KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area |
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Fri, May 22: Rapunzel Pajama Party
Sat, May 23: Honoring American Veterans: Opening Weekend | Crossroads Village Huckleberry Railroad
Sun, May 24: Summer Concert Series: Lake St. Clair
Sun, May 24: St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade
Fri, May 29: Milan Community Fair 2026
Sat, Jun 6: Canterbury Village Medieval Faire
Sun, Jun 7: Young Athletes Showcase at The War Memorial
Fri, Jun 12: Lavender U Pick
Sat, Jun 20: Pathways, Petunias, Piglets and Pancakes | Clarkston Family Farm
Sat, Jun 20: Firefly Fun
Sat, Jun 27: Highland's Red, White & Blues Festival + Fireworks |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. So please click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. If you're interested, check out the 2025 list
here to see who won last year. |
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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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Maybury Farm offers outdoor party packages for birthdays, family events, and group gatherings with covered pavilion seating, picnic tables, and a tractor wagon ride through trails. Summer packages (April–Sept) and Fall packages (Sept–Nov with corn maze access) come in small, medium, and large options for 25–75 guests, with extra guests per fee. Events run in 3-hour time blocks on weekends. Full payment and online booking are required and non-refundable. Guests should dress for weather; the farm operates rain or shine unless unsafe. Outside food trucks, alcohol, entertainment, grills, smoking, and electricity are not allowed. Set-up and cleanup are required there.
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Ann Arbor Summer Camps That Actually Keep Kids Engaged (9–5 Full Day) Looking for a summer camp your child will actually love and that solves your day? iCode Ann Arbor offers hands-on tech camps where kids build games, explore robotics, and create with AI—not just play on screens. Camps run 9–5 with small groups, guided instruction, and real projects kids are proud of. Designed for ages 6–15, from beginners to advanced learners. Spots are limited, and families are already enrolling. Right now, save $150 with our Grand Opening offer. View camps and reserve your spot: https://icodeschool.com/ann-arbor-mi/camps/
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Join PYTMI’s Summer Camps for 10 weeks of creativity, confidence, and fun! From musical theatre and improv to storytelling, dance, and design, campers ages 4–18 explore the arts in a welcoming, high-energy environment. Each week ends with a live performance, giving every student a chance to shine. Whether your child is brand new or already loves the stage, PYTMI offers an inspiring space to learn, grow, and make lasting friendships.
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Join us this year for another exciting year of Spark! Camps at the Michigan Science Center. Campers will explore Mi-Sci’s 220+ interactive exhibits, engage in immersive theater experiences, and investigate fascinating science phenomena through hands-on activities and experiments.
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Designed for ages 2-5, Little Paws Toddler Time will keep your tot engaged through stories, crafts, and animal interactions! Each program includes age-appropriate stories, a craft, a tour through our cat area, and an animal meet and greet. $5 fee per child; up to two adults per child may attend free of charge, along with siblings under the age of 1. Pre-registration is required and space is limited to 10 children and two caregivers per child. Available spots do fill up quickly, so be sure to reserve your space by registering online!
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Motor City Comic Con (MC3), which runs each Spring and Fall, is Michigan’s largest and longest running pop culture convention. The event which began in 1989, will be taking place May 15-17, 2026 at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace, previously the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI. Motor City Comic Con is known as one of the premier conventions in the United States and the ultimate destination for all things pop culture, entertainment, and the celebration of creativity.
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The fun doesn’t need to always stop at dark as #MYSHPR illuminates the skate park once a month. Bring your blades, boards, or scooters, roll to some tunes, and enjoy refreshments for purchase from a food truck. Free to attend.
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Join us for free family-friendly outdoor movie nights in Downtown Wyandotte! Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and friends as we turn the old theater lot into an outdoor cinema under the stars.
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Enjoy spring on the farm! Farm Fest is Maybury's spring festival where you can see our new baby animals, learn to plant seeds properly for a successful start to your garden & share fun activities with your family!
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Celebrate Highland’s Pickle-Powered Past at the 2026 Founders' Day Parade & Festival! Presented by the Highland Downtown Development Authority. Get ready to relish a full day of fun as we honor Historic Downtown Highland’s colorful past—this year with a tasty twist: Highland’s Pickle History! From pickle-themed activities to our exciting new addition, the Relish Run/Walk 5K, it’s a celebration you won’t want to miss. The festivities begin at 10 AM with our lively Founders’ Day Parade. Cheer on youth baseball teams, community groups, and local organizations as they march down Livingston Road from the Highland Nazarene Church to John Street—bringing energy, pride, and plenty of community cheer. After the parade, the festival bursts to life with activities for all ages. Kids can dive into the magic of our expanded Kids Zone featuring bounce houses, pony rides, and a petting zoo. Explore handcrafted goods from local artisans, indulge in delicious food truck favorites, hop aboard…
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Experience the power and possibility of Greenfield Village in motion for one special weekend. Historic locomotives lead the way in this hands-on, village-wide celebration where steam, big machines and classic play take center stage for children of all ages. From the first sound of the whistle, unlimited steam and diesel train rides wind through the Village on music-filled journeys designed to spark imagination. Step even closer to the action by pushing a discovery railcar, helping maneuver the historic turntable outside the Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee Roundhouse, sitting in the cab of the 1897 D&LN #7 locomotive and watching a working crane in motion. With special behind-the-scenes access, railroading is brought vividly to life in ways rarely seen.
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The East Lansing Art Festival is proud to continue its 63 year tradition of bringing high quality art to the streets of East Lansing. The East Lansing Art Festival’s mission is to enhance the sense of community and appreciation of art, culture and creativity in East Lansing and the greater Lansing region. This year's event will have nearly 200 fine art artists lining Albert and M.A.C. Avenues. Two full days of performances, artist demonstrations and food trucks.
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Join The Cleanup Club and AboutFaceDetroit as we cleanup Detroit's Little Village neighborhood together! From art galleries and parks to educational and culinary arts programming, Little Village is filled with so many gems to explore - including spots like Collect Beer Bar, Coup D'etat, Father Forgive Me, Warda Pâtisserie - and lots more!
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Kackleberry Farms is excited to announce its first-ever “Little Hooves & Local Goods” event, a free, family-friendly spring festival happening May 16 and 17 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM in Monroe, Michigan, just 30 minutes outside of Detroit & Toledo. This unique two-day event brings together 40+ local vendors, adorable baby farm animals, and fun activities for all ages. Guests can enjoy free admission, free parking, and limited free activities while shopping small, supporting local businesses, and experiencing the charm of the farm in spring. A highlight of the event is the chance to meet and interact with baby goats, chicks, bunnies, and more, offering a memorable hands-on experience for families and animal lovers alike.
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What began as a simple dream has grown into one of the most magical family traditions in our community. Now in our 5th annual year, Princess Palooza brings together 10+ beloved characters for an unforgettable evening where children can step right into their own fairy tale. Hosted in partnership with Indian Creek Zoo and Sarah J. Photography, this one-of-a-kind event allows families to explore the zoo while meeting characters throughout the park. It’s one of the only experiences of its kind where you can meet so many characters in a single magical evening.
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Wild Weekend is back at Heritage Park Petting Farm! Get ready for a fun-filled adventure May 16–17 from 11am–4pm! Bring the whole family out to enjoy a Wild Weekend where you can meet some amazing exotic animals alongside all your favorite friendly farm animals. Come make memories, snap some great photos, and enjoy a day full of animal encounters, fresh air, and family fun. We can’t wait to see you there!
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The FREE mini train rides provided by the Great Lakes Live Steamers are back for the 2026 season. Train rides are free, run from 12pm – 4pm, and available at a first-come, first-served basis. However, donations are greatly appreciated (Venmo is now accepted).
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Put on your old English D and get ready to root for the home team! Get your tickets today for Detroit Tigers home games.
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Experience color, form, and luminosity in an entirely new way at CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens, where vibrant glass installations transform the Gardens — plus an optional indoor gallery experience as well as a guided tour.
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- Wyandotte Movie Night - 102 Elm Street, Wyandotte, MI, Movies start at dusk, Friday, May 15, 2026
- Skate Park at Dark - 40250 Dodge Park Road, Sterling Heights, MI, 8PM - 10PM, Friday, May 15, 2026
- Detroit Hot Wheels Legends Tour - 5851 Mercury Drive, Dearborn, MI 48126, 8AM - 12PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026
- Kids to Parks Day - 21311 Telegraph Road, Brownstown Township, MI, 10AM - 12PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026
- Down on
the Farm at Northville District Library - 212 West Cady Street, Northville, MI 48167, 11AM - 1PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026
- 63rd Annual East Lansing Art Festival - Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI, 10AM - 5PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026 and Sunday, May 17, 2026
- Little Village Detroit Community Cleanup - 9301 Kercheval Avenue, Detroit, MI 48214, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026
- O.A.K in the Hills - 1000 Rochester Hills Drive, Rochester Hills, MI, 11AM - 3PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026
- Wayne County Parks Nature Fest - 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland, MI 48185, 1PM - 3PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Detroit - Ann Arbor - See link for times, Saturday, May 16, 2026 and Sunday, May 17, 2026
- Spring Open House - 6941 Stony Lake Rd, Jackson, MI 49201, 1:00p - 4:00p, Sunday, May 17, 2026
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Ann Arbor - Detroit area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool,
& more. Our guide puts summer fun right at your…
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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