KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area |
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Sat, Jan 24: Mozart & Beethoven at Hill Auditorium
Sun, Jan 25: Minnie’s Pajama Party at United Skates Lincoln Park
Fri, Jan 30: Annual Plymouth Ice Festival
Fri, Feb 6: Jurassic Quest x Brick Fest Live @ Dayton Convention Center
Fri, Feb 6: Mario Kart Live - Saline
Recreation Center
Thu, Feb 12: Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ at Campus Martius Park
Sat, Feb 14: Valentine Day Celebration at Maybury Farm
Sat, Feb 21: Daddy Daughter Valentine Ball - Saline Recreation
Center
Sat, Mar 7: American Girl Tea Party - Saline Recreation Center
Sat, Mar 14: Imagined Worlds:
Debussy, Chin & Mahler at Hill Auditorium |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
If it weren’t for a Polish pastry, I might not exist. When my great-grandmother Karolina Stelmach was a teenager in a small village in Poland, she was told she’d be entering an arranged marriage. But her heart belonged to Sylvester Nowakowski. So she left... on her own, by boat... and made her way to America. She found work in a restaurant, where she made her
family’s signature dessert: chrusciki. One day, a “distinguished gentleman” insisted on meeting the pastry chef, and he offered her a better-paying job in his own kitchen. She took it, saved enough to bring Sylvester over, and they married. Which means if chrusciki didn’t exist, neither would I. Stories like this do more than entertain. According to psychologist Robyn Fivush, interviewed on a recent episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, they help kids develop identity,
resilience, and self-worth. The more children know about their family’s past—not just the “big” stories like crossing oceans, but even the day-to-day moments and struggles—the more connected and grounded they become. Fivush and her colleagues at Emory University found that kids who know more family stories have higher self-esteem, greater emotional understanding, and a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. But it’s not just the information that matters...it’s the telling. When we sit down and
share what came before, we help kids feel like they’re part of something bigger, and that they belong. No AI can replicate that. A chatbot can write a story, sure. But it can’t tell your kids how Grandma’s meatloaf could’ve doubled as a construction material, or how two little girls in the 1950s turned a couple of ice cream cones into a front-porch endurance contest. So this year, make a point of telling your kids about your family's shared history: about
mistakes, about perseverance, about love, about dessert. Connection doesn’t have to be complicated: Just pull up a chair, pass the cookies, and pass down the stories.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
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Drop your kids off at Champion and enjoy a date night with your honey! This event happens once a month, on Friday’s 6:00-8:00pm! Registration is $25 per child. Ages 5 and up! We provide pizza, a bag of chips, a plastic water bottle and all the FUN! Please bring your child an extra change of clothes because accidents happen. Register on the Customer Portal!
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Bring your Nerf blaster and gear up for the ultimate showdown at our award-winning Nerf Wars event! Join us for an evening filled with fun, friendly competition, and adrenaline-pumping action. Whether you're a seasoned Nerf warrior or a first-time participant, this event promises excitement for everyone! Do not bring darts, we have plenty!
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Winter fun returns to Downtown Rochester as the beloved Fire & Ice Festival makes its highly anticipated comeback on Friday and Saturday, January 16 & 17, 2026. Families and visitors of all ages are invited to bundle up and experience two days of frosty fun, thrilling attractions, and entertainment during this beloved winter tradition, proudly sponsored by Chief Financial Credit Union.
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Bundle up and bring the family for a weekend of frosty fun in Downtown Tecumseh! Wander the streets and marvel at over 40 dazzling ice sculptures, each one a unique work of art. On Saturday, January 17, don’t miss the excitement of the Dueling Carvers Competitions at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM at the corner of Chicago Blvd. and S. Evans Street. The twist? You get to choose what the artists carve — and vote for the winner! Plus, enjoy live carving demonstrations happening throughout the day.
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Come out and experience a lineup of new products, emerging technology, and increased hands-on experiences in the city that started it all. The 2026 Detroit Auto Show brings together a full slate of major automotive brands, immersive indoor tracks, the debut of the Michigan Overland Adventure and Visit Detroit Interactive Experience, and the return of The Gallery with ultra-luxury vehicles. Join us January 14-25, 2026 at Huntington Place. Tickets are on sale now!
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Welcome to the Carden International Circus! Our Circus family cannot wait for you to plan a spectacular outing of family fun at our 2025 Spectacular NEW Show! We want to invite YOU to be our guest and revisit the magical memories of your childhood, while creating new ones with your own kids that will last a lifetime. There will be breathtaking stunts, an AWESOME pre-show with animal rides & activities and unforgettable moments that will leave everyone in awe.
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We're bringing the heart of Germany to Michigan with a lively celebration featuring everything you love about Bavarian culture—DIY Sauerkraut Workshops, delicious food, refreshing drinks, lively music, and exciting entertainment. Whether you're a Bavarian culture enthusiast or just looking for a fun, family-friendly event, Blake's Bavarian Winterfest has something for everyone. Wear your finest dirndl or lederhosen, and come celebrate with us at Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill.
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Join us as we celebrate all things Owl, during this festival-style event. Enjoy an evening of owl-related crafts, Owl Prowl hikes in search of Screech Owls, owl pellet dissection and more Lake Erie Metropark is home to other species of owls in winter; so you never know “HOO” might show up. Don’t miss this exciting owl-themed event!
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Start saving your cardboard to design a vehicle or sled made of only reused cardboard, duct tape, and paint to race down the hill at Mt. Brighton! Spectators welcome! Join the fun with music, giveaways, outdoor food and bar, and more. Spectator waivers/passes will be available at no cost.
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Every Saturday and Sunday includes Sledding with free sleds to borrow in the Sled Shed, Oversized bonfires and marshmallow roasters (lit 12-7 p.m.), Curling, Board Games inside the Shed, Riverfront Ambassadors with free activity pages, hand warmers, and gloves, Drinks and s’mores at the Valade Shed Bar (12-8 p.m.), and Food from Smokey G’s (12-7 p.m.)
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Get ready for the ultimate gaming & skating adventure because Mario is coming to United Skates! That’s right — your favorite hero in red is bringing UNLIMITED GAME PLAY and tons of fun to your Sunday! Join us for a high-energy afternoon packed with skating, games, and character fun the whole family will love.
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Dearborn Wanderlights, a new city tradition blending public art and holiday celebration, will make its inaugural debut at PEACE Park West from Nov. 20, 2025 - Feb. 20, 2026. This free, family-friendly experience will span three months and feature three world-class, interactive light installations from artists across the globe.
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For ages 3-5. Join us for stories, action rhymes, songs, and a surprise or two along the way! Children will go home with a small take-and-make craft. No registration required.
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Monday - Thursday 8:30-10:00 AM Saturday from 1:00-2:00 PM $10 per child ALL children must be accompanied by an Adult. Remember, open gym is not a time to learn new gymnastics skills. Coaches are present to monitor safety, not spot or provide coaching during this time. If you are using equipment, please put it back where you found it. We must take care of our equipment so we can keep offering this fun experience to all of our wonderful families! Please register on the Customer Portal.
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- Fire & Ice Festival 2026 - Downtown Collaboration Studio, South Main Street, Rochester, MI, Friday, January 16 - Saturday, January 17, Friday, January 16, 5:00 - 9:00 pm Saturday, January 17, 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
- Tecumseh's Annual Ice Sculpture Festival - City of Tecumseh, 309 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh, MI, Fri. Jan 16 - Sat. Jan 17, 10am - 5pm
- Baby Playgroups at Ann Arbor District Library Downtown - Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S 5th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 01/16/2026, 10:30 - 11:30AM
- 2026 Dexter Ice Fest - Dexter Area Chamber-Commerce, Broad Street, Dexter, MI, 01/17/2026, 10AM
- FREE-ORIGINAL STRENGTH RESETS CLINIC - Huron Valley Aikikai, Federal Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI, 01/17/2026, 2:00PM
- Winter Party and Friend's Craft Show - Mount Clemens Public Library - Mount Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass Avenue, Mount Clemens, MI, 01/17/2026, 10AM - 2PM
- Artist Trading Cards (ATC) Tea and Trade -
Art Works! Studio LLC, 127 E Walled Lake Dr, Walled Lake, MI, 01/18/2026, 1 -2 PM
- Dearborn Wonderlights - Dearborn Peace Park West, West Village Drive, Dearborn, MI, Fri. Jan 16 - Sun. Jan 18, 5:30P:M
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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships. If the
information above changes or if there are venues that should be added, please email us, and we'll help get those posted!
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Dallas area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens of ideas!
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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Detroit Metro Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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