October truly is one of the best months of the year, right? I am so pumped to get outside and take photos of my kids playing in the leaves and witness my back yard transform into nature’s most beautiful colors.
Here are some ideas for family fun in southeast Michigan in October 2019. Please note if you are looking for Halloween-specific events, check out this BIG LIST.
Family Fun in Southeast Michigan in October 2019
October 4 — FREE Admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science After 5 p.m. {Bloomfield Hills} — Thanks to the MASCO Corporation Foundation.
October 5, 12, 19, 26 — FREE Day at the Flint Institute of Art {Flint} — This museum is free to visit every Saturday thanks to Huntington.
October 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.
October 5 — Kids Workshop at The Home Depot {Nationwide} — Build a fire plane 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. Learn what to expect at this post.
October 5 — Michaels Kid Club {Nationwide} — Drop into a Michael’s Craft Store and take home a completed project for $2-$5! 30 minutes of creative craft fun, including supplies. 10 a.m. – noon. Ages 3 and up. This day’s project is a abstract paper pumpkin. Learn what to expect at these events at this post.
Weekends starting October 5 {Saturdays and Sundays} — Halloween Soup! at The Marquis Theatre {Northville} – See Halloween brought to life on stage! $10/ticket. {No children under age 3; costumes welcome}
October 6 — National Fossil Day at MSU Museum {East Lansing} — Visit the museum from 1-4 p.m. for a day promoting fossils! Experience a fossil dig & sift, scavenger hunt, fossil molds to make and take, face painting, fossil ID competition with prizes, Michigan Geological Survey CoreKids program, and more. FREE.
October 6 — Donut Fest {Detroit} — Visit Eastern Market for Detroit’s sweetest fest full of donuts, beer, coffee and more. General admission is $35 and includes samples, a drink ticket, and more.
October 12-13 — Enchanted Princess Ball {Fenton} — Dress-up your little one and enjoy a show by Disney-inspired princesses! $26/person. Advance tickets required.
October 13 — The Magic School Bus – On Stage {Ann Arbor} — Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the book series. When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! Live Professional Theatre | 60 minutes | Appropriate for grades K to 5. Tickets are $16.
October 14 — 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! FREE. Open from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
October 18 — Chemistry Day at Impression 5 {Lansing} — Discover chemistry with hands-on experiments. This year, our theme is marvelous metals! Join us as we partner with the MSU Local Section of the American Chemistry Society for this free public event! $8.50 for children 2+ and adults; $7 for seniors and military. Free for children age 1 and younger.
October 18 & 19 — Pumpkins, Lanterns & Leaves {Ann Arbor} — Visit Matthaei Botanical Gardens after hours to enjoy pumpkins, masks, and other harvest-themed fun. Then top off the evening with a parade of lanterns that kids and families make and take home. This is a ticketed event; register in advance. $14.50/person.
October 19-20 — Apple Butter Festival at Fenner Nature Center {Lansing} — Visit Fenner and travel back in time to the days of the pioneers and help stir the apple butter, cooked the old-fashioned way in a copper kettle over the fire, or try your hand at the cider press. There will be a pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving contest, pioneer games, blacksmithing demonstrations, cross-cut sawing, wagon rides and more. This festival is FREE to the public. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Parking is a $5 suggested donation at the gate.
October 26 — Family Zombie Jamboree & Parade {Flint} — Visit the Flint Public Library for a FREE Zombie Jamboree complete with a story hour, face painting, crafts, and more. FREE.
October 27 — 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 Halloween Open House from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. FREE.
October 31 — HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Make sure to visit this BIG LIST for all the local Halloween happenings:
What did I miss? Feel free to drop me a note or add in the comments!
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