31 Things To Do In January 2022 in Southeast Michigan

Happy New Year! Here’s hoping 2022 ends up being a fantastic year… Hopefully with a few more adventures than 2021 😉

January is always a month full of events, however, the pandemic has canceled quite a few. I’ve gathered what I could, sprinkled in some at-home fun if that’s a better fit for your family, and included plenty of outdoor ideas to check out too!

This is always one of our favorite months for snowy fun, movie nights in, and checking out local museums. Always make sure the events are ON, as lots can change with weather this time of year.

Have fun planning some family adventures!

31 Things To Do In January 2022 in Southeast Michigan

January 1

Set your family goals for the year! Maybe it’s a new chore chart, or a reading or hiking goal.

{In fact, today is First Day Hikes across America. Perfect day to get out and explore a new trail. And if you need clothing, check out Salvation Army thrift stores in SE Michigan for 50% off clothes!}

January 2

Head to Mission Safari at Courtland Center Mall in Burton before it leaves the Sloan Museum space for good on January 9!

January 3

If there is enough snow near you, try this fun experiment to make a snow volcano.

January 4

Head to Kensington Metropark to feed the birds. It’s so beautiful in wintertime! Or, make some homemade bird feeders using an empty toilet paper roll, peanut butter, bird seed and string.

January 5

Before packing away the Christmas lights, make a cave of lights inside a box, like this. Perfect fort space for kids!

January 6

Decorate a door in your house to look like a snowman.

January 7

Visit downtown Holly for a Fire and Ice event. From 5-8 p.m., there will be a live ice carving at 6 p.m. in Battle Alley. Buy a wrist band for $5 cash to be a part of the Chili Cook off and sample participating restaurant’s chili, vote for your favorite restaurant chili and be entered into a drawing. FREE to attend. More info here.

January 8, 15, 22, 29

Enjoy a FREE day at the Flint Institute of Art every Saturday, thanks to Huntington.

January 9 & 30

Visit the Howell Nature Center for a Family Snowshoe Treasure Hunt! Like geocaching, families will search for hidden treasure guided by GPS devices, while traversing HNC’s beautiful grounds by snowshoe. Weather dependent. Event continues as a hike if less than 4” of snow. $10/members; $12/non-members.

January 10

Have a snowman building contest with your family or neighbors.

January 11

Make snow ice cream. All you need is snow, milk, sugar and vanilla. It’s actually pretty tasty, and the kids will have fun helping. This is the recipe we follow.

January 12

Celebrate the season and decorate with paper snowflakes! {These ones from 5-Minute Crafts are amazing.}

January 13

Today is Rubber Ducky Day! Take an extravagant “fun” bath. My kids love face masks, bath bombs, glow toys and glow sticks. It’s the perfect thing to do on a long winter day.

January 14

Visit Robert C. Valade Park in Detroit throughout the weekend to enjoy hands-on activities and winter games, as well as an ice carving competition, ice throne, techno dance party, Renaissance Fair demos and more. FREE. {Learn about all the special weekend events here.}

January 15

Visit Island Lake State Recreation park in Brighton for a lantern hike. Check out events across the state at this post. These are so cool!

January 16

Miss those summer vibes? Visit the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle in Detroit and sit amongst the tropical plants. While on the island, check out the nature center, playgrounds and the amazing Dossin Great Lakes Museum — all free to visit with a recreation passport.

January 17

Happy MLK Day! Find a volunteer opportunity near you, try these inexpensive random acts of kindness, or hit up the library! There are so many amazing books highlighting Dr. King’s work and it’s important history for all children to understand why we celebrate this day.

January 18

Plan a local adventure of snow tubing at Bowers Farm School in Bloomfield Hills or at Hawk Island Park in Lansing.

January 19

Head to Ann Arbor to visit an amazing museum…For FREE! We love the Kelsey Museum of Archeology, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Natural History. All three are absolutely amazing! Masks are required on-campus.

January 20-30

If you have a little one, head to Detroit for Sesame Street Live at The Fox Theatre! Tickets prices start at $20. These shows are always super cute and a fun excuse to visit The Fox.

January 21

No babysitter? No problem! Plan a special date night IN with one of these ideas.

January 22

Visit Dexter for an Ice Fest! There will be hot cocoa, s’mores, and more than 40 ice sculptures in Monument Park. Live ice demos happening at 11 a.m. FREE to attend. More info here.

January 23

Visit the Howell Nature Center for a Winter Survival Challenge! Brave the outdoors as you learn to navigate by map, solve puzzles, build fires and shelters, and ultimately deliver an enrichment item to one of our wild animal ambassadors. 1-3:30 p.m. $10/members; $12/non-members.

January 24

If the weather outside is frightful, create an obstacle course in your house for a little exercise. Or, try a card game for exercise for both you and the kids!

January 25

Check out your local community pool for open swim hours. This is such a great way to pretend like it’s summer again 😉

January 26

On this day in 1837, Michigan became an official state. Our family loves to celebrate with birthday cake! If you’d like to learn more about our state’s history, we love the Michigan History Center in Lansing.

January 27

Take a mini road trip to Frankenmuth to check out the ice sculptures at Zehnder’s Snowfest.

January 28

Visit Robert C. Valade Park in Detroit throughout the weekend to enjoy hands-on activities and winter games, as well as international food trucks, curling demos, kid’s parade of nations and more. FREE. {Learn about all the special weekend events here.}

January 29

Bring snow indoors and paint it with food coloring. {See this post to learn how — such a great activity for toddlers!}

January 30

Enjoy a movie night together. Here are some ideas to get you started — or create your own movie bucket list as a family.

January 31

Go ice skating at Riley Park Ice Rink in Farmington. They have FREE rentals and it’s free to visit too!

What events are you looking forward to this month? 

Looking for some extra fun? Make sure to check out this list of snow-friendly fun!