So many events this month scream SPRING, and it makes my heart so incredibly happy. Hope you have a great month of getting outside, making memories, and taking in the beauty of everything starting to bloom. Enjoy planning some family fun in Southeast Michigan in April 2016 with this big list!
Family Fun in April 2016 in Southeast Michigan:
Through April 30 — Butterflies in the Garden at MSU {East Lansing} — Visit the MSU Children’s Gardens to learn all about butterflies. Parking is free on the weekend, but there is a $1.80/hour charge during the week. Learn more tips at this post from my archives. FREE.
April 1 — FREE Admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science After 5 p.m. {Bloomfield Hills} — Thanks to the MASCO Corporation Foundation.
April 1-2 – Chicken Dance with the Flint Youth Theatre {Flint} — Marge and Lola are two feisty barnyard chickens on a mission, to win the barnyard talent contest. They’re hearts are set on the first place prize of tickets to see the great Elvis Poultry in concert! But first they must face tough competition against a flock of very talented and overly confident ducks. Tammi Sauer’s award-winning book takes stage in this new rock’n’roll musical. Best suited for ages 3 and up. Tickets are $10.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 — FREE Day at the Flint Institute of Art {Flint} — This museum is FREE to visit every Saturday thanks to First Merit Bank.
April 2 — 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.
April 2 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project. $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 paper kite.
April 2 — Home Depot Kids Workshop {Nationwide} — Visit Home Depot to build a butterfly house! 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 3 — Festifools Parade {Ann Arbor} — FestiFools is a public arts performance held in Ann Arbor every year that features papier-maché puppets. Sunday from 4-5 p.m. on Main, between William and Washington St. in downtown Ann Arbor. FREE.
April 4 — All-You-Can-Eat Slice for Life at Buddy’s Pizza {all locations} — The family-owned Detroit original will be celebrating its 40th annual ‘Slice for Life’ benefit meal in partnership with the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. From 11 a.m.to 10 p.m. all 11 Buddy’s Pizza locations will host an all-you-can-eat two-topping pizza and salad meal for patrons who purchase event tickets. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children, and may be purchased in advance online at www.cskcapuchin.org or by calling (313) 579-2100 ext. 170.
April 6 — Lansing Lugnuts Home Opener {Lansing} – Grab some tickets and bring the family to watch the Lugnuts, Lansing’s minor league team. Tickets start at $8.
April 7-9 — Peter Rabbit at the Wild Swan Theater {Ann Arbor} — When Peter Rabbit ventures into Farmer McGregor’s garden, despite his mother’s warning, his adventures begin. Adult tickets are $12, youth/seniors are $8, and a lap pass for 2 and under is $3.
April 7-10 — Detroit Shrine Circus {Novi} — A hometown circus, complete with the majesty of wild animals, the high wire, and Shrine clowns. Fun for young and old! Event will be at the Suburban Collection Showplace. Tickets range from $15-$25.
April 8 — DETROIT TIGER’S OPENING DAY!
April 9 — Water Wise at Sloan Museum {Flint} — Water is one of Earth’s most precious resources and we use it every day, but it needs to be protected. Explore water pollution and conservation with a variety of fast-paced and fun hands-on activities. Advanced registration required. Register online here. Ages 8 and up. $7/person.
April 9 — Raptor Feeding at Leslie Science & Nature Center {Ann Arbor} — Join LSNC raptor staff for dinner time from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. During this hour, you can see staff prepare raptor food {aka dead mice and rats!} for owls, hawks and eagles. Kids can touch feathers, see a hawk or owl pellet, discover more about bird anatomy and ask questions. FREE.
April 9 — Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic {Nationwide} — Bring your kids to Lowe’s to build a bird feeder. Workshop takes place at 10 a.m. Advance registration encouraged. FREE.
April 9 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project. $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 butterfly clip canvas.
April 9-10 — Annie The Musical at The Whiting {Flint} — The world’s best-loved musical returns in time-honored form. Tickets range from $20-$63.
April 10 — 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.
April 11 — 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. FREE for kids.
April 12 — Little Critters at the Howell Nature Center {Howell} — Visit to learn about a tortoise and a hare! 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.
April 12-17 — MSU Science Festival {East Lansing} — A multi-day celebration of science, with more than 150 presentations, demos, tours, open houses, discussion panels and hands-on activities for ALL ages. FREE.
April 15 — Marshmallow Drop & Moon Glow {Howell} — Visit Genoa Park for this event for children, ages 0-8. The event begins with a fly-over helicopter dropping thousands of marshmallows and will move into a night-time egg hunt, so bring a flashlight! Register in advance to attend. $10/child.
April 15 — Greenfield Village Opening Day {Dearborn} — Visit the Village for glass blowing demonstrations, farm cooking demonstration, and more to make it the ultimate educational field trip! Buy online to save 10% off. Adults are $23.50, youth $17.50 and children 4 and under are free.
April 15-17 — Pinkalicious the Musical at City Theatre {Detroit} — Based on the popular children’s book by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann, Vital Theatre Company’s Pinkalicious The Musical will perform six shows at the City Theatre. {We absolutely loved this show!} Tickets are $25.
April 16 — Shell Eco-marathon Americas Hunt {Detroit} — Visit downtown Detroit for the ULTIMATE scanveger hunt with amazing prizes! Click here for the scoop. FREE.
April 16 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project. $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 paper butterfly windsock.
April 16 – Earth Day Festival at Fenner Nature Center {Lansing} — Honor the legacy of Earth Day by giving back to nature with a variety of volunteer projects available to restore habitat and maintain the park. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. FREE.
April 16-17, 23-24 — Annie Jr. with Pinckney Players {Pinckney} — Little orphan Annie charms her way into everyone’s hearts in one of the world’s best-loved musicals. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors when purchased in advance, with an additional $2 added for tickets purchased at the door.
April 17 – Ann Arbor Area 45th Annual Earth Day Festival {Ann Arbor} — The Ann Arbor Area Earth Day Festival is an annual celebration held at Leslie Science & Nature Center. This family-friendly event features displays from local organizations, live animal demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more. 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. FREE.
April 17 — Party for the Planet at Potter Park Zoo {Lansing} – Celebrate the 46th Earth Day at the zoo. Enrichment items will be given to the animals from 1-3 p.m., and some of them are made by our BIG Zoo Lesson kids. Cost is general admission, which is free for 3 and under, $2 for children up to 16 years old, and $4-$10 for adults and seniors.
April 18-24 — MSU Science Festival {Detroit} — A multi-day celebration of science, with more than 150 presentations, demos, tours, open houses, discussion panels and hands on activities for ALL ages. Takes place at Belle Isle and the Charles H. Wright Museum. FREE.
April 19-24 — Matilda The Musical at The Wharton {East Lansing} — This musical, based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, shares the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. For all audiences, ages 8 and up. Tickets start at $38.
April 22 — maurices opens in Green Oak Village Place {Brighton} — Learn more at this post, and enter to win a $50 gift card!
April 22-24 — Shell Eco-marathon Americas {Detroit} — This multi-sensory experience features a variety of activities for families and more than 1,000 high school and university students from around North and South America pushing the limits of efficiency to see which team can drive the farthest distance using the least energy. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily at Cobo Center. FREE.
APRIL 22 — HAPPY EARTH DAY!
April 22 — Earth Day Celebration with West Bloomfield Parks and Rec {West Bloomfield} — Celebrate Mother Earth with many activities including a trail mix station, recycled craft, a tree seedling to the first 50 children, an MSU extension 4-H soil & sand activity station and more. FREE.
April 22-24 – MI Earth Day Fest {Rochester} – Visit one of the planet’s largest Earth Day celebrations on the banks of downtown Rochester’s Municipal City Park and the Paint Creek Trail. More than 100 exhibits, speakers, food vendors, kids’ activities, entertainment, and more highlighting the benefits and the how-to’s of “going green.” FREE.
April 23 — Downtown Flint ComiXcon {Flint} — The Seventh Annual Downtown Flint ComiXcon will take place at the Flint Farmer’s Market, and will have comics, books, posters, art, cosplay, gaming and more. Admission is $5, with children under 12 free with a paying adult.
April 24 — Kids Opening Day with the Detroit Tigers {Detroit} — Visit Comerica Park for this family-friendly day sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which includes free rides for kids on the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel and Carousel, free face painting, and Kids Run the Bases following the game. Tickets range from $12-$100.
April 30-May 1, May 7-8, May 14-15 — Day Out With Thomas at Greenfield Village {Dearborn} — For the first time ever at Day Out With Thomas, Thomas the Tank Engine will be able to talk to his fans! This fun-filled event offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt, and enjoy a day of activities including arts & crafts, storytelling and more. Advance tickets recommended. Greenfield Village admission is required for nonmembers to ride Thomas. Ticket prices: Seniors {62+}: $35.25, adults {age 13-61}: $37.75, youth {age 5-12}: $31.50, child {age 1-4}: $11.75. Parking is $6 per vehicle. {I wrote about our experience here!}
April 30 — Enchanted Princess Ball {Birmingham} — The Enchanted Princess Ball is a theatrical performance that transports little princesses into a magical fairytale world! Classic stories are retold as favorite characters are brought to life from the pages of favorite books to the stage. Tickets are $22.50 for both adults and children and should be purchased in advance at the link above. This event will be at Our Shepherd Lutheran School in Birmingham.
April 30 — Wild, Wacky Water Critters at Sloan Museum {Flint} — See what is living in the rivers and ponds flowing through our community. The interesting water critters can teach us about the health of the water and what we can do to protect it. Advanced registration required. Register online here. Ages 8 and up. $7/person.
April 30-May 1 — Faerie Festival at Heavenly Scent Herb Farm {Fenton} — Visit this enchanting farm for fun with all things fairy! Story telling, dancers, workshops and more. $1/person for entry — all activities have an extra cost.
What events did I miss? Please share in the comments!
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