Looking for family fun in Oakland County this winter? Check out these events, parks and places to go!

Events
Mark your calendars for these parties, classes, movies and shows around town.

January

• Kids Chef Cooking Class @ Escape (Troy): Thursday, January 3
• MASCO Free First Friday @ Cranbrook Institute of Science (Bloomfield Hills): Friday, January 4
• Snow Ball Dance @ Friendship Factory (Rochester): Friday, January 4
• Yoga Play Dates with Ms. Kathy @ Franklin Athletic Club (Southfield): January 7 & 21
• Stargazing @ Stage Nature Center (Troy): Friday, January 11
• Detective Training Course @ Friendship Factory (Rochester): Saturday, January 12 
• American Short & Tall Tales @ Berman Center (Bloomfield Twp): Sunday, Jan. 13
• Fire and Ice Festival @ Downtown Rochester: January 18 – 20
• Inside Out @ William Costick Activities Center (Farmington Hills): Friday, January 18
• Family Day – Characters @ Cranbrook Art Museum (Bloomfield Hills): Saturday, January 19
• Family Nature Explorers @ Stage Nature Center (Troy): Saturday, January 19
• Wild Winter @ Detroit Zoo (Royal Oak): Saturday, January 19 & February 2
• Total Eclipse, Total Fun @ Cranbrook Institute of Science (Bloomfield Hills): Sunday, January 20
• Polar Party @ West Bloomfield Recreation Activities Center: Saturday, January 26
• Winter Carnival @ Bear Creek Nature Park (Rochester): Saturday, January 26
• Frozen Themed Cooking Class @ The Townsend (Birmingham): Saturday, January 26
• Winter Fest @ Oak Park Community Center: Sunday, January 27
• Play Dates with Ms. Lori @ Franklin Athletic Club (Southfield): Jan. 28, Feb. 11 & Mar. 25
• The Music Man @ Berman Center For Performing Arts (Bloomfield): Thursday, January 31

February

• Groundhog’s Day Celebration @ Stage Nature Center (Troy): Saturday, February 2
• WLCL Winter Carnival @ White Lake Inn Bay: Saturday, February 2
• Family Discovery Days @ Indian Springs Metropark (White Lake): Saturday, February 2
• Doom of the Dinosaurs @ Cranbrook Institute of Science (Bloomfield Hills): Friday, Feb. 8
• Daddy-Daughter Dance @ William Costick Activities Center (Farmington Hills): February 8 & 9
• Family Nature Explorers @ Stage Nature Center (Troy): Saturday, February 9
• Mother & Son Bowling Party @ Wonderland Lanes (Walled Lake): Saturday, February 9
• Cubs’ Choice Dance @ Detroit Zoo (Royal Oak): Saturday, February 9
• Daddy Daughter Dance @ Ferndale High School: Saturday, February 9
• Barn Dance @ Kensington Metro Park Farm Center (Milford): Saturday, February 9
• Tinkerbell and Peter Pan Party @ Farmington Community Library: Saturday, February 9
• Family Day – Hearts For Arts @ Cranbrook Art Museum (Bloomfield Hills): Saturday, February 9
• Spa Science @ Indian Springs Metropark (White Lake): Sunday, February 10
• Goldfish Swim School Family Night Out (multiple locations): Friday, February 15
• An Enchanted Evening Family Dance (Madison Heights): Friday, February 15
• Farm Traditions @ Kensington Metro Park Farm Center (Milford): Saturday, February 16
• Fairytale Princess Ball @ Meadow Brook Hall (Rochester): Saturday, February 16
• Magic & Illusion of Elliot Zimet @ Berman Center (Bloomfield Township): Sunday, February 17
• Daddy Daughter Dance @ Glen Oaks Golf Course (Farmington Hills): February 20 & 21
• Night Hikes on The Farm @ MSU Tollgate Farm (Novi): Friday, February 22
• Free Throw Contest @ Auburn Hills Community Center: Saturday, February 23
• PBS Kids Live! Really Big Tiny Adventure @ Royal Oak Music Theatre: February 24
• Coco Film and Workshop @ Berman Center (Bloomfield): Sunday, February 24

March

• Pete the Cat @ Meadowbrook Theatre: Saturday, March 2
• Mother Daughter Tea @ Drake Sports Park (West Bloomfield): Sunday, March 3
• Super Brunch @ Gerry Kulick Community Center (Ferndale): Saturday, March 9
• Maple Tapping and Pancake Feast @ MSU Tollgate Farm (Novi): Saturday, March 9
• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration @ Kensington Metro Park (Milford): Sunday, March 17
• The Little Mermaid Film & Workshop  Berman Center (Bloomfield): Sunday, March 24
• One Starry Night @ Heritage Park (Farmington): Saturday, March 30
• Mother Daughter Princess Tea @ The Longacre House (Farmington Hills): Sunday, March 31

Parks & Recreation
Get out the house and enjoy the fresh air at these local parks. Don’t forget to bring your skis and a sled for snowy fun.

• Indian Springs Metropark – 5200 Indian Trail, White Lake, MI 48386 
  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Sledding
• Kensington Metropark – 4570 Huron River Parkway, Milford, MI 48380 
  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Ice Skating
  • Sledding
• Holly Recreation Area – 8100 Grange Hall Road, Holly MI, 48442
  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
• Seven Lakes State Park – 14390 Fish Lake Road, Holly MI, 48442
  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
• Highland Recreation Area – 5200 Highland Road, White Lake MI, 48383
  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
• Pontiac Lake Recreation Area – 7800 Gale Road, Waterford MI, 48327
  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
• Proud Lake Recreation Area – 3500 N. Wixom Road, Commerce Twp. MI, 48382
  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing

Local Sledding Hills

• Beverly Hills Village Park (Beverly Hills)
• Booth Park Sled Hill (Birmingham)
• Lincoln Hills Golf Course (Birmingham)
• Shiawassee Park (Farmington)
• Heritage Park Sled Hill (Farmington)
• Civic Center Park  (Madison Heights)
• Shepherd Park/Hamilton Hill (Oak Park)
• Lost Lake Nature Park (Oakland)
• Jesse Decker Park Sled Hill (Orion)
• Bloomer Park Sled Hill (Rochester)
• Borden Park (Rochester Hills)
• Waterford Oaks (Waterford)
• Marshbank Park (West Bloomfield)

Hit the Ice Rink
Strap on some skate and don’t forget your mittens as you take laps around the rink.

• Suburban Ice (Farmington Hils, Novi, Rochester & Royal Oak)
• Birmingham Ice Arena (Birmingham)
• Farmington Hills Ice Arena (Farmington Hills)
• Troy Sports Center (Troy)
• Detroit Skating Club (Bloomfield Hills)

Ski Resorts
You don’t need to go Up North for ski slopes, here are some local resorts.

Pine Knob (Clarkston)
Address: 7778 Sashabaw Road, Clarkston, MI, 48348
Whether you are a beginner or expert, Pine Knob is the place to enjoy the slopes with friends and family. Check out have alpine and snowboard rentals, get lessons by certified instructors for all ages and hit the hills. Pine Knob is 300ft vertical with 17 runs and 3 terrain parks. The resort offers 2 world-famous Wonder Carpets, 100ft and 300ft, 6 chairlifts and 4 tow ropes.

Alpine Valley (White Lake)
Address: 6775 Highland Rd, White Lake, MI, 48383
Alpine Valley offers beautiful surroundings including 25 picturesque tree-lined slopes, 9 chairlifts, 4 rope tows and a magic carpet.  Freestyle skiers and snowboards will enjoy four different styles of terrain parks designed for all ability levels.   A skier/boarder cross track is open to the public so test your skills or race your friends!   Bring the whole family and enjoy the largest and most scenic ski area in southern Michigan right at your own back door.

Mt Holly (Holly)
Address: 13536 Dixie Hwy, Holly, MI, 48442
For 60 years Mt Holly has served as a local ski destination. Find everything you need, 7 chairlifts including Southeastern Michigan’s only High-Speed detachable quad, 4 rope tows, and two SunKid Wonder Carpets. Kick back and relax on a 4,200 square foot heated paver patio and centered fire pit or explore one of 19 trails ranging from beginner to advanced in difficulty, and 3 Snowboard Parks with an assortment of terrain features.

Get Out the House & Stay Indoors
Avoid cabin fever and let the kids burn off some extra energy at these local attractions.

• Escape (Troy)
• Legacy 925 (Oxford)
• Detroit Kid City (Southfield)
• Rochester Play (Rochester)
• JD Racing Indoor Karting (Novi)
• Nature’s Playhouse (Ferndale)
• SEA LIFE Michigan and LEGOLAND Discovery Center (Auburn Hills) 
• Whirlyball (Novi)

Visit A Museum
Learn something new and have fun at a museum.

• Detroit Zoo – 8450 W 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI, 48067
• Cranbrook Institute of Science – 39221 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills, 48304
• Cranbrook Art Museum –  39221 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303
• Holocaust Memorial Center– 28123 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, MI, 48334

Photo credit: Facebook

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