Things To Do With Kids in April 2014 in Southeast Michigan

Can you believe Easter is just around the corner? That means so many fun SPRINGTIME activities! I found some neat gems this month of all price points.

This list includes family fun in Genesee, Ingham, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. Enjoy and plan an adventure today!

Throughout April — Goodrich Quality Theaters Free Spring Movies – {Various Michigan Cities} – See previously released kid-friendly films for FREE every Saturday and Sunday at 9 and 10 a.m. April films include: Puss & Boots, Rango, Shrek and Sponge Bob Squarepants.

Throughout April — Flick’s Family Festival at Celebration Cinemas {Various Michigan Cities} – Features FREE movies for kids 12 and under and just $4 for adults. Showtimes are available on the Tuesday evenings the week the movie starts. Upcoming movies include: Walking With The Dinosaurs, Frozen, The Nut Job and a mystery movie for the last weekend!

April 4 — Family Fun Friday featuring Junior League in the Kitchen {Lansing} — Visit Schmidt Community Center at 6 p.m. for a FREE night of fun, play, fitness and food! There will be fitness demos, healthy food tastings, raffle items and giveaways for all participants. FREE.

April 4 — FREE Admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science After 5 p.m. {Bloomfield Hills} — Get the scoop over at this post by Free Is My Life.

April 5 — Home Depot Kids Workshop {Nationwide} – Visit Home Depot to build a bird feeder from the new film, Rio 2. Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment. Kids get to keep their craft, receive a certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a pin. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. FREE. Register here.

April 5 — Eggstravaganza {Brighton} — SELCRA’s 13th Annual Eggstravaganza will be filled with fun activities for kids of all ages. Pre-registration is suggested. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. $5/child.

April 5 — “What DOES the Fox Say?” at Independence Oaks Nature Center {Clarkston} — From 1–3 p.m., kids can discover the answer as we explore the wild lives of foxes and their relatives. Through crafty games, a hike, and touching fox and coyote skins, visitors will learn where they live, what they do and what they really have to say. $4/person.

April 5 — Livingston County Women’s Expo {Howell} — Come and enjoy a women’s only day! Chair massages, free bra fitting, foot massages and more will be available during the event. FREE.

April 5 — Royal Easter Celebration with Elsa from Frozen at My Girly Party {Farmington Hills} — Get the scoop at this post by Metro Detroit Mommy!

April 5-13 {Weekends} — The Wizard of Oz presented by the Pinckney Players {Pinckney} — Escape and visit Oz in this beautiful classic presented by the local Pinckney community theatre.  $14/adults, $12 for students/seniors. Multiple shows at various dates/times.

April 8 — Lansing Lugnuts Home Opener {Lansing} — Grab some inexpensive tickets and bring the family to watch the Lugnuts, Lansing’s own minor league team! Tickets start at just $12.

April 12 — Toys R Us LEGO Movie Build Events {Various TRU locations} — Get the FREE scoop over at this post by Five Dollar Shake!

April 12 — Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Jungle Java {Canton} — Get the scoop over at this post by Metro Detroit Mommy!

April 12 — Lowe’s Build & Grow Clinic {Nationwide} — Bring your kids to Lowe’s and they can build a recycling truck — so perfect for Earth Day! Workshop takes place at 10 a.m. and advance registration encouraged {link above}. FREE.

April 12 — Family Day at Kelsey Museum of Archeology {Ann Arbor} — Get the scoop on this FREE event over at Ann Arbor With Kids!

April 12 — Underwater Easter Egg Hunt at the Howell Aquatic Center {Howell} — Dive in for some EGG-sational fun, hunting for eggs underwater! Bring your own waterproof basket and swim from 1-2:30 p.m. $5/child. Adults are free.

April 12 — Awesome Eggs at Red Oaks County Park {Madison Heights} — Hear a story about and meet live animals that lay eggs. Visit a vernal pond to investigate local egg–layers’ habitats. Learn how to make natural egg dyes and decorate eggs! Bring six hard–boiled eggs/person for decorating. 10 a.m.–noon. $5/person. Pre–registration required.

April 13 — Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Jungle Java {Clinton Township} — Get the scoop over at this post by Metro Detroit Mommy!

April 14 — Macy’s 2nd Mondays at The Henry Ford Museum {Dearborn} – Introduce your preschool children to the wonders of The Henry Ford — all before nap time {10 a.m. – noon}. This month, kids will get to meet the Easter Bunny, have a scavenger hunt and a sing-a-long, and create some bunny ears. Additionally, Barry the Guitar Guy will be in the museum and there will be a giveaway with spring toys and fresh flowers. FREE for kids, adults can get 25 percent off their admission tickets with this coupon.

April 14 — Target Family Reading Night: Garden Party at Canton Library {Canton} — Attend a special family storytime and get a free book to take home! From 7-8 p.m. Recommended for children ages 4-8 with caregiver. Registration required.

April 16 — Sounds of Spring at Red Oaks County Park {Madison Heights} — Join us the third Wednesday of every month to share animal facts, and see and feel fur, feathers and scales. A nature film will be shown in the auditorium. 6:30–7:30 p.m. $2/person. Pre–registration required.

April 16 — Great Marshmallow Drop at Catalpa Oaks {Southfield} — Get the scoop on this fun event over at Oakland County Moms!

April 17 — Marshmallow Drop & Moon Glow {Howell} — Visit this unique Easter egg hunt and springtime celebration just for kids ages 0-8 years old. The event begins with a fly-over helicopter dropping marshmallows with special ones sprinkled throughout that can be turned in for prizes. After, there is a nighttime egg hunt at dusk, so be sure to bring a flashlight! $10/child. Starts at 7:30 p.m.

April 19 — Spring Egg–Venture at Independence Oaks {Clarkston} — Enjoy an egg–cellent story about the wide variety of animals that lay eggs. Meet some live egg–layers and hike through their habitats. Learn to make natural dyes, and dye some eggs! Bring six hard–boiled eggs/person. 10 a.m. – Noon. $5/person.

April 19 — Breakfast With The Easter Bunny at The Howell Nature Center {Howell} — Enjoy a pancake breakfast with sausage and all the trimmings, and a special guest — the Easter bunny! Children will get to visit with him, receive a special gift, and enjoy an old-fashioned Easter egg hunt. 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. events. $8/adults, $6/kids and children under 2 are free. Reservations required.

April 23 — Great Lakes Zoological Society: Meet the Animals at Canton Public Library {Canton} — Have you ever been ‘sniffed’ by a snake? Or tickled by a tortoise? Here’s your chance to meet and learn about new animal friends visiting from the Great Lakes Zoological Society! Come explore the different colors, textures and behaviors found in the animal kingdom. Program times are at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Registration required.

April 24 — Save the Whales Earth Day Craft Party at Canton Public Library {Canton} — Children ages 4-9 will hear a story, make a craft and have an ocean-themed snack. Registration required.

April 25 — An Evening of Amphibians at Red Oaks County Park {Madison Heights} — Male frogs put forth a nightly chorus to attract a mate. Identify different types of frogs based on their calls, make a craft and enjoy a game. Then go outdoors at dusk to hike and listen for frogs and other sounds of spring. School–aged children/adults. 7:30–9 p.m. $3/person. Pre–registration required.

April 26 — Spring Star Party at Independence Oaks {Clarkston} — Identify Leo the Lion, the “star” of the spring night sky, and more in Starlab {indoor, inflatable planetarium}. Telescopes provided by the Oakland Astronomy Club {weather permitting}. Make a magnetic space toy and enjoy a snack. Suitable for school–aged children/adults. Event is from 9-11 p.m. $4/person.

April 26-27 {+ May 3-4 and 10-11} — Day Out With Thomas at Greenfield Village {Dearborn} — During Thomas’ annual visit to Greenfield Village, he is the centerpiece of six days of family fun and entertainment. You can ride Thomas around the village and meet Sir Topham Hatt™ face-to-face. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. MEMBERS: $11.75 per person, age 1 year & older. NON-MEMBER: Prices include admission to Greenfield Village and the Thomas the Tank Experience: Seniors age 62 & up: $33.75, Adults age 13-61: $35.75, Youth age 5-12: $29.25, Child age 1-4: $11.75. All infants under 1 year are free.

April 27 — The True Story of the Three Little Pigs at The Wharton {Lansing} — Think you know the real story behind the huffing and puffing? Think again. There’s only one individual who knows the true story about one wolf, three houses and three little pigs: Alexander T. Wolf. In this revealing, no-squealing adaptation of Jon Scieszka’s popular book, A. Wolf has a chance to tell his side of the story. Recommended for ages 4 and up. Tickets start at $8. {Look for a giveaway in the coming weeks!}

April 27 — Family-Friendly Film at the Michigan Theater – The Labyrinth {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.

April 27 — Party for the Planet at Potter Park Zoo {Lansing} — Celebrate the 44th Earth Day at the zoo! Enrichment items will be given to our animals from 1-3 p.m., and some of them are made by our BIG Zoo Lesson kids.  You’ll be able to get up close with a selection of our education animals and learn about them from their handlers.  Cost is general admission.

April 27 – May 4 — Bookstock Used Book and Media Sale {Livonia} — This is a fabulous reason to not only get excited about reading/literacy, but also to support a variety of non-profit organizations in Detroit and the metro area. There will be tens of thousands of pre-sorted books {ALL kinds, including children’s book}, CDs, DVDs and more. {Look for a more detailed post coming soon!}

What did I miss? Where are you heading with your family this month?