colorful booklet laying on the counter. I was intrigued so I picked it up. It said "CHECK OUT A MUSEUM" - OK I'll bite, what was did it mean...
Reading further I found that my family could get FREE passes to many local museums around Metro Detroit allowing for two to four admissions! That's right, take a deep breath, it read FREE - And the way to get your passes, is to check them out at your local library!

Now back for it's final year starting May 25, 2012..

We have used the Museum Adventure Pass several times since 2009. It's an amazing free resource for families. You can check passes out May 25-September 1, 2012 for admission to many amazing museum's throughout the Metro-Detroi area and even some in Ann Arbor.

The program is run a little different this year. Instead of walking into the  local libraries to check out the passes, you need to choose your library online, then choose the pass. There are many area libraries participating though the library network though: Ypsilanti District Library, Saline District Library, Chelsea District Library and the Dexter District Library so passes are easily accessible. This year too, several theaters are offering passes where families can buy deeply discounted theater tickets.

Some of the great museums and theaters included in the 2012 program are:

Anton Art Center - Mt. Clemens

Arab American National Museum - Detroit

Arts & Scraps - Detroit

Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History 

Detroit Artists Market 

Detroit Institute of Arts 

Dossin Great Lakes Museum - Detroit

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House - Grosse Point Shores

Full Impact Theatre (formerly known as Michigan Youth Theater) - Rochester 

Grosse Pointe Historical Society 

Holocaust Memorial Center - Farmington Hills

Howell Nature Center

Huron Valley Council for the Arts 

Michigan Philharmonic - Plymouth

Monroe County Historical Society

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) - Detroit

Pewabic Pottery - Detroit

Purple Rose Theatre - Chelsea

Shalom Street Museum - West Bloomfield

The Art Experience - Pontiac

The Scarab Club - Detroit

Tipping Point Theatre - Northville

University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History - Ann Arbor

Robots & Fairy Doors

On April 28, join the Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair as they tour
Ann Arbor viewing the mystic Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor.

You've heard of the famous "Fairy Doors" of Ann Arbor right? Have you taken your children to explore them?

Well on April 28 at 2:00 p.m., 826michigan and the Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair (115 East Liberty St., Ann Arbor) will hit the road wandering downtown Ann Arbor to investigate the fairy doors tucked into secret spaces at local businesses. Under the gentle guidance of your tour guide, Fairyologist Jonathan B. Wright, you'll discover tiny passages to new worlds and may even glimpse a fairy in the flesh. DetaThis event is free and open to the public!

Weekend Event Round-Up: Jan 27-29

I'd love to think this weekend will be quiet, but for my family and I anyway, it will be anything but! We have our Cub Scout Pinewood Derby races, are heading to the Fox Theatre to see Sesame Street Live and my son is ramping up to be part of a Science Olympiad team for his school. Somewhere in there too will be cleaning house, doing laundry, working AND sleeping. Is a parents job ever done? Never mind, don't bother answering that one!

Have you made weekend plans? Does your planner overflow as much as mine? Someday I'd like a date with my husband, just not sure when that will happen.

Any-who, here's the weekly Ann Arbor weekend event planner...

Friday, January 27

• Why not enjoy some free bouncing at Xtreme Bounce Zone 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.?
• See Under the African Sky at the Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building (4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor) Fri 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  The play for for the entire family is a delightful collection of African tales performed through storytelling, acting, dancing, and drumming. Colorful costumes, masks, and traditional music will delight and teach our youngest fans, with lots of opportunities for audience participation. 
• Stop by the Ypsilanti District Library (5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti) for Teen Gaming 3:30-5:00 p.m. Drop in and play electronic games for PlayStation and Wii use what the library has or bring a game to share.
• For a date-night idea for mom and dad, I have been told the Performance Network has a hilarious play happening right now called God of Carnage. It's apparently a comedy of (bad) manners that is supposed to change the way we look at polite conversation. I'm hoping to check it out next week.

Saturday, January 28

• See Under the African Sky at the Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building (4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor) at 11:00 a.m.
• Build your own build-a-saurus at the Lowe's Build and Grow clinics  at 10:00 a.m.!
• Attend the first ever "Grange Junior Maker" program at the Pittsfield Grange at 10:00 a.m.
• Stay warm while visiting Chillin At The Mills at Hudson Mills. There may not be much snow, but there is sure to be lots of fun!
• Teens still have time to celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Dexter District Library (3255 Alpine St., Dexter) at 1:00 p.m.
• Want to participate in a fun scavenger hunt? The Ypsilanti District Library (8975 MacArthur Blvd., Superior Township) may just hold that anti-boredom key... From 2:00-3:30 p.m. be clever and use your head to search for clues and hidden treasures! 

So what will you do and around Ann Arbor with kids? I'd love to see your family fun photos either on the blog or the Ann Arbor Mom Facebook page.

Free Kids Workshops at the Pittsfield Grange

There is a new program for kids and their parents starting at the Pittsfield Township Grange (3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor). The Grange Junior Maker, will be a monthly free workshop where the kids will build electronics, robotics and wood. Their first project however will be building a workbench for use in future projects.

Please bring your tools and any supplies you would like to donate at 10:00 a.m., Saturday January 28.
Parents must accompany their children in order to participate. For more information call 734-926-5079.

Free Events at the Waterloo Recreation Area

I love that the kids are getting old enough to spend lengthier periods of time outdoors. I remember playing in the snow for HOURS on end and only coming in when mom begged. Kids today don't seem to always do that. I am very fond of nature and the great-outdoors too, enjoying walks in the woods, introducing the kids to many nature friends and more. I also like to kep a tight budget. I suppose all of these things interested me in the Recreation 101 at the Waterloo Recreation Area (17030 Brush Rd., Chelsea) - Events there are free when you use your Recreation Passport that is part of your Michigan Liscence Tab renewal!

Saturday's throughout January, there are several fun events that the whole family can enjoy:

• January 7 - At 2:00 p.m. spend time doing some winter tracking of some of Mother Nature's friends
• January 14 - At 2:00 p.m. Enjoy winter's splendor while cross country skiing folowed by a warm beverage!
•  January 21 - At 10:00 a.m. the kids can learn about many species of birds that hang around all winter!
•  January 28 - At 2:00 p.m. kids will enjoy learning about the many hibernation areas of animals while learning to identify many plants and trees by their bark and winter apearance!

Waterloo Recreation Area New Year's Day Hike

Want to start the new year with a breath of fresh air? Literally! On Sunday, January 1 from 11:00 a.m. - noon at the Waterloo Recreation Area (16345 McClure Rd., Chelsea 48118), families can enjoy a casual hour long hike followed by a bonfire with snacks! You need only to bring warm gear and wear comfortable shoes. Kids might also want to bring a roasting stick, watter bottle, binoculars and a story to share around the fire. Families that have the Recreation Passport on their vehicles get in totally free too!

Get a jump-start on a healthy New Year with a family hike at the Waterloo Recreation Area in Chelsea!

Hundreds of Museums are Free on September 24

Find free Museum Admission to many local museume during the Smithosonian's Museum Day, September 24, 2011

Thanks to the Smithsonian Museum's, families can visit hundreds of museums throughout the United States for FREE! That's right, free museum admission for Smithsonian Museum Day. Get two (2) free tickets (per household) to one of hundreds of museums across the United States including many in Michigan. The tickets will gain entry to only one of the participating museums, excluding parking and special events and exhibits.

Participating Michigan Museums:

• Air Zoo - Portage
• Anton Art Center - Mount Clemens
• Arab American National Museum - Dearborn
• Art Center of Battle Creek - Battle Creek
• Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum - Ishpeming
• Detroit Children's Museum - Detroit
• Detroit Science Center - Detroit
• Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve - Niles
• Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum - Grand Rapids
• Grand Rapids Art Museum - Grand Rapids
• Grand Rapids Public Museum - Grand Rapids
• Historic White Pine Village - Ludington
• Holland Museum - Holland
• Kalamazoo Nature Center - Kalamazoo
• Kalamazoo Valley Museum - Kalamazoo
• Knowleton Ice Museum - Port Huron
• Longway Planitarium - Flint
• Matthaei Botanical Gardens - Ann Arbor
• Meadowbrook Hall and Gardens - Rochester
• Michigan Women's Historical Center & Hall of Fame - Lansing
• University of Michigan Museum of Art - Ann Arbor

The Toledo Museum of Art (Toedo), Fulton County Museum (Wauseon, OH ), Sauder Village (Archbold, OH) and the Wood County Historical Center and Museum (Bowling Green, OH) are also easily accessible to Ann Arbor families! For a full list of Michigan Museum's participating in the Smithsonian's Museum Day be sure to visit the Museum Day website.

To get your free Museum Day tickets or to find a participating Museum Day location be sure to visit the Museum Day websites, but please rememebr that the free ticket does not guarantee entry into the museum if it reaches capacity. Be sure to arrive early to the museum to better guarentee entry.

We Can Do It - Spend Labor Day at the Henry Ford for Free!

Monday, September 5, is the final Target Family Fun Day at the Henry Ford. Spend Labor Day learning about the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well being of our great nation with free admission to the museum. The entire family will enjoy the many live musical performances, scavanger hunts and make and take activities happening throughout the day as well as the wonderful dramatic presentations with “Rosie the Riveter”!

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!

Weekend Events Round-up: June 10-12

I meant to post the weekend events earlier today but the end-of-school year events for my kids have simply eaten a hole in my time. To expedite things, here's a quick list of what's happening around town.

Saturday June 11

• Michael's Crafts (3655 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor) free craft. Father's Day Make-It, Take-It - Decorate a picture frame for dad. 10:00 a.m. - noon
• Family Fun Day at Two Twelve Arts Center (216 W. Michigan Ave., Saline). Free make and take art activities, face painting, giant bubbles, pottery demonstrations, title making, sno-cones, popcorn, cotton candy, and live music. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  
• Summer Reading Kick-Off at Ypsilanti District Library - Michigan (229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti). Family fun, action–packed story time, arts & crafts, make instruments from recycled materials, decorate a planter made from recycled materials and plant a seed to take home. This free event will take place on the Library Park Plaza, moving indoors in the case of rain. noon - 2:00 .p.m
• Free puppet show at Ypsilanti District Library - Whittaker (5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti). See No More Litter in Oz, and learn about reducing, reusing, and recycling through a new version of the Wizard of Oz. Volunteers from the audience will assist in demonstrating the use of marionettes and at the end, there is a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of the show. Make sure to sign up for summer reading after the show. 2:00-3:00 p.m.
• Civil War Days in Dexter
• Thomas and Friends: Hero of the Rails, at Rave Motion Pictures (4100 Carpenter Rd, Ypsilanti) at 11:10 a.m. Discounted movie tickets for KidToon films are $1 for children and $2 for adults.
• Teacher gift craft at Tree Town Toys (2611 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor). Handcraft your own teacher gift from 1:30-5:00 p.m. Cost $3.

Sunday June 12

• Pancake Breakfast at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (801 Airport Dr., Ann Arbor). helicopter rides, face painting, and other kids activities for kids. Breakfast is $5, tours are free! 8:00 a.m. - noon. 
• Civil War Days in Dexter
• Thomas and Friends: Hero of the Rails, at Rave Motion Pictures (4100 Carpenter Rd, Ypsilanti) at 11:10 a.m. Discounted movie tickets for KidToon films are $1 for children and $2 for adults.
• Teacher gift craft at Tree Town Toys (2611 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor). Handcraft your own teacher gift from 1:30-4:00 p.m. Cost $3.
• Michael's Crafts (3655 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor). Father's Day t-shirt or tie craft. 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
• Joe Reilly's Let's Go Outside Concert at the Leslie Science and Nature Center (1831 Traver Rd., Ann Arbor). Celebrate the beginning of summer for a fun family concert. Tickets are $8. 3:00-4:30 p.m. 

YDL Science Saturday: Free Family Workshop

This Saturday, Ypsilanti District Library (Whittaker Branch - 5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti) will host their final Science Saturday Workshop - Water Wisdom. Children ages 6-12 and their parents will learn about water and how to care for it so future generations will continue to enjoy it. Registration is required for this free program by calling the library at (734) 482-4110 or by registering online with your Ypsilanti District Library card.

Free Barn Dance This Friday

Do-si-do along with your kids art the Summers Knoll school barn dance this Friday, March 11 from 6:45-8:00 p.m. at the Allen School Great Room. Bring your boots and hats, twirly skirts and dancing feet to join in the dancing led by the wonderful Jan Biliti.

 

This free event is for Summers Knoll friends and family. For more information call  (734) 971-7991.