KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area |
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Fri, Feb 6: Jurassic Quest x Brick Fest Live @ Dayton Convention Center
Fri, Feb 6: Mario Kart Live - Saline Recreation Center
Sat, Feb 7: TechKnowKids: Candy Lab at Harrison Public Library
Fri, Feb 13: Kids Take & Make: Valentine's Day Picture Frame at Harrison Public Library
Sat, Feb 14: Lunar Love with Danny Koo: A Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Celebration
Sat, Feb 14: Fireworks and Flannels - A Cozy Night Out at Waterford Oaks
Sat, Feb 21: Daddy Daughter
Valentine Ball - Saline Recreation Center
Sun, Mar 1: Fool U! FoolMoon Luminary Making Workshop Series
Sat, Mar 14: Puppet Festival Mississauga at Crane Creations Theatre Company
Sat, Mar 14: Imagined Worlds: Debussy, Chin
& Mahler at Hill Auditorium |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When Madison and Ella were young, I made it a point to stretch their comfort zones in small, manageable ways. They’d order their own food at restaurants, they'd arrange their own homeschool work schedules, they'd try activities where they didn’t know anyone. I did my best not to step in unless invited. Over time, they started trusting their own ability to
navigate the world without me. That, of course, was the point. But the better they got at being independent, the more I started to feel a quiet kind of discomfort. They were moving outward—into the world, into themselves—and I could feel the shift. There’s a concept in astrophysics called red shift. When a star or galaxy moves away from us, the light it emits stretches, shifting toward the red end of the spectrum. The farther away it moves, the redder the
light appears. It’s how we know the universe is expanding. The movement doesn’t mean the light is gone—just that it’s arriving to us in a new form, from farther away. I think about that a lot as my kids are no longer orbiting so closely. I still see their light; it just looks different now. I’m learning to recognize their new wavelengths. The trick, I think, is not to see red shift as loss, but as evidence of motion. The fact that I feel the stretch means the universe is doing
what it’s supposed to do: expanding, evolving, moving outward. I remind myself that this kind of shift is a mark of success. Increased wavelength, decreased frequency... it's all part of the natural order of things. Light travels and stretches, and love does, too.
—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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Enjoy a little of a lot of things in this program. We will have a brief PowerPoint about deer, meet a couple of the animals that live in the center, try one of our program activities, and go on a tour of the museum. You will be shocked how much history comes to life at Nankin Mills!
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Synchronized stiff-bristle brooms become a sweeping orchestra, eight Zippo lighters flip open and closed to create a fiery fugue; wooden poles thump and clack in a rhythmic explosion. STOMP uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – dustbins, suitcases, radiator hoses, boots, hub caps – to fill the stage with a compelling and unique act that is often imitated but never duplicated. STOMP, the international percussion sensation, comes to the Fox Theatre for three performances on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. as part of the 2025-26 Fox Theatre Series presented by Comerica Bank.
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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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Dew After Dark is bringing back the fun! DJ, Rail Jam, glow sticks, giveaways, and more. Resort will be open until 10pm! Sponsored mt Dew After Dark/Mtn Dew. Learn more about our Jail Jam, below!
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2025 GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann joins the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra to perform Mozart’s agile and elegant Piano Concerto No. 23 in a concert that takes place days before the composer’s 270th birthday.
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See and touch fossils from Michigan’s frozen past. Compare the sizes and lifestyles of these cold-tolerant mammals as you get to know them. Delve into exciting research with DNA studies and replication that may reveal some ice-age genes in action today. This program is suitable for ages 8+. Cost is $5/person.
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Stop by for music, photocard decorating, bracelet making, and trivia inspired by everyone’s favorite hunters. Come show the library how it’s done, done, done! Kids and teens welcome! There's no need to book your place for this event. Just meet us at Mount Clemens Public Library.
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She’s had a long vacation, and now Barbie is ready to roll into United Skates for a super fun, pink-filled afternoon! Don’t miss your chance to meet Barbie in person and celebrate in style. Skate, take photos, and enjoy a magical experience for the whole family!
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We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The Open House for the 2026-2027 school year will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
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Get ready to roll into a Sunday Funday like no other! Join us at United Skates for a pajama-themed skating adventure with Minnie Mouse herself. Come dressed in your favorite PJs and skate the afternoon away with fun, music, and lots of smiles! Bring the kids, bring the family, and get ready to skate, giggle, and enjoy a magical Minnie Mouse Sunday Funday!
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You voted us an Ann Arbor Favorite, so we’re celebrating the only way that makes sense — a Thank You party with free chocolate! Get FREE chocolate with every purchase as a thank-you for supporting our shop.
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Come take advantage of the library’s amazing board game collection, learn a new game, and connect with your family and the community at our Family Board Game events. Staff will be on hand to explain the rules and guide the fun, and all games will be available for checkout after the event. Ages 8+.
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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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- 'Show Your Patterns' K-Pop Drop-In - Mount Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass Avenue, Mount Clemens, MI 48043, Friday, January 24, 2026, 11:00AM - 1:00PM
- Free Chocolate at MilkShake
Factory - MilkShake Factory, Saturday, January 25, 2026, 11:30am - 10pm
- Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School Open
House - Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School, Raphael, Farmington, MI, Saturday, January 25, 2026, 12:30pm - 2:00pm
- Dearborn Wonderlights - Dearborn Peace Park West, West Village Drive, Dearborn, MI, Friday, January 24 - Sunday, January 26, 2026, 5:30PM
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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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