March is going to ROCK this year. This month brings Daylight Saving Time, St. Patrick’s Day, the first day of spring and Easter. Talk about fun times ahead!
With warmer weather surely on the horizon, things are starting to heat up with family fun in March 2016 in Southeast Michigan. Check out these events across Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint and Lansing and be sure to chime in if I’ve missed any great ones.
{See my separate list of EASTER events here.}
Family Fun in Southeast Michigan in March 2016
Through March 6 — Visit A Corpse Flower at Belle Isle Park {Detroit} — Visit the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory to see a Voodoo Lily — a strange and fascinating large flower, famous for its unsettling fragrance — up close. Also known as a “corpse flower,” the smell attracts flies for pollination. Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. FREE.
Throughout March — Flick’s Family Festival at Celebration Cinemas {Lansing and other 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: Pan, Goosebumps, The Peanuts Movie and Norm of the North.
Throughout March — Goodrich Quality Theaters Weekend Morning Movies — {Ann Arbor, Canton, Oxford and other Michigan cities} — See nine weeks of previously released, kid-friendly films for FREE with a FMG card {or $1 otherwise} every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. March films include: Home, Goosebumps, Minions and Pan.
Throughout March — Children’s Spring Festival at MJR Digital Cinemas {Various locations throughout SE Michigan} — FREE movies for children, ages 12 and under, and just $1 for adults! Keep an eye on Facebook for the exact showtimes, to be announced throughout the month. March movies include Goosebumps, The Peanuts Movie and Alvin and the Chipmunks.
March 2 — READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY {Nationwide} — Check your local library for great events!
March 3-6 — The Snow Queen at Stagecrafters {Royal Oak} — This live theatrical production highlights the Snow Queen’s greatest wish — to make winter last forever. During the story, she discovers fascinating new friends on her way to the Icy Palace. This heart-warming adventure celebrates courage, friendship and loyalty. For ages 5+. $8/youth, $14/adults.
March 4 — Cranbrook Institute of Science {Bloomfield Hills} — Visit this gem for FREE after 5 p.m. on the first Friday of the month courtesy of the MASCO Corporation Foundation.
March 4-6 — The Little Mermaid by Eisenhower Performing Arts {Utica} — Go see the live theatrical production of The Little Mermaid. Tickets are $8/kids 12 and under and $12 for adults.
March 5, 12, 19, 26 — FREE Day at the Flint Institute of Art {Flint} — This museum is free to visit every Saturday thanks to First Merit Bank.
March 5 — March Madness Sale at all Metro Detroit Salvation Army Thrift Store {All SE Michigan Stores} — Stop in for 50% off all clothing! This is the perfect sale to stock up for spring and summer.
March 5 — Families at The Broad {East Lansing} – Visit this East Lansing modern art museum from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. for hands-on activities and a family guided tour at 1 p.m. FREE thanks to Farm Bureau.
March 5 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! Just $2 per child for 30 minutes of creative craft fun, including supplies. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up. This day’s project is a potted craft cactus.
March 5 — Home Depot Kids Workshop {Nationwide} — Visit Home Depot to build a toy wagon. 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.
March 5 — Dine to Donate and Children’s Book Reading Event at Applebee’s {Detroit} — Visit the Detroit Applebee’s as they host Michigan children’s author Marney Studaker-Cordner from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. in honor of National Reading Month. Additionally, from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m., families are invited to the Dine to Donate event, which will donate 10% of all food proceeds to the DPS Reading Corps.
March 6 — Fairy Day at Grasshopper Gardens {Brighton} — Stop by the store from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for crafts, games and a celebration! FREE.
March 8 — IHOP National Pancake Day {Nationwide} — Stop into IHOP for FREE pancakes! Guests are encouraged to make a contribution to their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and if you make a $5 donation, you will receive a coupon good for $5 off your next visit.
March 8 — Little Critters at the Howell Nature Center {Howell} — Visit to learn about a Red-tailed Hawk! Children explore wildlife biology through songs, stories, crafts and more. Two sessions available at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Pre-registration is required — call 517-546-0249. $6 per child/adult pair.
March 9-12 — Shipwrecked! at the Wild Swan Theater {Ann Arbor} — Shipwrecked! is a stirring coming of age drama set during a fierce winter storm on Lake Huron in 1893. Twelve year old Aaron Buchanan, sailing with his parents on their small schooner loaded with Christmas trees from Sault Ste. Marie, is tested in ways he never dreamed possible when a ferocious gale suddenly materializes in Thunder Bay’s infamous “Shipwreck Alley.” Adults: $12, youth/seniors: $8, lap pass for 2 and under: $3.
March 10-13 — Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Magic {Auburn Hills} — Visit The Palace of Auburn Hills as the Disney crew takes to the ice. See this post for the scoop. Tickets range from $15-$75.
March 11-13 — Michigan Horse Expo {East Lansing} — The Michigan Horse Expo is one of the largest three day equine expos in the country. Visit to see a rodeo, a mounted police demo and more. Adults {15+} are $13, children {6-14} are $7 and children 5 and under are free.
March 11-12 — Grand Ledge St. Patrick’s Weekend {Grand Ledge} — Visit the Grand Ledge community for its 13th year of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! Enjoy live music and dancing, beer and food, an Irish stew cookout, a free kid’s movie and parade through downtown Grand Ledge! Visit the website for all the details. Most activities are FREE.
March 12 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! Just $2 per child for 30 minutes of creative craft fun, including supplies. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up. This day’s project is a bunny frame.
March 12 — Raptor Feeding at Leslie Science & Nature Center {Ann Arbor} — Join LSNC raptor staff every second Saturday of the month for dinner time. During this hour, you can see staff prepare scrumptious raptor food for our wild owls, hawks and eagles — and, yes, that does mean dead mice and rats! This is a great time to see the birds doing their most natural behavior … eating. This will also be an opportunity to touch feathers, see a hawk or owl pellet, discover more about bird anatomy and ask our expert staff questions regarding the birds and other ways you can learn more about them. 3-4 p.m. FREE.
March 12 — Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic {Nationwide} — Bring your kids to Lowe’s and they can build a Monster Jam monster truck! Workshop takes place at 10 a.m. and advance registration encouraged {link above}. FREE.
March 12 — Faerie Garden and Doors Workshop at Matthaei Botanical Garden {Ann Arbor} — Choose from two time faerie and troll garden workshops. Create magical faerie gardens from natural materials to invite faeries into your yard. Class fills quickly, pre-registration suggested. $12/child.
March 12 — Oakland County St. Patrick’s Day Parade {Royal Oak} — Head to Royal Oak for St. Patty’s fun brought by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Listen to bagpipe bands, watch Irish dancers, and more. FREE to attend.
March 12 — The Big 400 Maple Festival {Various locations throughout Chelsea and Dexter} — The communities of The Big 400 are teaming up to celebrate maple syruping in southern Michigan with a festival, including pancake breakfasts, tours of tapping areas and the syruping process and the release of a local maple wine – YUM! Costs vary with each event.
March 12 — Skippyjon Jones Snow What at The Wharton Center {East Lansing} — Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the bravest Chihuahua of them all? Skippyjon Jones, the Siamese cat with the big ears who thinks he’s a dog. When he is sent to his room, Skippy bounces on his big-boy bed and heads off for the REAL adventure awaiting him in his imagination. Visit for FREE interactive educational activities provided by our Inner Circle volunteers one hour prior. Recommended for ages 4-8. Tickets are $12.
March 13 — DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
March 13 — FREE Day at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History {Detroit} — Visit this gem for FREE from 1 p.m. – 5p.m., thanks to Ford Motor Company.
March 13 — FREE Day at the Flint Children’s Museum {Flint} — Visit the museum from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. for a FREE day, sponsored by Idealease.
March 13 — The Magic Music of Disney presented by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra {Ann Arbor} — Get this scoop at this post from Ann Arbor With Kids.
March 14 — PI DAY…Eat some pie and celebrate 😉
March 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}. Storytelling, live entertainment and dozens of hands-on activities related to some of the museum’s most memorable artifacts. March’s theme is an Easter celebration. FREE for kids, adults can get 25 percent off their tickets with this coupon!
March 15 — FREE Cone Day at Dairy Queen {Nationwide} — Get ready to ring in spring with a FREE small ice cream cone from DQ. Donations to the Children’s Miracle Network appreciated.
March 16 — Biggby Coffee’s 21st Birthday {All Locations} — Stop by Biggby from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. for a 20 oz. drink for just $1.99. {Just looking out for my fellow sleep-deprived parents here, though my kids do love their Magic Milk drink!}
March 16 – April 30 — Butterflies in the Garden at MSU {East Lansing} — Learn more at this post from my archives. FREE.
March 18-20 — Beauty and the Beast presented by The Hartland Players Encore Youth Theater {Hartland} — Step into the enchanted world of the modern classic, Disney’s Beauty And The Beast Jr. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. Tickets are $8/adults and $6/child/student/senior. Call 810-632-5849 for tickets.
March 19 — St. Patrick’s Day in Pinckney {Pinckney} — Activities abound on St. Patty’s Day in Pinckney. A parade at noon will feature bagpipe bands, Irish dancers and more. FREE to attend.
March 19 — Maple Syrup Festival at Fenner Nature Center {Lansing} — This festival offers numerous fun and educational demonstrations and activities for the whole family. Spend the day exploring how sap is collected and turned into sweet treats like syrup, maple crème, and candy. FREE, but $5 donation is suggested for parking and $8 for all-you-can-eat pancakes.
March 19 — Maple Syrup Festival at For-Mar Nature Preserve {Flint} — Visit the Dewaters Building in For-Mar near the Sugar Shack for a firsthand look at how maple syrup is made. From tapping to pancake topping, see it all. Come anytime between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Hot cocoa will be served. FREE.
March 20 — HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!
March 24-26 — The March Magic Hoopfest {East Lansing} — This interactive basketball playground for children of all ages at MSU’s Jenison Field House takes place during the MHSAA Boys’ Basketball Semi-Finals and Finals. This event includes a variety of basketball skill games, displays and educational activities and is located adjacent to the Jack Breslin Student Events Center where the tournament games are played. Free for those playing, $2 fee otherwise.
March 25 — LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan Grand Opening — Stay tuned for tips coming prior to the opening 🙂 See pricing and more here.
March 27 — HOPPY EASTER! {See my list of EASTER events here.}
Don’t forget to check out Sloan Museum’s latest exhibit, too! Learn more about Water’s Extreme Journey here.
What are you most looking forward to this March?
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