Looking for something fun to do this month? There are LOTS of great icy fun and snow-centric events happening across Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint and Lansing…and also LOTS of rockin’ shows inside where it’s warm!
PIN this list for future reference!
Things To Do In January 2014 in Southeast Michigan:
Tuesdays, through January 21 — Story Time and Snow Day Crafting Workshops at Pottery Barn Kids {Nationwide} — Join PBK on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. for story time and/or 11:30 a.m. for a fun craft by Kiwi Crate. Story time is FREE. $5/craft kit.
January 3 — FREE admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science After 5 p.m. {Bloomfield Hills} — Get the scoop over at this Free Is My Life blog post!
January 3 — Harlem Globetrotters at The Palace of Auburn Hills {Auburn Hills} — The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters will take fan interaction to a new level when the 2014 “Fans Rule” World Tour comes to The Palace at 7 p.m. Tickets: 4-packs are $135 VIP, $90 reserved and $55 general admission.
January 4 — Kid’s Workshop at Home Depot {Nationwide} — Make a fun desk calendar for FREE at Home Depot. Hands-on workshops are designed for children ages 5 – 12 and take place between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Advance registration encouraged.
January 4 — Environmental Discovery at Indian Spring Metropark {White Lake} — Little ones (ages 3-5) will discover how animals survive our Michigan winters, see if we can find signs of animals, and make an animal track t-shirt. Pre-registration required. Fee: $5 per child. Call 248-625-7280 to register or for more information.
January 4 — Cold Rush {Warren} — A family fun event in Warren’s City Square featuring ice sculptures, a petting zoo, an ice skating show, live music and more. FREE.
January 7 — Snow Day Party at The Commons {Brighton} — Starting at 9 a.m. there will be inflatables, family movies, special discounts at the Café, and the playscape will be open. FREE.
January 10-12 — Plymouth Ice Festival {Plymouth} — The Plymouth Ice Festival features ice sculptures, live entertainment, activities and food. FREE entry.
January 11 – June 1 — Wish Upon A Butterfly Exhibit at Michigan Science Center {Detroit} — Walk among live butterflies in the Wish Upon a Butterfly exhibit while hundreds of butterflies flutter around. This experience also teaches a butterfly’s life cycles from caterpillar to adult and The Flight of the Butterflies IMAX® movie is great complement to this exhibit, too. $3/person + general admission, which is $13-$16, or free for members.
January 11-12 — Wild Winter Arctic Adventure at the Detroit Zoo {Royal Oak} — Wild Winter Arctic Adventure features ice carving demonstrations, arctic-themed arts and crafts, games and entertainment. All activities are free with Zoo admission and take place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ford Education Center. Admission range: Free for 2 and under, otherwise priced $10-$14.
January 11 – Monster Jam at Ford Field {Detroit} — Monster trucks, ya’ll. Get the scoop + a discount code from my post here. Ticket prices range from $10-$20.
January 12-17 — Ann Arbor Restaurant Week {Ann Arbor} — Get discounted meals at a number of fab, high-end restaurants around Ann Arbor. Perfect for a date night! Check out this post by Detroit Duchess.
January 12 — FREE admission to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History {Detroit} — Get in for FREE from 1-5 p.m. Read all about it at this Free Is My Life post. {This is such a cool museum!}
January 12 — The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites at Music Hall {Detroit} — After much demand, that little caterpillar is returning – along with an assortment of favorite puppet characters. The triple-bill includes the wonderful story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud, and Mixed Up. Tickets: Adults – $20, children – $10. Show is at 4 p.m.
January 12 — Aladdin and Other Enchanting Tales {East Lansing} — Take an enchanted journey with your family! Join Scheherazade, our storyteller heroine, and her cast of fabulous characters: Sail on Sinbad’s ship to exotic lands; battle a giant dragon with the Prince; discover Aladdin’s lamp and the surprises hidden inside, told with the delightful music. Recommended for ages 4 and up. Tickets are $12.
January 12 — Family-Friendly Film at the Michigan Theater – Land Before Time {Ann Arbor} — Part of the Toyota Family-Friendly Film Series. 1:30 p.m. Adults – $10, seniors/children 13+ – $8. Free for kids 12 and under.
January 12 — Rubber Ducky Day at the Howell Aquatic Center {Howell} — Celebrate National Rubber Ducky Day a day early with this fun-filled event to celebrate the date Rubber Ducks were invented! Prizes for those finding specially marked ducks. $4/person {$15/family maximum}. Advance registration required.
January 18 — Dig the Past: A Hands-on Intro to Archaeology at the MSU Museum {East Lansing} — Learn what archaeologists do by doing it! Dig, sift, and sort your way towards learning about how archaeology builds knowledge about the human past. Hands-on activities for kids and adults of all ages. MSU Museum Auditorium Activity is drop-in; visitors are free to come and go as they please. 1-3 p.m. FREE.
January 18-25 — North American International Auto Show {Detroit} — Car fanatic or not, this is one of the premier events to attend in the Detroit area! See more than 500 vehicles on display, representing the most innovative designs in the world. Tickets: Adults – $13/tickets, seniors and children 7-12 – $7, children under 6 are free.
January 19 — Snow Out at the Howell Conference and Nature Center {Howell} — Bundle up for a snow-centric day. Spend the afternoon sampling a variety of activities, including: sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and more. $8/person includes activities, gear rentals and light refreshments.
January 22-27 — *In Frankenmuth, but worth the drive!* Snowfest — Zehnder’s Snowfest has been host to one of the top snow sculpting events in North America for the past 22 years. In addition, the Snowfest will have entertainment for the entire family in the warming tent, a fireworks display, petting zoo and children’s activities. FREE to attend.
January 22-26 — Peter and the Star Catcher at the Wharton Center {East Lansing} — In this innovative and imaginative musical based on the best-selling Disney-Hyperion novel, a company of wildly talented actors play more than a hundred unforgettable characters in the epic origin story of popular culture’s most enduring and beloved hero. Recommended for children 10 years and up. Ticket prices are $27+.
January 23 — Fun on the Farm at Kensington Metropark {Milford} — This program for the little ones consists of a story time, a craft and an activity. Bundle up because participants will be heading outside to see how the animals look and feel in their winter coats. Fee: $5. Registration is not required.
January 23 – February 17 — Sesame Street Live’s “Can’t Stop Singing” at The Fox Theatre {Detroit} — Join the chorus of ‘Can’t Stop Singing’ for this toe tapping, finger snapping musical event! All you need is a song when Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Murray and all of your favorite Sesame Street friends bring the magic of music to life on stage. Ticket prices range from $15-$68.
January 24-25 — STOMP at The Whiting {Flint} — STOMP features an eight-member troupe that uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. Tickets range from $12-$55.
January 24-26 — Fire & Ice Festival {Rochester} — Celebrating all things winter, the Fire & Ice Festival in downtown Rochester has an ice sculpture show, beer tent, tube sledding run, fireworks, dog sled demos, ice skating, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, carriage rides, and Downtown Rochester’s Big, Bright Light Show. FREE entry.
January 24 — Harlem Globetrotters at The Breslin Center {East Lansing} — The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters will take fan interaction to a new level when the 2014 “Fans Rule” World Tour comes to The Breslin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices: $21-$83.
January 25 — Guy Louis Family Concert at Meadow Brook Theatre {Rochester} — Back by popular demand with an all new show! An audience participation, musical adventure for young people of all ages. Show is at 1 p.m. Group Tickets $8 – Reg. $10.
January 25 — Family Moonlight Sledding {Williamston} — Bring the family to North Meridian Road Park for fun times and great exercise! Slide down the lit hill, enjoy hot chocolate and keep warm by the campfire. 6-8 p.m. FREE.
What events did I miss? Drop me a note and I’ll add ’em!
keri szawara says
I Love when you make these for the month. I check it all the time when the kid and I have free time during the month. Thanks!!
Mrs. Weber says
So good to hear, Keri! I love making them because I learn about all the fun happening…Especially crucial during these cold weather months 🙂
Jackie @ freeismylife says
Thanks for the shout out on the Cranbrook FREE Friday Event 🙂