Top things to do with KIDS this weekend: February 1-3

Children girls having fun in winter riding ice slide

Okay dads, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to take your princess to the ball – Daddy-Daughter Dance season has officially begun!

ALL WEEKEND

SESAME STREET LIVE! MAKE YOUR MAGIC

Thursday, January 24 – Saturday, February 2

@ Fox Theatre, Detroit

Everyone’s invited on an amazing journey with Elmo to discover the “power of yet” in Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic. Building on a successful tour with Feld Entertainment’s inaugural Sesame Street Live! show last season in partnership with the non-profit educational organization Sesame Workshop, this production features favorite Sesame Street pals Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and more in a brand-new, magical adventure live on stage. Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic visits Detroit from 16 performances at the Fox Theatre from Thursday, January 24 to Saturday, February 2.

SUPER GROOVY DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE

Friday, February 1 & Saturday, February 2

@ Novi Civic Center

Wear your finest dancing clothes and enjoy tasty appetizers, desserts, and plenty of fun on the dance floor. Come join us a Super Groovy Daddy Daughter Dance. Remember your special evening with a keepsake sterling silver charm from Larson Jewelry and corsage; both sold separately.

IVORY WILLIAMS: STORIES… STORIES… STORIES: JUST WHAT ARE STORIES?

Saturday, February 2 & Sunday, February 3

@ Detroit Institute of Arts

Interweaving his stories with humor, wit and fun, Master Storyteller Ivory D. Williams explores the meaning and power of stories and their importance within the African American community. A highly interactive, entertaining and educational storytelling presentation using props and instruments will engage audiences with upbeat and positive messages and leave listeners, young and old, feeling the rhythm of the story.

BLOOMFIELD WINTER PARK

Saturday, February 2 & Sunday, February 3

@ Charles L. Bowers School Farm, Bloomfield Hills

Bloomfield Winter Park is a revitalization of the Farm Activity Building on the property of the Bowers School Farm! There will be activities and programs planned each day the Winter Park is open, along with concession items available for purchase. If the winter weather is favorable, we are planning on sledding and ice skating (bring your own sled & ice skates).

THE MUSIC MAN

Saturday, February 2 & Sunday, February 3

@ Berman Center For Performing Arts, Bloomfield Township

There’s trouble in River City when a fast-talking salesman gets his heart stolen by the town librarian. By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is family entertainment at its best. Meredith Willson’s six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation.

FRIDAY

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY AT THE HENRY FORD

Friday, February 1 / 9:30 am – 5:00 pm

@ Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn

Delve into African-American history through interactive presentations, music and food. From the northern migration, and the beginnings of jazz to the civil rights movement and today, explore familiar stories and discover stories new to you.

DROP-IN PLAY

Friday, February 1 / 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

@ Nature’s Playhouse, Ferndale

We 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. All ages.

SATURDAY

WINTER SURVIVAL MINI CAMP

Saturday, February 2 / 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

@ Wint Nature Center, Clarkston

Do your kids get cabin fever in the winter? Get them out of the house by bringing them to our Winter Survival Camp. With staff naturalists, kids will learn to construct a shelter, build a fire and find their way through a snowy wilderness. Each child will also make a survival bracelet to take home. Hot chocolate and snacks are provided. Program is suitable for children ages 9 and older.

NATURE STORY TIME: ANIMALS IN WINTER

Saturday, February 2 / 9:00 am – 10:00 am

@ Hudson Mills Metropark, Dexter

Looking for a fun way to spend a chilly morning with your kids? Bring them to the Hudson Mills Metropark Activity Center for this month’s story time. Cozy up near our wood-burning stove to hear a story about animals in winter, and then make a craft to explore the secrets of animal survival in our cold Michigan winters. Nature Story Time presents a new nature program every month. Ages 4-7.

WILD WINTER

Saturday, February 2 / 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

@ Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak

Embrace the winter weather this season during our Wild Winter weekends at the Detroit Zoo. Wild Winter is a fun way to experience the magic of the Zoo in winter. Enjoy your favorite habitats indoors and out along with special activities, zookeeper talks, crafts and more.

KIDS CRAFTY SATURDAYS

Saturday, February 2 / 10:00 am – 11:00 am

@ Van Buren Township Parks and Recreation

Take a break and just create! 10:00 am – 11:00 am! Drop-in first Saturday of the month to make an awesome craft!

MAKE SOMETHING: SATURDAYS

Saturday, February 2 / 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

@ Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn

Motivate your kids to be the next great inventors or entrepreneurs with stories of past and present-day change makers at this weekly program in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Explore the innovations — big and small — that make the world what it is today, and learn by doing with hands-on, minds-on activities designed for youth ages 8 – 12.

EXPLORER’S CLUB: MAPLE SUGARING

Saturday, February 2 / 10:00 am – 11:00 am

@ Oakwoods Metropark, New Boston

Join us each month to explore a new topic. This month we will explore maple sugaring. Learn about the history of maple sugaring, the process to make syrup and even get a taste of the sweet stuff too! Ages 6 and up.

EXPLORATION SATURDAY – GROUNDHOG’S DAY

Saturday, February 2 / 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

@ Palmer Park, Detroit

Join Exploration Saturdays at The DEN in Palmer Park! All activities are free and open to the public!

FAMILY DISCOVERY DAYS

Saturday, February 2 / 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

@ Indian Springs Metropark, White Lake

Winter is a great time to look for animal tracks! Start inside where we’ll see some furs and bones that represent the animals who live at the park. Then we’ll head out on a winter hike where we will look for signs of these animals. In honor of the day, we’ll even talk about groundhogs! Dress for the weather, rain or shine. All ages. $10 per family

FAMILY ART STUDIO: FANTASTICAL REALITIES

Saturday, February 2 / 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

@ University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor

Construct an impossible but believable story in the manner of Patrick Nagatani’s imaginative photographs featured in the UMMA exhibition of his work Proof: The Rioichi Excavations. In this workshop, we will create fantastical stories through collaging found images. We will explore the meaning that is implied when images of living forms, objects, and other things that could not have met in the same place and time, meet in your work. UMMA docents will lead a tour of the exhibition, followed by a hands-on workshop with local artist Adrian Deva. Designed for families with children of ages six and above. Parents must be present during the workshop.

SPANISH PARA NIÑOS

Saturday, February 2 / 11:30 am – 12:15 pm

@ 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!

GROUNDHOG’S DAY CELEBRATION!

Saturday, February 2 / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

@ Stage Nature Center, Troy

Did the groundhog see his shadow today? Will winter last six more weeks? Join us and find out the groundhog’s weather prediction. We will learn about groundhogs and winter, participate in a hike and other fun activities, make a craft and enjoy a snack.

DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE

Saturday, February 2 / 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm & 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

@ Livonia Elk’s Lodge

Dads, treat your daughters to a special evening out on the town. Dances will take place from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Boogie down to our awesome DJ. Souvenir photos, snacks and refreshments are all part of the fun. Tickets are $8 per person for residents, $12 per person for non-residents and are available at the Kirksey Recreation Center.

FAIRY TALES & FORECASTING

Saturday, February 2 / 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

@ Lake Erie Metropark, Brownstown

Woodchucks (aka whistle pigs) don’t really know anything about the weather. They are, however, part of a long list of animals that have been used for winter forecasting. Let’s learn a bit of the natural and un-natural history of animal “weather wisdom” and come up with an end of winter forecast of our own.

WEATHER WITH THE WOODCHUCKS

Saturday, February 2 / 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

@ Oakwoods Metropark, New Boston

It’s Groundhogs Day! Did he see his shadow? What does that mean? Join us for a look at the Groundhog and his legendary rise to weather-forecasting fame.

DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE

Saturday, February 2 / 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

@ Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, Dearborn

Daddy Daughter Dance annual event with this year’s theme “This is The Greatest Show”. Daddys and daughters, age 12 and under are invited to join us for this elegant affair. We will host two Daddy-Daughter Dances on February 2, 2019 at 3:00pm and 6:00pm in our Hubbard Ballroom. Event will feature music, pizza, cotton candy, beverages and keepsakes for your daughters.

WLCL WINTER CARNIVAL

Saturday, February 2 / 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm

@ White Lake Inn Bay

Enjoy a broomball tournament, food, ice carving demonstrations, games on the ice, activities for children, and FIREWORKS!

FEBRUARY FLICKS: WONDER

Saturday, February 2 / 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

@ Beacon Park, Detroit

Lights! Camera! Action! February Flicks returns to Beacon Park Detroit featuring a fantastic lineup of free double feature films and programming for the whole family to enjoy every Saturday, inside the heated tent! Wonder: Based on the New York Times bestseller, this movie tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.

DETROIT PISTONS HOME GAME

Saturday, February 2 / 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

@ Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

Get ready for some DEEEETROIT Basketball! Cheer on Griffin, Drummond and the rest of the Pistons at Little Ceasars arena.

NIGHT HIKE & BONFIRE AND S’MORES

Saturday, February 2 / 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

@ Oakwoods Metropark, New Boston

Join us for a night hike and then we will gather around the bonfire for some S’mores to tell tales about animals, people and places from the area. We will also enjoy the tasty bonfire treat, s’mores. Dress for the weather.

GLOW SKATE

Saturday, February 2 / 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

@ Riley Skate Park, Farmington Hills

Music, lights, warming fire, s’mores and prizes. $5 a person or $20 per family. Riley Park Ice Rink does not have skate rentals. We have about 40 pairs of skates on hand to borrow on a first-come-first-serve basis.

SUNDAY

FREE FAMILY FUN! GALLERY ADVENTURES

Sunday, February 3 / 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.

CHICKADEE CHOWDOWN

Sunday, February 3 / 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

@ Kensington Metropark, Milford

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience you can have no place else. At Kensington Metropark Nature Center, a variety of winter songbirds will eagerly fly to your hand for seeds. Learn about why this happens and how to recognize the birds you’ll see during this one-hour program. Then take a short-guided walk along the nature trails to meet your new feathered friends. We’ll provide all the seed you’ll need, but you might want to bring your camera.

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

Find Winter Favorites HERE! Check out these ideas for how to enjoy these snowy days.

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.