Start making plans for the weekend! There are LOTS of fun things to do around town with your littles!

ALL WEEKEND

DOOM OF THE DINOSAURS EXHIBIT

March 15 – September 1

@ Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bloomfield Hills

The temporary Doom of the Dinosaurs exhibition allows visitors to view the impressive fossil casts of the last known dinosaurs to roam Earth, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Edmontosaurus. The dinosaur scene includes a dozen dinosaur casts that will leave your littles in awe, while offering hands-on activities to help them learn too.

SPRING SHOWERS CAMP

April 19 –  April 26

@ Detroit Waldorf Academy, Detroit

Campers will spend their days playing games, singing songs, cooking and baking, exploring the arts, and experiencing all of the wonderful moments that make camp fun!

TREERUNNER: OPENING WEEKEND

Friday, April 26 –  Sunday, April 28

@ TreeRunner West Bloomfield Adventure Park

TreeRunner West Bloomfield Adventure Park is a premier aerial adventure park in the Metro Detroit area. In 2018, we were voted Michigan’s #1 zip lining and climbing venue. With 195 exciting obstacles, 41 zip lines, 6 difficulty levels, and 12 different trails, there is plenty to explore!

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Friday, April 26 –  Sunday, April 28

@ William Costick Activities Center, Farmington Hills

The Addams Family features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and a his parents.

RAILROADER’S BREAKFEST

Saturday, April 27 &  Sunday, April 28

@ Greenfield Village, Dearborn

Start your little engineer’s Day Out With Thomas™ with a hearty Railroader’s Breakfast in Greenfield Village’s A Taste of History Restaurant. Buttermilk pancakes with a choice of toppings, fresh fruit salad, sausage links and more. It’s a scrumptious early-morning way to prepare for a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine™!

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS

Saturday, April 27 &  Sunday, April 28

@ Greenfield Village, Dearborn

Let the legendary, larger-than-life train take your children for a ride they’ll never forget! Witness the full-steam delight when your little engineer sees a real Thomas the Tank Engine™ chug into our station! Your day will be packed with roundhouse tours of steam locomotives, railroad hobo songs, a railroad turntable feat of strength, and more!

PUPPET PERFORMANCE: GO HOME TINY MONSTER

Saturday, April 27 &  Sunday, April 28

@ Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit

A touchingly absurd story about family, home, and a gaggle of wacky monsters, “Go Home Tiny Monster” features The Gottabees’ trademark mix of puppetry, silliness, physical theater, live music, and surprising poignancy. With the help of the audience, Slyvie explores the meaning of home and community and discovers what truly makes her feel at home in the world. For families of all ages.

FRIDAY

DROP-IN PLAY

Friday, April 26 / 10:00am – 12:00pm

@ Nature’s Playhouse, Ferndale

Come on out to Nature’s Playhouse where they offer a non-toxic yesteryear open playtime experience with our all-natural play environment. Enjoy spending time with other families at a relaxed unstructured pace.

JUMPEROO

Friday, April 26 / 10:00am – 12:00pm

@ Urban Air Adventure Park, Oxford

Jumperoo is a special time where the park is open only for children 5 & under! The entire Park is opened just for the little ones and their parents. They can jump, bounce and crawl around safely. The little ones will have access to all attractions where height requirements are met!

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME

Friday, April 19 / 10:30am – 12:00pm

@ Detroit Public Library

Come to Detroit Public Library Main Branch for preschool story time from 10:30am-11:00am. After the story, enjoy play time and a snack from 11:00am-12:00pm.

STORY TIME AT THE TREEHOUSE: EARTH DAY, EVERY DAY

Friday, April 26 / 11:00am – 12:00pm

@ For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum, Burton

Sprout the love of reading and nature during the For-Mar Story Time. This month’s story time will have students exploring how you can be a superhero for mother earth in our Earth Day, Every Day story time at the treehouse! Students explore nature through stories, crafts and song!

TROY GYMNASTICS PRE-K OPEN GYM

Friday, April 26 / 12:00pm – 4:00pm; 4:30pm – 7:30pm

@ Troy Gymnastics

Come on out to Troy Gymnastics for open gym! Kids 12 months through 5 years are invited to come tumble around for a few hours. If it’s your first time going, it’s absolutely free! This event is held in TG2.

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT-ART STUDIO

Friday, April 26 / 6:00pm – 9:00pm

@ Heritage Park, Farmington

Who says parents get to have all the fun? Take a well-deserved break and know your kids are safe and having a blast at the art studio. Themed art activities will keep them entertained for the evening. Bring a snack and dress for a mess! Drop off is promptly at 6, but kiddos may be picked up at any point within the class’s time frame.

TROY GYMNASTICS “REC” OPEN GYM

Friday, April 26 / 6:00pm – 7:30pm

@ Troy Gymnastics

Come on out to Troy Gymnastics for open gym! Kids 5 years through 23 years are invited to come tumble around for a few hours. If it’s your first time going, it’s absolutely free! This event is held in TG1.

WHO’S CALLING? FROG HIKE

Friday, April 26 / 7:30pm – 9:00pm

@ West Bloomfield Woods Nature Preserve

As spring rains fill our wetland ponds, frogs are out and about in large numbers. Different frogs call at different times of the season. This fun, interactive walk will help you learn the “when” and “whys” of Michigan’s vocal amphibians.

NIGHT HIKE ON THE FARM

Friday, April 26 / 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

@ MSU Tollgate Farm, Novi

Come on out to MSU Tollgate Farm for their bi-monthly event, Night Hikes on the Farm! This event is open to the public and will particularly appeal to scout groups, families, and anyone with a thirst for knowledge and adventure. Each hike will incorporate different themes fitting to the month or season.

SATURDAY

SPRING CLEAN UP ON BELLE ISLE

Saturday, April 27 / 8:00am – 1:00pm

@ Belle Isle, Detroit

Come on out to Flynn Park in Belle Isle for this Island-wide cleaning! This is a free event that the whole family can enjoy! Don’t miss out on the chance to help do your park to keep Belle Isle clean and beautiful!

SHEEP SHEARING & PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Saturday, April 27 / 9:00am – 11:00am

@ Hess-Hathaway Park, Waterford

Come down to the farm at Hess-Hathaway Park to see the sheep getting sheared. Enjoy a hot pancake breakfast in the Community Building afterwards!

TUMMY TO TODDLER EXPO

Saturday, April 27 / 9:00am – 3:00pm

@ Macomb County Community College, Warren

This is the go to spot for everything for babies, toddlers and expectant parents.  Check out the latest baby and child gear provided by BuybuyBaby. Learn about kid friendly activities in the area, meet local child care experts and providers, win prizes, including a $500 gift card to BuybuyBaby, and more!

KSM PTC’S ANNUAL MOM 2 MOM SALE

Saturday, April 27 / 9:00am – 1:00pm

@ John F. Kennedy Middle School, St. Claire Shores

The Kennedy Middle School Parent-Teacher’s Club is hosting its 4th Annual Mom 2 Mom Sale!

MOMMY & ME: JOIN US FOR TEA

Saturday, April 27 / 10:00am – 11:30am

@ Rainbow Preschool, Troy

Grab your favorite tea cup and bring a special lady in your life: mother, grandmother, aunt, or friend! Lemonade and light snacks, including fruit and bagels will be provided.

WINTER/SPRING COOKING CLASS

Saturday, April 27 / 10:00am – 11:30am

@ Eastern Market, Detroit

Classes are $15 each, so reserve your tickets early as classes fill up quickly! Recommended ages for the kids classes are 8-12 years old. Attendees will get to eat a sample of what they make. For a safe working kitchen environment, we ask that all cooking class participants wear proper attire including: closed toed shoes (no flip-flops), pants (no shorts) and hair pulled back into a pony tail.

MUFFINS WITH MOM

Saturday, April 27 / 10:00am – 11:30am

@ Farmington Community Library

Moms, Grandmas and Aunts; celebrate Mother’s Day with your little person at the library! Join us for a special story time followed by muffins and crafts.

GREEN DAY-RAIN BARRELS & RECYCLING

Saturday, April  27 / 10:00am – 12:00pm

@ Detroit Riverfront

Join the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, Sierra Club Great Lakes, Great Communities, MI Rain Barrel and Green Living Science for a morning full of environmental activities! The day will kick off a rain barrel workshop with the Sierra Club where participants can learn about the benefits of rain barrels and how to make their own rain barrel. Following the workshop Detroit residents are invited to to learn about the new curbside recycling program in the city and how to practice the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

BUILD A BAT BOX!

Saturday, April 27 / 10:00am – 12:00pm; 2:00pm – 4:00pm

@ Oakwoods Metropark, New Boston

Join us to learn more about bats! We will explore which bat species can be found in our area and learn
why they are great to have near your home. Build a bat box to take home too!

BIRDING BASICS

Saturday, April 27 / 10:00am – 12:00pm; 2:00pm – 4:00pm

@ Lake Erie Metropark, Brownstown

New to birding? We’ll help get you started by going over tips and tricks for using binoculars and identifying birds outside.  Then let’s hit the trial for some birding!  Bringing your own binoculars is encouraged, but we have a few if needed.

TOUCH A TRUCK

Saturday, April 27 / 10:00am – 2:00pm

@ Royal Oak Meijer

Perfect for kids of all ages, the Junior League of Birmingham’s Touch-A-Truck event is sure to be a load of fun! Your little ones can climb and explore vehicles large and small. Children will have the opportunity to meet and speak with Metro Detroit’s finest, including first responders, truck operators, and community helpers. Additionally, the event will feature activities and food trucks.

GREENFEST

Saturday, April 27 / 10:00am – 3:00pm

@ Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak

This pre-Earth Day celebration will feature a sustainability tour to learn more about our anaerobic digester, educational rain gardens, farm-to-table food options, composting program and other initiatives as part of our Green Journey. Activities will include chemistry demonstrations, zookeeper talks and more!

FAMILY ART STUDIO: PAINTING WITH PAPER

Saturday, April 27 / 11:00am – 4:00pm

@ University of Michigan Museum of Art

Join us for a close up look at the collage art of contemporary artist, Mark Bradford. Using paper, interesting materials, and surprising techniques we will create abstract landscapes or cityscapes. The workshop begins with a tour of UMMA’s gallery of Modern and Contemporary art, followed by a hands-on workshop with local artist, and UMMA community Docent, Susan Clinthorne.

SPANISH PARA NINOS

Saturday, April 27 / 11:30am – 12:15pm

@ Detroit Mama Hub

Join us for a bilingual story time featuring tales in Spanish and English from around the world. Babes from 0-4 years are invited to come sing, learn, and play! Siblings may attend as guests, and all children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver — mamas, papas, sitters, and other family members welcome!

YMCA HEALTHY KIDS DAY

Saturday, April 27 / 12:00pm – 3:00pm

@ Boll Family YMCA, Detroit

Let your child release their imagination at the Boll Family YMCA annual Healthy Kids Day! Bring your family in for an afternoon of fun as we explore new activities and healthy habits. This is an opportunity to learn about YMCA programs for you entire family, take the healthy living obstacle course challenge, play in the bounce house and more! Participants will be entered for a chance to win a razor scooter!

TROY GYMNASTICS “REC” OPEN GYM

Saturday, April 27 / 1:00pm – 2:30pm

@ Troy Gymnastics

Come on out to Troy Gymnastics for open gym! Kids 5 years through 23 years are invited to come tumble around for a few hours. If it’s your first time going, it’s absolutely free! This event is held in TG1.

HEALTHY KIDS DAY

Saturday, April 27 / 1:00pm – 3:00pm

@ Livonia Family YMCA

Each child will be given a passport to hit each station. There will be an obstacle course, tennis and gymnastics demonstration, and much more!

MADELINE AND THE BAD HAT

Saturday, April 27 / 1:00pm – 2:00pm

@ Meadowbrook Theatre,Rochester

Watch Madeline on the big stage!

COMBOT ROBOTS

Saturday, April 27 / 1:15pm – 2:15pm

@ Macomb Township Parks and Recreation

Do you think you can build the strongest and most agile robot? Can your robot win a head-to-head combat mission? Come learn engineering strategies for building sturdy structures using LEGO® bricks and then apply that knowledge to build a robot for friendly competition. You’ll have a blast as you play robot football and complete the hoop challenge in this fun robotics program.

DANIEL TIGERS’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE!

Saturday, April 27 / 2:00pm – 5:30pm

@ Fox Theatre, Detroit

In Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE! King For a Day, audiences “ride along” on an exciting adventure as Daniel learns what it takes to be king. Produced by Fred Rogers Productions and Mills Entertainment, the engaging, full-scale musical production is filled with magical moments and sing-along fun, and features favorite characters from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, It’s a “royally” good time for the whole family!

FAMILY NIGHT OUT

Saturday, April 27 / 5:00pm – 8:00pm

@ Troy Community Center

An inexpensive and fun night out for families! Spend quality time together and enjoy basketball, swimming, inflatable castle and more.

TROY GYMNASTICS TEEN NIGHT OUT

Saturday, April 27 / 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm

@ Troy Gymnastics

Come on out to Troy Gymnastics where the BIG kids take over the BIG Gym! Teens can explore the gym from the floor to the ceiling.

TROY GYMNASTICS KIDS NIGHT OUT

Saturday, April 27 / 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

@ Troy Gymnastics, Troy

Kids can tumble, jump & play while their parents are away! Shop, dine, or catch a movie while your child is supervised in a safe environment and meeting new friends!

FAMILY FUN NIGHT AT THE ZOO: FANTASTIC FROGS

Saturday, April 20 / 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

@ Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak

Each Family Fun Night will include a hike through the Zoo, hands-on-activities, a snack, and an opportunity to meet Zoo staff. This month, spring is on the way and so are the frogs! Meet an amphibian expert as we go on an evening tour of the National Amphibian Conservation Center, learn about frog calls and then hike through the wetlands listening for early spring arrivals

SUNDAY

EARTH DAY 5K & KIDS RUN

Sunday, April 28 / 8:30am – 11:00am

@ Rara Recreation Center, Rochester

Join us to celebrate Earth Day at the 14th Annual MI EarthdayFest! The 5K is a scenic loop route through municipal park and the neighboring subdivision. All ages are welcome and the route is friendly for pets and strollers!

TROY GYMNASTICS ALL AGES OPEN GYM

Sunday, April 28 / 9:00 am – 12:00 pm; 6:00pm – 9:00pm

@ Troy Gymnastics

Come on out to Troy Gymnastics for open gym! Kids 12 months through 23 years are invited to come tumble around for a few hours. If it’s your first time going, it’s absolutely free! If you plan to often, monthly memberships are available at $55 for unlimited open gyms. This event is held in TG3.

PRETTY PRINCESS PARTY

Sunday, April 28 / 9:00am – 6:45pm

@ Noah’s Event Center, Auburn Hills

Pretty Princess Parties is coming to Auburn Hills, part of the Detroit-Metro area! Meet the Princesses at this magical event! This princess party is full of magical moments you won’t want to miss! Dance with Tinkerbell! Create a Craft with Rapunzel! Sing with The Little Mermaid! ALL of our princesses are excited to sing, dance, and play with your little ones! Our event focuses on making sure your little one feels royal throughout all of our activities.

ARCHERY: TRY IT!

Sunday, April 28 / 12:00pm – 1:30pm

@ Outdoor Adventure Center, Detroit

Come on out to OAC where you can give archery a try. This 30-minute session will cover the basic steps of shooting, allowing participants to learn how to stand, handle a bow and shoot several arrows. All equipment is provided.

SUPERHERO GYMNASTICS PARTY

Sunday, April 28 / 1:00pm – 3:00pm

@ Canton Leisure Services, Canton

Come dressed as your favorite superhero and join us for a 2-hour gymnastics party! Includes gymnastics obstacle course, bounce house, fun craft and more!

MUSEUM MISCELLANEOUS

Sunday, April 28 / 2:00pm – 4:00pm

@ Lake Erie Metropark, Brownstown

About Katie Cramton

Katie Cramton is a recent graduate of University of Michigan-Dearborn and contributing writer for Little Guide Detroit. Born in Flat Rock, she is no stranger to the Metro=Detroit area.  She loves spending her time with her friends and family, as well as exploring Downtown Detroit.