Family Fun in Southeast Michigan in June 2014

“Oh, I don’t know why, but I’ve always loved the idea of summer, and sun, and all things hot.”

~ Olaf the Snowman from Frozen

I’m thinking about Olaf as we head into summer! Aren’t you SO ready?! After the brutal winter, I am ready, despite having the hardest part of my pregnancy now. I’m excited to take advantage of many of these amazing things to do for Family Fun in Southeast Michigan in June 2014!

Geography covered: Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Lansing and their surrounding suburbs. And a few bonus ideas, too! 

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First of all, I wanted to let you all know about the Michigan Activity Pass. This is a FREE program through more than 500 Michigan public libraries and I highly suggest checking out the HUGE list of places you can visit this summer. All you have to do is print the passes from the website {through your local library}. Easy peasy!

Second, my friend at Saving Dollars and Sense has a great list of FREE or inexpensive things to do around metro Detroit this summer as well, so be sure to check it out!

Otherwise, I tried my best to pick the events that had the most bang for their buck. There are TONS of fairs and festivals happening all over this month, so be sure to check your local newspapers/websites too!

June 1 – Taste of Ann Arbor – Sample foods from TONS of Ann Arbor area restaurants. Get the delicious scoop from Ann Arbor With Kids here!

June 4-8 – Cinetopia International Film Festival {Ann Arbor and Detroit} – This film fest features the best feature-length dramas, comedies, and documentaries from the world’s best film festivals. My friend Liz at Yes/No Films gives the full scoop here! {This would be best for adults and older teens.}

Wednesdays, June 4 – August 6 – Walk Michigan {Brighton} – Visit Green Oak Village Place for a fun one-mile walk every Wednesday. SELCRA will be set up at the west end of the mall to register walkers from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and from 5-8 p.m. Each registration earns walkers an entry into the Walk Michigan grand prize drawing for a trip for two to the Labor Day Jazzy Walk Weekend at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. An additional entry for the trip can be filled out by presenting a receipt for a purchase of $10 or more made before the walk from a store at Green Oak. FREE.

June 6, June 21 – Movies Under The Stars at Howell City Park {Howell} – Watch your favorite big screen flicks under the stars at Howell City Park. Bring your sleeping bags, lawn chairs, favorite blanket, bug spray, picnic dinner, and family and enjoy the show. Movies start at dusk {typically between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.}. Concessions available, otherwise FREE. June 6 – Despicable Me 2 and June 20 – Monsters University.

June 6-8 – Ya’ssoo Greek Festival {Ann Arbor} – This annual festival features live music, Greek cuisine, homemade pastries, and more. Event held at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 12 a.m. and Sunday noon – 6 p.m. Admission is $3 after 4 p.m. Friday and after 1 p.m. Saturday. Children 12 and under are free. Free admission on Sunday.

June 7 – Kaleidoscope FREE Family Fun Day at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad {Flint} – From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., admission is free with this coupon. Gather your whole family and enjoy special activities you can do together. Tickets for a ride on the Huckleberry Railroad are $4.75 per person. For train reservations call 800.648.PARK, ext 6.

June 7 –  Home Depot Kid’s Workshop: Build a Riding Lawn Mower {Nationwide} – Come learn how to build a pint-size riding lawn mower at this hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 – 12. All kid get to keep their craft, receive a certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Register online in advance. FREE.

June 7 – NatureFit: Hike the Hills at Independence Oaks {Clarkston} – Join a naturalist to celebrate National Trails Day by hiking up to four miles on some of the most beautiful trails in Oakland County Parks! Suitable for physically fit individuals of all ages. Water and snack provided. $3/person. 1–3 p.m. Pre–registration with payment required, call 248.858.0916.

June 7-8 – ScienceFest: Bubbles at Ann Arbor Hands On Museum {Ann Arbor} – Everyone loves bubbles, right? Join AAHOM for a fun-filled weekend with bubbles of all shapes and sizes! Enjoy Ron Loyd the Bubble Man’s hit show at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. each day. Activities will be offered Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m.-4 p.m.

June 7-8 – Marion Township Heritage Days {Howell} – Events include steam engines and old tractors with plowing demos, chain saw carvers, animal displays, kid’s activities, a peddler’s market, food vendors and entertainment. FREE.

June 11 – FREE Dairy Food Awareness Day at the State Capitol {Lansing} – This event takes place on the southeast lawn at the State Capitol in Lansing from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Attendees can enjoy free ice cream, samples of specialty cheeses and other dairy products produced by Michigan processors and artisans, and hear from former Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson. FREE.

June 11-15 – Hamburg Family Fun Fest {Hamburg} – Attractions include amusement rides, food, a petting zoo, bounce houses, a children’s craft tent, magic shows, Princess parade and Cinderella tea party, kids’ games such as sack races, lawn bowling, lawn twister and hoola hoop contests. There will also be presentations by Lady Houdini, Cinderella on Stage, and more. Parking costs $5.

June 12-14 – Grand American Fish Rodeo {Lansing} – The first Fish Rodeo will be a one-of-a-kind festival with evening boat parades, live music, relay races, a rubber fish derby, fish-themed outdoor movies, a boat building competition, and more. At Adado Park in Lansing.

June 12 -15 – Celebrate Charlotte {Charlotte} – Take a taste of Charlotte, enjoy a car show, live entertainment and more! Get the scoop at this post from the Crazy Nuts Mom.

June 13-15 – The Belleville National Strawberry Festival {Belleville} – The 38th Annual festival offers something for everyone. Two Midways, a beer tent, music and concerts, bingo, crafters, magnificent food, strawberry treats, a children’s area and parade with more than 150 floats are some of the highlights. FREE entry.

June 13 – July 6 – Ann Arbor Summer Festival {Ann Arbor} – This annual fest celebrates the performing arts, outdoor entertainment, and community spirit. There’s TONS happening, but Ann Arbor With Kids captured the best of what’s to come for the Kid Zone specifically at her post here.

June 14 – Lowe’s Build & Grow Clinic: Build Toothless {Nationwide} – The dragons are flying into Lowe’s this month! Bring your child to Lowe’s and they can build Toothless from DreamWorks How To Train Your Dragon 2, which debuts in theaters June 13. Register online in advance. FREE.

June 14 – Canoe and Campfire at Independence Oaks {Clarkston} – Join this naturalist–led canoe adventure on Crooked Lake plus a campfire, snack and nocturnal animal trivia. For school–aged children and adults with canoe experience. Rent a canoe {$4 on the day of program}, or bring your own. $3/person {must be paid in advance}. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Pre–registration with payment required, call 248.858.0916.

June 14 – Celebrate Downtown Okemos {Okemos} – The entire community will come together for this family event that includes live outdoor concerts, food, a 5K race, beer and wine tent, arts and crafts show, martial arts demonstrations, dance performances, children’s activities, and more. FREE.

June 14 – Family Fun at the Farm {Pewamo} – This event is northwest of Lansing, but worth a mention! From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., two neighboring farms, Cook Dairy Farm and Sonrise Farm, will partner as co-hosts and a wagon ride will shuttle visitors from farm to farm. Activities include feeding a calf, seeing cows being milked, riding a wagon, seeing farm equipment, riding a pedal tractor, making butter, jumping in the “crazy cow” bounce house, face painting, and more! Hot dogs, chips, ice cream, apples, milk and water provided. FREE.

June 17-21 – Manchester Community Fair {Manchester} – Entertainment at this annual community fair includes midway rides, tractor pulls, animal exhibits, live music, a tea with Cinderella, a parade and more. Entry fee: $5 Tues – Saturday until 4 p.m., $8 Thursday and Friday after 4 p.m. Children 8 years and under are FREE.

June 18 – Wild Wednesday “Fish Frenzy” at Red Oaks Nature Center {Madison Heights} – Share animal facts, and see and feel fur, feathers and scales. A nature film will be shown in the auditorium. $2/person. 6:30–7:30 p.m. Pre–registration with payment required. Call 248.858.0916 weekdays or Red Oaks Nature Center on Saturday; 248.585.0100.

June 19-22 – Northville Summer Carnival {Northville} – The carnival midway returns to Northville this year with plenty of rides, games, and other amusements. Purchase ride all day passes for $20, or single tickets for $1.

June 20-21 – Linden Mill Days {Linden} – This family event includes a carnival, highland games, touch a truck, a car show, live entertainment, a kids fun area, and more. FREE.

June 20-22 – Detroit River Days {Detroit} – Stroll the beautiful Detroit riverfront and enjoy interactive exhibits, sand sculptures, strolling entertainers, kid’s activities, carnival rides, and live concerts with performances featuring more than 50 local, national and international music acts. Admission fee is $3, or $5 after 5 p.m.

June 21 – Climb Out of Darkness {Clarkston} – Join postpartum survivors and supporters for this event at Independence Oaks. Check out a guest post from Giggles and Grimaces for the scoop!

June 21 – Summer Family Fun Nights at Green Oak {Brighton} – Visit Green Oak Village Place for family dinner specials, a bounce house, arts and crafts an outdoor movie shown on a giant inflatable screen. The June 21 event’s theme is Game night with hopscotch, hula hoops, shooting hoops and more, and the movie shown will be Wreck It Ralph. Bring blankets and chairs. FREE.

June 21-22 – Ortonville Creekfest {Ortonville}– A celebration and appreciation in downtown Ortonville of the creeks, rivers, and all of Michigan’s waterways celebrated with a carnival, food, music, kids activities, live entertainment, 5k & 10k runs, Old Mill & Historic Museum tours, fireworks on Saturday night, a parade on Saturday morning 10 a.m. and more. FREE.

June 21 & 22 – Fairy Day at Nature’s Garden Center {Saline and Brighton} – Bring the little ones for tons of fun with face painting, a scavenger hunt to find the things you would need to make your own fairy garden, treats, surprises and more! Fairy Day is in Saline on 6/21 and Brighton on 6/22. Suggested age is 4+. Drop in anytime between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. FREE.

June 27-29 – Michigan Challenge Balloonfest {Howell} – The Michigan Challenge Balloonfest is a community and family event, complete with craft vendors, food, a carnival, and of course — hot air balloons, which take off and glow throughout the weekend. Small parking fees.

What are you most looking forward to this month?!