KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area |
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Fri, Jun 5: St. Frances Cabrini Festival 2025
Sat, Jun 6: Detroit's Palmer Park Art Fair
Sun, Jun 7: Brownstown Youth Fishing Derby
Sun, Jun 7: The Call for Independence:
America at 250!
Thu, Jun 11: Lavender U Pick
Fri, Jun 12: Taylor Recreation Friday Family Fun Days
Sat, Jun 13: Mom 2 Mom Sale at Southfield Pavilion
Sat, Jun 13: Juneteenth Celebration 2026 at Leanna Hicks Public
Library
Fri, Jun 19: Bank of Ann Arbor Music in the Air Friday Night Concerts
Fri, Jun 19: Emagine Summer Kids
Series
Sat, Jun 20: Drop-in Father's Day Cards at TPL
Fri, Jun 19: 20th Annual Hamburg Family Fun Fest
Sun, Jun 21: Motor Muster in Greenfield Village Sat, Jun 27: Highland's Red, White & Blues Festival + Fireworks
Sun, Jun
28: 41st Annual Michigan Challenge Balloonfest
Sun, Jun 28: Livonia Spree 2026 Sat, Jul 4: Salute to America in Greenfield Village
Sun, Jul 5: Salute to America in Greenfield Village Sat, Jul 11: Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad Jurassic Weekend
Sat, Jul 18: Crossroads Village & Huckleberry
Railroad Touch-A-Truck Sun, Jul 19: Sensory-Friendly Concert: Joe Reilly
Fri, Jul 24: GOAT The
Movie at Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: "The best thing about your newsletter," said a reader who met me in person at an event last June, "is the sheer number of things to do, and the fact that they're just packed in there, all in one handy place." "Thanks!" I said. I may have glowed a little. "And the worst thing about your newsletter," she continued, "is the guilt trip. I know
you don't mean to lay that on us. We can't do it all, so it means we read about so much we can't do. Especially in summer." She was right, in one sense, of course. June and July are the most packed months of the calendar: Kids are out of school, families are ready for fun, and our communities respond. Each local organization gets to post its own events on our calendar for free, and many are featured in this newsletter, so what's happening is right there in front of
you. But I get it! And I hereby remove the guilt. Ego te absolvo. Of course, good families try to expose their kids to great things, but no one has the time, money, or energy to do it all. This stuff needs to be spread out over a childhood, not packed into a single summer, much less a single weekend. So make a family bucket list for Summer 2026. An easy way to do that is to take our annual survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids, which is open through June 20; it has dozens of places to have fun this summer, even though you only vote for your top 3! And you should also use our 50 Ways to Love Your Summer article for ideas that require zero technology, zero travel, and zero dollars. Above all, go easy! Remember, summer is no time for grades! The only prize is the summer that's right for your family.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
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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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Ann Arbor / Metro Detroit area. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters
to the people who create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! |
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Professional Youth Theatre of Michigan (PYTMI) empowers young performers through exceptional training, inclusive productions, and a commitment to artistic excellence. Based in Ypsilanti, PYTMI offers high-quality theatrical experiences for students of all backgrounds, with opportunities in acting, singing, dancing, and technical theatre. From beloved musicals to innovative new works, each production emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and confidence. PYTMI welcomes families into a supportive, community-driven environment where youth can grow on and off the stage. With camps, classes, and shows year-round, PYTMI is where young artists shine. Learn more and get involved at www.pytmi.com or by clicking on the image.
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Kroger Delivery helps busy families reclaim time and reduce stress by delivering fresh groceries and household essentials straight to the doorstep, within the one-hour timeframe that fits your busy schedule. Conveniently shop from your phone to add favorite items, reorder past products, and save with digital coupons. A Boost membership provides fee-free delivery on qualifying orders and extra fuel rewards, to keep costs predictable. Refrigerated trucks preserve freshness for produce, dairy, and frozen items, while professional drivers handle everything right to your doorstep. Visit Kroger.com to enjoy the convenience of delivery without sacrificing quality for fresh, making weeknight dinners, packed lunches and healthy snacks quick and easy.
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Family fun for everyone! Join us June 3-7 for the 2026 Festival of Flags. The festival features a Parade, Trivia Night, Family Fun Day, Carnival Rides, Games, Delicious Food and Drinks, and more!
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The Curwood Festival celebrates the American novelist James Oliver Curwood in Owosso, Michigan. This annual event began on the 100th anniversary of Curwood's birth. A renowned author and conservationist, Curwood lived in Owosso. The festival takes place over four days during the first full weekend of June. In 2025, the festival will be held from June 5th to June 8th in Owosso. This year marks our 48th anniversary, and we hope you can join us!
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Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Southgate Heritage Days! Enjoy a carnival Thursday-Sunday, All School All Ages Class Reunion on Friday, a Parade on Saturday, and a variety of fun activities throughout the weekend!
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Grab your blankets and lawn chairs for a fun-filled family movie event! Hosted and coordinated by the Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce and Waterford Parks & Recreation, Moviepalooza is a great family event held at Oakland Yard in the dome - so rain or shine, the show will go on! Inflatables, interactive activities, arts and crafts, concessions and more!
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The outdoor Movie Nights series returns to Downtown Birmingham this summer! Join us at Booth Park for an outdoor movie night and free family-friendly entertainment. Pre-show entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m; movie at 7:30 p.m. Booth Park is located at the corner of Harmon Street and North Old Woodward Avenue in downtown Birmingham.
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Experience 97 juried and emerging artists, individuals and groups, authors, storytelling, international food court, music, dance, hands-on art projects, and more at the Palmer Park Art Fair June 6-7. Free parking, admission and activities!
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Motor City Pride is Michigan's largest pride celebration and parade. Purchase tickets online for express entry into the festival. Motor City Pride returns for an epic pride festival and parade In downtown Detroit. The festival features a jam-packed lineup of performances on four unique stages, 100's of vendors, community groups, and artisans. Enjoy local food trucks and relax as you take In all the sights and sounds of Michigan's largest pride festival and parade.
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Come paddle, explore, and enjoy one of Canton's best outdoor experiences! Event schedule at the Lower Rouge Trail include: 10 am: Visit interactive educational booths, bird house building, and nature walks; 11 am-12:30 pm: Kayaking on the Rouge River ($50 single-rider boat rental fee that includes paddles, personal flotation device, shuttle service) or $15 to launch personal boat. This event is recommended for ages 12 and up. This event coordinated in partnership with Friends of the Rouge and Motor City Canoe Rentals.
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Get ready for a smart, funny, and unforgettable family event! Your Brain Is Magic is an interactive educational comedy show for kids based on the award-winning Brains On! podcast. Join hosts Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten for a high-energy mix of science, storytelling, and laughter. The show combines live performance, multimedia, and audience participation to explore the incredible power of the human brain. Featuring scripted sketches, dazzling lighting and video effects, mystery sounds, and spontaneous moments inspired by kids’ ideas, this one-of-a-kind experience makes science come alive.
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Join us at L.A. Cafe for PEACEFEST on June 6th & 7th! Over 120 artists on display, food trucks, local bands, beer tent, and more! Music & Sound provided by Frank Grimaldi.
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Get ready for the ultimate Kids Rave Party at The Roxy! Bring the kids out for a high-energy dance party featuring a live DJ spinning their favorite songs, glow sticks lighting up the dance floor, and confetti cannons that will make the room explode with excitement. Kids are encouraged to dress up in fun costumes or rave gear, grab a glow stick, and dance the night away with their friends.
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Young Athletes Showcase presented by Special Olympics Michigan along with The War Memorial and The Family Center. Join us for a one-day, family-friendly event designed for children ages 2–7 of all abilities. Families will enjoy a mix of free play, group games, and fun activities that promote friendship, inclusion, and early sports skills confidence! Participants must be accompanied by an adult. We encourage everyone to join in on the fun including siblings! There will be snacks provided along with opportunities for giveaways.
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Spend your Sunday evening with us at Lake St. Clair Metropark enjoying music from different local bands. Each Sunday starting Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, the Thomas Welsh Activity Center becomes a concert venue. From rock to country to R&B and oldies, there is a concert for everyone. Lounge in a lawn chair or get on your feet and dance. Concessions will be open during the performances. We invite you to join us this summer!
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Enjoy a full hour of play in the beautiful Hide and Seek playroom. Then join Cinderella for live song performances, a mini dance lesson, movement games, and stories!
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June 23-25, 2026: Enjoy the outdoors and get away from the electronics! Campers will enjoy stream exploration, nature inspired crafts, a wagon ride, a trip to the water slide and so much more. Campers will be walking between ½ mile to 1 ½ miles each day. They will be getting dirty, so an extra change of clothes is recommended. They are required to wear water shoes when getting into the stream for stream exploration. Most activities will be outdoors, so get ready to get dirty and dress for the weather!
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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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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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It's almost time for fruit picking! Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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