Take advantage of your weekends and plan something fun for the whole family to enjoy! Explore somewhere different, take a class or enjoy a local festival. Here’s our top picks for what to do and where to go this weekend!

ALL WEEKEND

THE BIG BOUNCE AMERICA

Friday, August 3 – Sunday, August 5

@ Steffens Park, Fraser

Drop the cellphones, step away from the TV and spend some quality time with FAMILY & FRIENDS at THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BOUNCE HOUSE! This magical, candy-colored inflatable castle is 10,000 square feet of fun, games and laughter that can be enjoyed by all ages.

DEARBORN HOMECOMING

Friday, August 3 – Sunday, August 5

@ Ford Field, Dearborn

Dearborn’s 39th Annual Homecoming Celebration will take place August 3-5 at Ford Field in west Dearborn and will feature a variety of food options, wacky contests, live entertainment, free organized activities for kids, carnival rides and of course, fireworks.

6TH ANNUAL SIDEWALK FESTIVAL

Friday, August 3 – Saturday, August 4

@ 17336 Lahser Rd, Detroit

Over the course of 2 days, Sidewalk Festival invites artists and guests to check out the art in alleys, storefronts, sidewalks, parking lots, the roofless warehouses of Artist Village and the street itself.

BELLE ISLE ART FAIR

Saturday, August 4 – Sunday, August 5

@ Belle Isle State Park, Detroit

Come experience the juried fine art fair next to the famous fountain on Belle Isle in Detroit. Paintings, sculpture, prints, functional & decorative art create a fun environment for families to explore and appreciate art!

FRIDAY

READING AND RHYTHM ON THE RIVERFRONT

Friday, August 3 / 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

@ Detroit Riverfront

Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront is the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy’s interactive early literacy program that provides live children’s entertainment, a story read by a local community leader and kids receive a free book, as well as a ride on the lovely Cullen Family Carousel.

SUMMER LUAU

Friday, August 3 / 11:00 am – 7:30 pm

@ Troy Family Aquatic Center

Aloha! The Aquatic Center is throwing a luau party. So wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt or grass skirt and join us for games, splashes, and limbo with staff. Free lei gear with admission for kids.

OH MY CUPCAKE DECORATING CLASS

Friday, August 3 / 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

@ Friendship Factory, Rochester

Learn how to make a cupcake recipe, different piping techniques and instruction on decorating cupcakes with the owner of a local cookie company, Ashli’s Sweet Blessings. Each baker will practice on three cupcakes to take home plus receive the delicious buttercream recipe!

NATURE ROOM OPEN HOURS

Friday, August 3 / 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

@ West Bloomfield Recreation Activities Center

The Nature Room features a variety of educational, hands-on action stations that will have you and your family learning about all the wonderful aspects of nature right here in West Bloomfield.

MOVIE IN THE PARK – PETER RABBIT

Friday, August 3 / 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

@ Sibley Square Park, Wixom

Bring your chairs or blankets for a fun filled night. Inflatables and crafts start at 6:30pm and movie starts at dusk.

MOVIE IN THE PARK: GOOSEBUMPS

Friday, August 3 / 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

@ New Center Park, Detroit

Grab a park chair or spread your blanket on the lawn and enjoy this mix of old and new films in the open-air. Tonight’s movie is Goosebumps!

SATURDAY

KIDS YOGA

Saturday, August 4 / 9:00 am – 10:00 am

@ Palmer Park, Detroit

Andrea Barterian from The Zen Zone is hosting a yoga class for kids ages 5-12 years old. These classes will be held across the lawn from (but within view of) our regular yoga classes, at the same time. Each child should bring a yoga mat or towel.

KIDS SUMMER COOKING CLASSES

Saturday, August 4 / 10:00 am – 11:30 am

@ Eastern Market Shed 5, Detroit

Classes are $15 each – reserve your tickets early as classes fill up quickly! Tuesday Market’s classes have their own summer-long curriculum associated with them while Saturday is a bit more a la carte style.

DARING DAY FOR GIRLS

Saturday, August 4 / 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

@ Kensington Metropark, Milford

Build a survival hut, get lost (and un-lost) in a swamp, make natural noise-makers, learn how to survive a bear attack, how to identify poisonous plants and snakes, and more!  Girls will have fun learning real wilderness survival skills. Ages 8 and older.

THE SCIENCE OF SOUND

Saturday, August 4 / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

@ Stony Creek Nature Center, Shelby Township

Discover how creatures hear compared to people!  Make “deer ears” and various noise-makers to imitate wildlife.  Ages 5 and up. Payment is due at time of registration.

FAMILY COMIC BOOK DAY

Saturday, August 4 / 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

@ Detroit Institute of Arts

The creative staff at Vault of Midnight invite the whole family to explore the iconic nature of the comic arts. Local comic artists will display their works as well as lead participants new to the comic arts in developing their own characters and panels or help budding artists with stories in progress.

POLLINATOR PALOOZA

Saturday, August 4 / 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

@ Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, Grosse Pointe Shores

Discover what’s the buzz at Pollinator Palooza! Bring the family to Ford House for a day of fun hands-on activities and demonstrations to explore the world of bees, bugs, birds and butterflies.

MOVIES IN THE MOONLIGHT – DESPICABLE ME 3

Saturday, August 4 / 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm

@ Downtown Rochester

Movies in the Moonlight takes place in the parking lot at E. Third & Water St, one block east of Main. Featured movies begin at dusk (approximately 9:15 pm) and pre-shows start at 8:30 pm.

SUNDAY

TROY TRAFFIC JAM CLASSIC CAR SHOW

Sunday, August 5 / 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

@ Columbia Center, Troy

Join us at the Troy Traffic Jam Classic Car Show on the beautiful grounds of the Columbia Center for a free, fun, and family-friendly event. See over 200 classic cars, hot rods, muscle cars, and specialty vehicles.

DARING DAY FOR BOYS

Sunday, August 5 / 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

@ Kensington Metropark, Milford

Build a survival hut, get lost (and un-lost) in a swamp, make natural noise-makers, learn how to survive a bear attack, how to identify poisonous plants and snakes, and more!  Boys will have fun learning real wilderness survival skills. Ages 8 and older.

KIDS OPEN STUDIO

Sunday, August 5 / 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

@ BohoModern Studio, Detroit

Join for Kids Open Studio where kids and parents will have access to paper, scraps, markers, crayons, glue, and other art supplies to freely create! Kids of all ages welcome.

FAMILY FUN DAY / BEACON PARK

Sunday, August 5 / 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

@ Beacon Park, Detroit

Sundays equal Family Fun Days at Beacon Park! This wildly popular program offers four hours of free, themed activities for all ages. From putt putt golf and face painting, to inflatables and crafts, the options are endless.

PROFESSOR RAY’S EVERYDAY SCIENCE: LUMINOSITY

Sunday, August 5 / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

@ Ann Arbor Hands On Museum

How will energy and electricity be transformed into light? Let’s learn about mechanical, chemical and heat energy while we see a soda fluoresce and a pickle light up! Interactive demos at 1:00 and 3:00 in the Legacy Gallery.

BASE BALL 1867 STYLE

Sunday, August 5 / 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

@ Greenfield Village, Dearborn

Take your peanuts and Cracker Jack to 1867 as the Greenfield Village Lah-De-Dahs play by early base ball rules. No gloves and no Major League contracts. Live music on select days.

KIDS’ LAB: THE PHUN FACTOR

Sunday, August 5 / 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

@ Michigan Science Center, Detroit

Lemons and vinegar …. bananas and baking soda … what do these seemingly weird pairings have in common? Come explore the pH scale using two very different methods in our Centennial Lab. Do you have a nose for chemistry?

For MORE EVENTS happening this weekend, please check out our full EVENT CALENDAR!

Summer is HERE! Check out these ideas for how to enjoy the long days and warm nights.

• 5 Beaches the Kids Will Love in Metro Detroit
• Family Guide to Free Outdoor Movies in Metro Detroit
• Guide to Metro Detroit Farmers Markets, Splash Parks + Waterparks

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