August 2017 Family Fun in Southeast Michigan

August…Such a bittersweet month here in Michigan! The calm before the storm of school begins and life returns to normal.

I hope you all do your best to wrap up summer memories by attending some of the 50+ ideas and events below. ENJOY!

August 2017 Family Fun in Southeast Michigan

Through August 5 — Monroe County Fair {Monroe} — Food, family activities, entertainment, Grandstand concerts, midway rides, 4-H exhibits and more. Adults: $6; kids 6-12: $3; under 5 is free.

Through August 5 — Ingham County Fair {Mason} — This fair offers something for everyone including exhibits, grandstand events, a large midway, a petting zoo and more. Free parking. Adults: $6, kids 3-12 and seniors: $3, 3 and under: free.

August 2 — Young Explorers at Michigan Science Center {Detroit} — Visit Kids Town with children ages 2 – 5 for stories, science-themed activities and socialization time. This program is held the first Wednesday of the month at 10 and 11 a.m. August’s theme is Sea Creatures. Adult with one child is $10; more children are $5. Children under two are free.

August 2 — Let’s Get Crafty at American Girl {Novi} — Join American Girl on the first Wednesday of each month for a fun and free craft! On this day, make MaryEllen cat eye glasses from 1-3 p.m. FREE.

August 2 & 5 — FREE Kids Movies at Emagine Theatres {Throughout Michigan} — Showing of The Angry Birds. Click here for the scoop!

August 3 — Summer Fun Thursdays at Twelve Oaks {Novi} — Visit Twelve Oaks for family friendly fun. This week’s theme is Scheer Genius. Doug Scheer brings crazy surprises, magic, and laughs galore in his stand-up comedy show for kids. Onsite registration begins at 12 p.m.  Performances begin at 1 p.m. The first 100 children to register will receive a gift. FREE.

August 4 — Big Rig Gig {Lake Orion} — Experience dozens of trucks, tractors, diggers, dozers, buckets and back-loaders first hand. $5 entry per vehicle.

August 4 — First Friday at the Farm {Ann Arbor} — Visit The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farms from 5-8 p.m. for some delicious food trucks and fun activities throughout the farm. $6/per person; free for children 23 months and younger.

August 4 — Free Admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science {Bloomfield Hills} — Visit after 5 p.m. the first Friday of every month, courtesy of the MASCO Corporation, for FREE.

August 4-5 — Bath Days Festival {Bath} — Home of the “International Bath Tub Races,” this family friendly fest includes crafts, a car show, rides, fireworks, a kids play area and of course – bath tub races. FREE entry.

August 4-6 — Buy Michigan Now Fest {Northville} — Michigan vendors, activities and music for the whole family. North Center Street is home to the Kids Zone with magic, games, mascots, and more. FREE entry.

August 4-6 — Dearborn’s Homecoming {Dearborn} — This hometown festival includes food, free family activities, stage performances, carnival rides, and fireworks displays. Admission is free. $10 for parking.

August 5 — Home Depot Kids Workshop {Nationwide} — Visit Home Depot to build a Penske Truck. Kids get to keep their craft, receive a certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a pin. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. FREE.

August 5  — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! 30 minutes of creative craft fun, including supplies. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up. This day’s project is Sprout pencil topper.

August 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. FREE.

August 5 — Tons of Trucks {Clarkson} — Visit Clintonwood Park for tons of trucks, big rigs, cement mixers, tractors, trailers and bulldozers and more. Also included: train rides, wagon rides, mobile recreation truck, Arts & Scraps truck and music all day. $3/advance; $5/onsite.

August 5, 6, 12, 20 and 27 — Glacier Valley Eco Zip Tour at Howell Nature Center {Howell} — Visit from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. for a 3-hour adventure, with 7 zip, ½ mile rides. Training and equipment provided. Weight requirements are between 60 and 250lbs. $30/person.

August 6 — FREE Root Beer Float Day at A&W {Nationwide} — Stop in for a free float with any purchase!

August 7-12 — Wayne County Fair {Belleville} — A miracle of life barn, 4-H animals, a midway, fair food and more. Free entry; $5 for parking.

August 8-9 — FREE LEGO® Mini Model Build {Nationwide} — Visit your local LEGO Store to learn how to build a cool mini model, and take it home – for free. August’s project is a LEGO fish. Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only. One per child. Event is open to children ages 6-14. FREE.

August 9 & 12 — FREE Kids Movies at Emagine Theatres {Throughout Michigan} — Showing of Monster Trucks. Click here for the scoop!

August 10 — Summer Fun Thursdays at Twelve Oaks {Novi} — Visit Twelve Oaks for family friendly fun. This week’s theme is Bubbleologist: Ron Loyd. Bubble Man Ron creates an immediate rapport with his young audience based upon a shared, enthusiastic love of bubbles. Onsite registration begins at 12 p.m.  Performances begin at 1 p.m. The first 100 children to register each week will receive a gift. FREE.

August 11-12 — Meteors and S’mores at Michigan State Parks {Statewide} — Bring blankets, seating, bug spray and snacks and enjoy a night of stargazing at one of the participating 19 Michigan state parks. Complimentary s’mores and campfires. Designated viewing areas and viewing times will be specified at each park. FREE entry for Michigan Recreation Passport holders or with a Michigan Activity Pass.

August 11-12 — Dexter Daze {Dexter} — The festival includes more than 100 art, business and food booths, multiple music stages, as well as dozens of activities and events for families. FREE entry.

August 11-13 — Milford Memories {Milford} — Visit beautiful downtown Milford for this super fun annual fest, which features arts and crafts, plenty of food, live music, kids activities and more. FREE entry.

August 11-13 — St. Johns Mint Festival {St. Johns} —  Celebrate more than 100 years of mint farming in Clinton County with arts & crafts, a flea market, food concessions, a parade, mint farm tours, free entertainment and more.

August 12  — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! 30 minutes of creative craft fun, including supplies. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up. This day’s project is a Kawaii Backpack Tag. 

August 12 — Rochester Homecoming {Rochester} — Celebrate Rochester’s Bicentennial from Noon – 10 p.m. with live music, mobile farm, kids activities, food, balloon glow, fireworks and more. FREE.

August 12-13 — Shelby Township Art Fair {Shelby Township} — This event features a variety of art, fine crafts, plus a section designated for Michigan made products. Listen to music at the band shell, make a craft under the Kid’s Corner tent, play on a bouncer, visit with animals and more. Parking and entry is FREE.

August 13 — Paws in the Park {Sterling Heights} — Visit Paws in the Park for adoptable pets, raffles, entertainment, a kids tent with games, arts and crafts, DIY dog and cat toys, face painting, water balloon toss and more. Lunch is provided! $12/person; kids under age 12 are free.  {Such a great cause. This is where we adopted our beloved Jack-Jack from!}

August 13 — Summer Sundays at Upland Hills Farm {Oxford} — Enjoy farm animals, milking a cow, hayrides, and more. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase food at the concession. 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. $9/person.

August 13 & 16 — Zip & Climbing Tower at Howell Nature Center {Howell} — Visit HNC August 13 & 16 from 11a.m. – 3 p.m. for some fun! Single Zip and Climb combo – $20/person; Two Zip and Climb combo – $30/person; Single Zip Line rides for $8/person.

August 14-20 — Armada Fair {Armada} — The fair includes a demolition derby, monster truck shootout, tractor and truck pull, children’s activities, 4-H entries and more. Adults – $8, kids {9-12} – $2, under 8 are free. Parking is $5.

August 15-19 — Back To The Bricks {Flint} — Visit Flint and be part of one of the biggest car events featuring a rolling cruise, kick-off party, live entertainment, automotive displays, vendors, food, antique fire trucks and dragster exhibits and more. FREE.

August 16 & 19 — FREE Kids Movies at Emagine Theatres {Throughout Michigan} — Showing of Rock Dog. Click here for the scoop!

August 17 — Summer Fun Thursdays at Twelve Oaks {Novi} — Visit Twelve Oaks for family friendly fun. This week’s theme is Baffling Bill the Magician. Show includes magic, audience participation, and the appearance of “Gus the Bunny,” a live rabbit who actually performs card tricks! Onsite registration begins at 12 p.m. Performances begin at 1 p.m. The first 100 children to register will receive a gift. FREE.

August 18 — Ferndale Emergency Vehicle Show {Ferndale} — This event is in its 17th year and is the perfect opportunity for kids young and old to get up-close to emergency vehicles. From 1-8 p.m. Be sure to go to the Lights & Sirens show at 5:30 p.m. too. FREE.

August 18-20 — Howell Melon Festival {Howell} — Visit Grand River in downtown Howell for festival staples like melons, melon-flavored ice cream and wine, and enjoy the Melon Run, a free outdoor movie, live music, the kids Melon Patch, inflatables, food court, train rides, a carnival, street vendors and more. FREE.

August 18-20 and 25-27 — Day Out With Thomas at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad {Flint} — This annual event is a blast for little ones! Learn more here. 

August 19 —  Pollinator Palooza at Ford House {Grosse Pointe Shores} — Visit Ford House on National Honey Bee Day to learn about butterflies, birds, bats and bees with pollinator themed presentations and hands-on activities. Guests will have the opportunity to learn from experts in the field on the many ways pollinators are important and how to help protect them. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for non-members, $10 for Ford House members. Children under 2 are free.

August 19 — North Pines High Ropes Obstacle Course at Howell Nature Center {Howell} — Visit from 1-4 p.m. for a 3-hour adventure up in the trees, which includes a 250-ft zip line at the end! For 7th grade and up. $26/person.

August 19 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! 30 minutes of creative craft fun, including supplies. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up. This day’s project is pom-pom and gem art.

August 19 — FREE Entry to Michigan Science Center {Detroit} — Visit here for the scoop!

August 19 — FREE Entry to The Henry Ford for National Aviation Day {Dearborn} — Visit here for the scoop!

August 19 — Mason Aviation Day {Mason} — Visit the Mason Jewett Airport for a pancake breakfast, airplane/helicopter rides, aviation displays and more! Free to enter.

August 19 – Woodward Dream Cruise {Ferndale through Pontiac} – Join spectators watching 40,000 cars cruise through the world’s largest one-day automotive event. Bring a lawn chair and take a seat along the route, which runs from Ferndale to Pontiac on Woodward Avenue. FREE.

August 19 — FREE Breakfast on the Farm {Middleton} — This is northwest of Lansing, but may be a fun excuse for a mini road trip! FREE.

August 19 – Oct. 1 — Michigan Renaissance Festival {Holly} — Visit Holly Grove for music, sword-swallowing, comedy, fire-juggling and of course, the costumes of a bygone era. Dress in costume for added fun and be sure to check out how the Festival celebrates with themed weekends. Free parking. Adult general admission: $22.95; child general admission: $13.95.

August 20 — Robots in the Park {Plymouth} — Robots in the Park showcases Lightning Robotics and STEM activities. FREE.

August 21 — SOLAR ECLIPSE! Information on when to look for it can be found here.

August 21-27 — Genesee County Fair {Mt. Morris} — Visit Mt. Morris for seven days of family fun including monster trucks and derby races, entertainment tent, 4-H horse show, Midway Carnival, Grandstand events, food and more. FREE gate admission.

August 24 — Summer Fun Thursdays at Twelve Oaks {Novi} — Visit Twelve Oaks for family friendly fun. This week’s theme is Cirque Amongus.  Be entertained with the zany antics of artists who unicycle, juggle, balance, and who perform acrobatics, comedy, music, and magic. Onsite registration begins at 12 p.m.  Performances begin at 1 p.m. The first 100 children to register each week will receive a gift. FREE.

August 30 — Wild Over Wednesday at the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center {Detroit} — Visit the OAC The last Wednesday of each month for free admission from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be story time, hands-on experiences, games and more. FREE.

August 31 — Summer Fun Thursdays at Twelve Oaks {Novi} — Visit Twelve Oaks for family friendly fun. This week, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is bringing the museum to Twelve Oaks, infusing fun, dynamic, hands-on, educational science activities that are fun for all ages! Onsite registration begins at 12 p.m.  Performances begin at 1 p.m. The first 100 children to register each week will receive a gift. FREE.

Don’t forget to visit the Titanic exhibit at Sloan Museum in Flint closes on September 3, so plan a visit today! Additionally, I often add fun  to my Facebook page, so make sure to check there, too.

What are you most looking forward to this month?