Family Fun in Southeast Michigan in September 2017

September is such a lovely month, right? Cool mornings followed by warm days, the leaves starting to change, apple picking, and perhaps every parent’s favorite reason: Back to school and back to routine!

While adventures may be changing in the months ahead with calendars filling with school events, there is still plenty of fun out there for the weekends. Here are some ideas for things to check out this month:

Family Fun in Southeast Michigan in September 2017

Weekends, through October 1 — Michigan Renaissance Festival — 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.

Through September 4 — Saline Community Fair {Saline} — Join Saline for their annual community fair full of rides, activities, parades and family fun! All other days, admission is $7 for ages 11 and up.

Through September 4 — Fifth Third Bank Michigan State Fair {Novi} — This year’s State Fair includes a Midway, live entertainment, racing pigs, livestock and home arts exhibits, the state of Michigan Butter Cow, special performances by the Detroit Shrine Circus, Made in Michigan Pavilion, tasty carnival treats, and more. There is customized pricing, depending on what you want to do. Adults are $8 and children are $6. Children 2 and under are free.

Through September 4 — Arts, Beats and Eats {Royal Oak} — Oakland County’s premier entertainment festival featuring art, restaurants and 200 performances on 10 stages downtown Royal Oak. On Friday the festival is free to enter until 5 p.m., after 5 p.m. the price is $7.  On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, admission is $3 before 3 p.m., $5 after 3 p.m., and $7 after 5 p.m. This is admission fee supports the festival as well as 13 non-profit partners.

September 1 – October 29 — NCG Cinemas Free Family Film Festival {Various Mid-Michigan Locations} — Visit the NCG locations in September and October on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for a FREE family movie. Visit link for details {also available in a sensory-friendly format}.

September 2, 9, 16, 17, 24 — 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.

September 2 — Kids Workshop at The Home Depot {Nationwide} — Build a pencil box at this month’s event. This hands-on workshop is for children ages 5 – 12. All kids 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. 

September 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 surrounding this month’s theme, Invention. FREE.

September 2 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! This week it’s a Floogal windsock. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up.

September 2-4 — Thunder Over Michigan Air Show {Ypsilanti} — Thunder over Michigan is one of Americas leading air shows and is considered the best warbird show in America. Held at Willow Run Airport, the show features world-class entertainment, including the Blue Angels, and fun for the whole family. Parking is $10 in advance or $20 on site. Admission tickets are $35; kids age 15 and under and free.

September 3 — Final day of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit at Sloan Museum {Flint} — Check out this educational exhibit before its last day! 

September 3 — Summer Sundays at Upland Hills Farm {Oxford} — Enjoy all of the farm animals, watch a farmer milk a cow, take a hayride and bring a picnic lunch or purchase food at the concession. Pony rides available. 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. $9/person.

September 4 — Labor Day Sale at all Metro Detroit Salvation Army Thrift Stores — Stop in for 50% off all clothing, all day long. This is the perfect sale to stock up on back-to-school clothes! Stores open at 7 a.m.

September 5-6 — 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! September’s project is a LEGO dinosaur. Quantities are limited. Event is open to children ages 6-14 only. FREE.

September 6 — 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 a Masterbrand craft {team girl cuffs} from 6-8 p.m. FREE.

September 6-10 — Frontier Days {Charlotte} — Pioneer-spirited guests will enjoy this annual event featuring one of Mid-Michigan’s largest parades, a championship rodeo, flea market, more than 250 arts and crafts exhibits, an old-fashioned saloon, and more. FREE.

September 7-10 — Richmond Good Old Days Festival {Richmond} — The Annual Richmond Area Good Old Days Festival is one of Michigan’s best small town festivals and boasts the largest marching musical parade in Michigan, as well as a carnival, antique fire muster, a children’s candy scramble and much more. FREE.

September 8 – November 2 — Celebration Cinema’s Flick’s Family Festival {Various Locations} — Visit one of the Celebration Cinemas locations for FREE kid’s movies {12 and under}, or just $5 for adults. See website for schedule.

September 8-9 — Brighton’s Smokin’ Jazz and Barbecue Blues Festival {Brighton} — Visit downtown Brighton for talented musicians and food vendors from all over the country smokin’ up the streets. Admission is $5.

September 8-10 — Plymouth Fall Festival {Plymouth} — This fest features carnival rides, a car show, craft show, pancake breakfast, rotary BBQ, spaghetti dinner, and live entertainment, food and more. FREE.

September 8-10 — Arts and Apples Festival {Rochester} — Art & Apples Festival transforms Rochester Park into one of the nation’s top fine art fairs with over 290 artists from across the country. Other attractions include live entertainment, food vendors, and a Kids Art Zone. FREE.

September 9 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! This week it’s clay pot critters. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up.

September 9 — Big Wheels Keep on Rollin’ {Waterford} — Visit Hess-Hathaway Park for this fun event featuring trucks. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. $5/family.

September 9-10 — Fisk Farm Festival {White Lake} — Visit the farm for crafts, entertainment in the barn and pavilion, storytellers, antique equipment, tractors, encampment, activities for the children, pony rides, a pie eating contest and more. FREE entry.

September 10 — Kerrytown Bookfest {Ann Arbor} — The 15th Annual Kerrytown BookFest is chock full of authors, activities, and hundreds of the best books. Activities include breakfast with Michigan authors, comic Books, an edible book contest, books for sale, storytellers, and more. FREE.

September 11 — MSU Bug House Open House {East Lansing} — If your child loves all things creepy crawly, the MSU Bug House is a fun place to visit. Check out the details for this event here. FREE.

September 13 — Storytime in the Play Area {Novi} — Visit Twelve Oaks for storytime with a librarian from the Novi Public Library in the Play Area, from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Each child will receive a special gift. FREE.

September 14-17 — Down Home Days {Mason} — Check out fall colors and visit Mason for an outdoor concert Thursday, family walk Friday, Saturday’s craft show on the historic Ingham County Courthouse Square and more. FREE.

September 15 — Bubbles from Splash and Bubbles at The Oakland Mall {Troy} — Visit Bubbles during a meet and greet as part of The Oakland Mall’s Giggle Gang. Limited tickets available in advance on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last, at the Information Center. Arrive early! FREE for Giggle Gang members; $3 for others.

September 15-17 — Romulus Pumpkin Festival {Romulus} — This event begins with a night parade where everything is lighted from bicycles to cement trucks. Join in on the fun, including music, food, crafts and games like a pumpkin rolling, pumpkin pie eating or a pumpkin seed-spitting contest. There’s a Classic Car Show, Tractor Show, live entertainment and more. FREE.

September 15-16 — Michigan BluesFest {Lansing} — This two-day music festival brings national, regional, and local acts to the streets of Old Town Lansing. The Kidzbeats area offers plenty of activities for kids. FREE.

September 16 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! This week it’s a fall leaf sign. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up.

September 16 — Hearse Fest at Screams Ice Cream {Hell} — Visit Hell, Michigan for pinewood derby races, vendors, costume contest, the parade/cruise to Terrorified Forest. FREE.

September 17 — World Rhino Day at Potter Park Zoo {Lansing} — Visit Potter Park for special tours and a behind-the-scenes look at their black rhino exhibit. Tickets are available for 1 p.m., 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. and will be $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under, in addition to regular zoo entry and parking. Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

September 22-24 — DIY Street Fair {Ferndale} — Visit downtown Ferndale for more than 100 artists, food tents, activities and musical entertainment. The event showcases a cottage industry of artists and craftsmen and offers something for everyone. FREE entry.

September 22-24 — South Lyon Area Pumpkinfest {South Lyon} — Enjoy a weekend-long celebration of crafts, music, community, and of course, everyone’s favorite fall product; the pumpkin. Parade, photo ops and live entertainment, too! FREE thanks to Vibe Credit Union. 

September 23 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! This week it’s craft stick characters. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up.

September 23 — Fall Harvest Festival {Flint} — Visit Applewood Estate for family fun including live music, cider and apple tasting in the heirloom orchard, horses and calves in the historic barn, mini pumpkin decorating, educational presentations by local organizations, children’s outdoor games and more! FREE.

September 23 —  Great Lakes Bat Festival {Detroit} — Visit the Michigan Science Center for a day of all things BAT. There will be hands-on activities, bat house building, live animal educational programs, interactive displays and more. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. FREE.

September 23 — Webster Fall Festival {Dexter} — Old-fashioned country fun for all ages, including hay rides, a petting zoo, historic buildings and displays, vintage cars and farm machinery, artisans and crafters, police K9 demos, live music and more. FREE.

September 23-24 — Diehl’s Ciderfest and Craft Show {Holly} — Visit Diehl’s for hot donuts, cider, hayrides, pony rides, a craft show, pig roast, live entertainment, corn maze and more! FREE parking and entry.

September 30 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project! This week it’s a pom-pom pumpkin banner. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up.

September 30 — Comerica Park Season Finale {Detroit} — Visit CoPa for plenty of kid fun! Check out this post for the details!

See more ideas for Fall Fun HERE or join me on my Facebook page for more fun.

What plans do you have this month? Let me know what I’ve missed and I will add it!