FREE Family-Friendly Events in Metro Detroit in November
We know…kids are expensive, so we’ve put together the top FREE events to enjoy as a family this month!
Friday, November 1 / 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
@ Township Sledding Hill, Clinton Township
Get those pumpkins laying around after Halloween and bring them to the Sledding Hill in Clinton township. This 25 foot hill will be the perfect place for the entire family to roll pumpkins down and get a chance at winning some cool prizes. Even if you don’t win a prize you can enjoy free cider and donuts, watch pumpkins smash and dash down our hill!
RUMBLIN’ TUMBLIN’ PUMPKIN ROLLDOWN
Thursday, November 1 / 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
@ Huron Park, Roseville
Have you ever seen a pumpkin roll down a sledding hill? Join us the for crazy, fun event and see how gravity works on your carved pumpkin!
Friday, November 2 / 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
@ St. Anne Parish Detroit
Experience a traditional celebration of El Dia de los Muertos! We’ll have traditional foods for sale, crafts, face-painting, and more fun, including a talent show full of our skilled Hispanic community leading song, dancing, and other art. You’re free to visit our ofrendas as well. Mass is at 7 p.m., consider bringing a photo of a family member for the ofrenda. Kids can come dressed as saints, too!
Saturday, November 3 / 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
@ Skillman Library, Detroit
We’re celebrating the re-opening of our favorite neighborhood library, the Skillman Branch of the Detroit Public Library, with a GAME DAY for the whole family! On Saturday, November 3rd, 2018, from 1 PM to 5 PM, our expert Game Masters will be on hand and ready to introduce you to a stack of the best all-ages board games available at Vault of Midnight!
Sunday, November 4 / 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
@ State Theatre, Ann Arbor
BABE will continue the Toyota USA Family-Friendly Film Series presented by the Benard L. Maas Foundation on Sunday, November 4 at 1:30 PM. Nominated for Best Picture in 1996 and written/produced by George Miller, BABE is the story of a pig raised by sheepdogs, who learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett. Kids 12 and under are free.
SUPER ECO ADVENTURE & FOREST FORENSICS
Monday, November 5 / 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
@ Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve, Rochester Hills
We will be heading outside and collecting specimens from nature to place beneath microscopes and stereoscopes, dissecting owl pellets and reassembling the bones, and creating edibles versions of animal scat that we find out in the woods for a delicious and gross snack!
Thursday, November 8 / 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm
@ Northville District Library
Meet a variety of live animals bred in Michigan— unique breeds of dwarf goats, chickens and ducks —and more in this fun farm program for all ages. 100 FREE TICKETS available today at the Information Desk five minutes prior to the event.
Thursday, November 8 / 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
@ Commerce Township Community Library
Do fun experiments with your favorite Pokemon. Explore the chemistry of gas with Koffing, look at how plants grow with Bulbasaur, test your psychic skills with Psyduck & more!
Friday, November 9 / 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
@ Outdoor Adventure Center, Detroit
You’re invited to a Family Fun Day! Bring your family to the Outdoor Adventure Center for a FREE day of fun, sensory-friendly activities. Families and friends will also have a chance to meet walkaround Julia, the “Sesame Street” friend who does things her own way!
FREE FAMILY FUN! GALLERY ADVENTURES
Saturday, November 10 / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
@ Detroit Institute of Arts
Docents will provide pop-up tours and engagement activities for children and their families! Family Games and activities in French galleries on Saturdays and Native American galleries on Sundays.
Sunday, November 11 / 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
@ Charles H. Wright Museum, Detroit
Bring your family and friends to experience the wonder of The Wright Museum with free admission every second Sunday of the month courtesy of the DTE Energy Foundation! Enjoy the many exhibitions on display as well as engaging programming for the entire family.
Tuesday, November 13 / 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
@ Born Yoga, Birmingham
This special bonding experience introduces you and your little yogi to the practice of yoga. You will participate and assist them in a fun and animated class that includes games, stories, and songs that help strengthen body awareness and coordination. We’ll introduce breathing techniques that teach your little yogi how to calm and self-regulate their bodies and minds. Each class ends with a peaceful and restorative experience for you and your little one.
Friday, November 16 / 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
@ Farmington Community Library
The Farmington Area Stargazers will present an introduction to star gazing for children and assist children in the use of telescopes following the presentation.
DETROIT TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Friday, November 16 / 5:00 pm – 11:30 pm
@ Campus Martius, Detroit
The tree lighting ceremony will feature a Michigan-grown, 60-foot Norwegian Spruce wrapped in more than 19,000 multi-colored lights and ornaments. The event begins at 5 p.m. and is free to the public. Enjoy a magical evening of stage and rink performances to kick off the holiday season in the city!
Friday, November 16 / 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
@ The Village of Rochester Hills
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the season, and the excitement of the City of Rochester Hills Holiday Lights Display! Join us as we begin the countdown for Santa’s arrival and children’s eyes will sparkle when they flip the magical switch to illuminate the Village’s 25-foot Christmas tree. Be sure to look to the sky for an extra special display of lights sure to delight both the young and the young at heart.
NORTHVILLE HOLIDAY LIGHTED PARADE & COMMUNITY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Friday, November 16 / 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
@ Downtown Northville
Join the thousands of parade goers as the holiday season officially kicks off with the Holiday Lighted Parade. Bands, dancers, floats and of course, Santa, make this annual favorite a great family tradition!
DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER FESTIVAL OF TREES
Saturday, November 17 / 10:00 am – 8:00 pm & Sunday, November 18 / 10:00 am – 5pm
@ Rochester Community House
A holiday spectacular unlike any other, featuring trees, wreaths, tablescapes centerpieces and more! Kids crafts each day, plus bring your camera for photos with Santa from 12 – 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday, November 17 / 10:30 am – 11:30 am
@ Arab American National Museum, Dearborn
Children ages 2-6 and their parents are invited to attend storytime in the Library at AANM. A storyteller will read picture books in both English and Arabic, teaching a few Arabic words and phrases. Following the story, there will be time for free play, crafts or games in the Library.
DOWNTOWN LIONS TAILGATE & WATCH PARTY
Sunday, November 18 / 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
@ Beacon Park, Detroit
Join us at Beacon Park for five family friendly Detroit Lions tailgates, watch parties and two very special ticket giveaways!
Sunday, November 18 / 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
@ Downtown Brighton
The event will begin at 4:00pm with holiday music provided by Livingston’s Own 93.5 WHMI, special performances from the Nutcracker Ballet, horse drawn hay rides, the popular Jollie Choo-Choo train, a nativity petting farm, a visit from Emma the Elf, a station to write letters to Santa, pictures with the reindeer, arts and crafts, tasty holiday treats, a warming tent and of course, Santa!
MICHIGAN SCIENCE CENTER FREE DAYS
Wednesday, November 21 & Friday, November 23
@ Michigan Science Center
Enjoy free general admission at the Michigan Science Center! General admission includes 250+ hands-on exhibits, live stage shows, Spark!Lab from the Smithsonian, Kids Town gallery, STEM Playground space and more. Planetarium theater tickets will be available for purchase online and at the box office during your visit.
AMERICA’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
Thursday, November 22 / 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
@ Downtown Detroit
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Parade spectators line historic Woodward Avenue Thanksgiving morning to watch the larger than life floats, colorful helium-filled balloons, thunderous marching bands, and exciting specialty acts!
GROSSE POINTE SANTA CLAUS PARADE
Friday, November 23 / 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
@ Downtown Grosse Pointe
Join us along the parade route on Kercheval from Lewiston to Cadieux . Presented by Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce and Grosse Pointe Chamber Foundation.
Friday, November 23 / 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
@ Kellogg Park, Plymouth
Join us in Kellogg Park! Santa is in town to hear what good little boys and girls want for Christmas.
Friday, November 23 / 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
@ Downtown Holly
The official oldest, Longest-Running Dickens’ Themed Event in the United States is back. The Festival spans THREE weekends, beginning with a LIGHTED PARADE! The parade will be followed immediately with the arrival of Santa Claus in Historic Downtown Holly for the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony
Saturday, November 24 / 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
@ Garden City High School
The holiday season may be months away, but it’s not too early to start planning for the 2018 Garden City Downtown Development Authority Santaland Parade. The theme of the 58th annual parade is an Ugly Sweater Christmas. Participants are urged to incorporate this theme when designing their entries.
KERRYTOWN TREE LIGHTING FESTIVAL
Sunday, November 25 / 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
@ Kerrytown Market, Ann Arbor
Join Santa to light our holiday tree in the Kerrytown courtyard. It’s a wonderful way to ring in the season with caroling and candle luminaries!
Tuesday, November 27 / 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
@ Waterford Township Hall
Celebrate the season with a variety of activities including: crafts, cookie decorating, Pontiac-Waterford Big Chief Chorus, performance by the Waterford Mott Jazz Band, a opportunity to write a soldier a letter, a photo opportunity with Santa Claus and your chance to see a reindeer up close.
TREE LIGHTING & VISITS WITH SANTA
Tuesday, November 27 / 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
@ Burgh Historical Park, Southfield
Tree Lighting & Visits with Santa at the Burgh Historical Park. Come join us from 6:30 to 9:00! See you there!
Thursday, November 29 / 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
@ Downtown Milford
Santa Claus is coming to town during Milford’s annual Christmas Open House. A community favorite, the seasonal event brings strolling entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday caroling, special promotions and deals at downtown stores and restaurants as well as a highly anticipated visit with Santa Claus in Village Center Mall. The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. when the jolly old man arrives on Main Street aboard a Milford Fire Department fire engine.
Friday, November 30 – Sunday, December 2
@ Shain Park, Birmingham
Shain Park will come alive with activity during the City of Birmingham’s nineth annual Birmingham Winter Markt event. Attendees will enjoy European food and drinks, gift items, holiday greens, crafts, ice carving demonstrations, live reindeer, warming stations, a Kinderhaus children’s activity area, the popular Santa Haus, horse-drawn carriage rides and live entertainment. On opening night – Friday, November 30th at 6 p.m., the community will come together with Santa and Birmingham’s Mayor for live caroling and the lighting of a 35-foot holiday tree with more than 40,000 LED lights!
Friday, November 30 / 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
@ Novi Civic Center
Tree lighting, Fireworks, Santa Visits, Kids Crafts, Craft Show, Petting Farm, Reindeer, S’Mores, Train Rides, and food!
25TH ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Friday, November 30 / 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
@ Downtown Auburn Hills
A free family fun event featuring the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the Mayor lighting our enormous Christmas tree on the corner of Squirrel and Auburn Roads. Fabulous activities for the family including photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, s’mores at the bonfire pit, holiday crafts and horse-drawn wagon rides!
Find more FREE Fun!
Check out the Top Free Things To Do With Kids In Detroit
Photo credit: Facebook
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About Chrissy Hartig
Chrissy Hartig is a recent graduate of Wayne State University and contributing writer for Little Guide Detroit. Born in the Metro Detroit suburbs, she moved to Midtown to be closer to the excitement of the city. She loves spending her time outdoors and enjoying nature in places like Belle Isle and the Riverwalk.
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