We have officially entered Spring here in the Metro Detroit Area and with each warmer day all of us at Detroit Moms Blog are itching to get out of the house. There are so many great things to explore and do as a family right in our backyards and we wanted to highlight a few that we think you’ll enjoy. Here’s our list of must-do things this Spring!
Art & Entertainment
- Check out the Detroit Institute of Arts! Free admission for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties.
- Attend Friday Night Live at the DIA for great music, art-making workshops, drawing in the galleries and more! 6-10pm, free with museum admission.
- Sunday Music Bar is a new series at the DIA! Grab a glass of wine, beer or a cocktail and enjoy acoustic music spanning different cultures and genres. 1-3pm, free with museum admission.
- Catch one of the many films featured at the Detroit Film Theater. Tickets $11.
- Plan a mother/daughter date to see Pinkalicious the Musical at the City Theater. General admission $29.50.
- Dance at the historic Fisher Theater to the hits of Motown the Musical.
- Plan ahead for a night on the town at the new Little Caesar’s Arena. Upcoming headliners include Kid Rock, Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga.
- Take a tour of the Motown Museum.
- Take the family to see Daniel Tiger Live at the Fox Theater. April 9, 2017. Tickets start at $22.
- Enjoy an evening of Easter Jazz at the Detroit Opera House. April 17, 2017. Tickets start at $45.50.
- Plan a girls night out at the Sound Board at Motor City Casino to see Fifty Shades of Men. April 21, 2017. Tickets start at $20.
- Take a trip back in time at Greenfield Village. Sensory Friendly Saturday is April 29, 2017. Take in a production at your local high school.
Food & Drink
- Visit Eastern Market on Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday and Sunday markets start in June.
- Join a CSA (community-supported agriculture) by checking localharvest.org.
- Enjoy the Downtown Royal Oak Wine Stroll on May 20th from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 on the day of the event (if it’s not sold out).
- Have lunch at a food truck. Visit Downtown Street Eats at Campus Martius Mondays through Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. now through October.
- Try new local craft beers – it’s finally patio season! Here are some breweries we love.
- Have a picnic at a park or in your backyard.
- Make plans for Mother’s Day Brunch. If you’re planning to go out, be sure to make your reservations in advance. Check out some of the spots we recommended on our Brunch Bucket List.
- Buy goodies for your family Easter baskets at Gayle’s Chocolates or Bon Bon Bon.
- Color Easter eggs with your children.
- Take part in a Motor City Brew Tour. These include bus and walking tours to different Michigan breweries.
- Take a family date to your favorite local ice cream or froyo shop.
- Take a Parents’ Day Out to Sugar House and enroll in one of their mixology classes (most Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
The Great Outdoors
- Walk the Riverwalk and stop by the Outdoor Adventure Center Monday through Sunday.
- Hunt for Eggs at the Detroit Zoo’s Bunnyville April 14-15th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bunnyville is free with zoo admission.
- Fly a kite.
- Visit Belle Isle’s Aquarium and Nature Center
- Take a hike at a Metro Park like Kensington or Stony Creek. Don’t forget to get your 2017 Metropark Permit!
- Make a bird feeder for your backyard.
- Shop for flowers with mom at the annual Royal Oak in Bloom on May 14th from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Spend a Saturday shopping for produce, plants, and flowers at the Eastern Market from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Eat from a local food truck at Campus Martius in downtown Detroit.
- Head to one of your favorite parks or venture to a new one.
- Build a flower pot at your local Home Depot on May 6th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Play outside in the spring rain showers.
- Celebrate Earth Day at Greenfest at the Detroit Zoo on April 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Head over to Domino’s Farm for their First Friday at the Farm on May 5th from 5 to 8 p.m.
#LoveDetroit
- Spring Clean with a purpose. You can donate your gently used items to any number of charities, including the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity ReStores. Too much stuff for your trunk or just don’t feel like driving? The Purple Heart and Vietnam Veterans of America will pick right up from your porch.
- You can check with your local Pregnancy Assistance Center for any baby and mommy gear that would be useful to expecting and new mothers. Check out the Redford Pregnancy Care Center and the Pregnancy Help Clinic in Brighton.
- Get your steps in while supporting the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Riverfront Run/Walk on June 10.
- Help plant or maintain a local community garden. Don’t have one in your neighborhood? You can check out this one, this one, or one of these.
- Find a little free library and stock it with books. Better yet, build one in your neighborhood.
- April 22 is Earth Day! Take the family to the Belle Isle Spring Clean-up. If you can’t make it all the way into the city, you can find a comprehensive listing of Earth Day Service Events by county here.
- Head over to Lake St. Clair Metro Park on May 21 and cheer for the runners in Girls on the Run & Stride celebratory 5k.
- Celebrate Armed Forces Day on May 20. Honor our troops with a Facebook post, by wearing Red, White, & Blue, or by signing up to volunteer with the Michigan Freedom Center.
- Participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on May 13.
Family Fun
- Macy’s Bunny Brunch Location: Lakeshore Grill at Macy’s Somerset Mall & Twelve Oaks Mall Date:Sunday April 9 10:00 a.m. (Somerset Mall) & Saturday April 15 10:00 a.m. (Twelve Oaks) Cost: Adults $21.95 Children 12 and under $14.95 Children under 12 months are free. Enjoy brunch and a visit with the Easter bunny. All children receive a small stuffed bunny.
- Bunnyville at the Detroit Zoo Location: Detroit Zoo 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067 Date: Friday, April 14, 2017 and Saturday, April 15, 2017 from 9a-3p Detroit Zoo’s annual Bunnyville celebration, featuring crafts, live entertainment, zookeeper talks and more! Bunnyville activities will feature a golden egg hunt with more than 100 eggs hidden throughout the zoo.
- West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Spring Fling! Location: Drake Sports Park Date: Thursday April 13, 2017. Time slots: 5:45, 6:30, 7:15, 8:00 p.m. Register for a time slot here. Check in begins 30 minutes before each time slot. Cost: $5.00 per child for residents, $7.00 per child for nonresidents. Hunt for eggs and turn them into treats! Bring your basket to fill with goodies, visit with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, enjoy a train ride and petting zoo.
- DMB Easter Eggstravaganza Location: Total Sports Complex Farmington Time: Saturday April 15 9-11:30 a.m. Cost: $8.00 for adults and children. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Grab the whole family and get ready for an epic egg hunt while hanging with Spider Hero, Beauty and the Beast, face painting, bounce houses, photos with the Easter Bunny, soccer activity demos, play-doh making station and so much more!
- Pancake Breakfast & Spring Fling! Location: Charles L. Bowers Farm 1219 E. Square Lake Rd. Bloomfield Hills, Mi 48304 Time: Saturday April 15 Times are available in two hour increments from 9:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m Cost: $14.00 per person, children 2 years and under are free. Join for a pancake breakfast at Bowers Farm followed by a two hour program including a visit and photo opportunity with Blueberry the Bowers Bunny, wagon rides, and story time! Both barns will be open to visit the baby animals.
- Waterford Parks Bunny Brunch Location: Recreation Center 5640 Williams Lake Rd. Waterford, Mi 48329 Time: Saturday April 15, 12:30 p.m. Cost: $12.00 per person $14.0 non resident Free for children 2 and under. Enjoy breakfast, games, crafts, a family photo opportunity and an Easter egg hunt. Every family receives one 4×6 family photo on site.
- West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Earth Day Celebration Location: The Nature Room inside The Recreation Activities Center Time: Friday April 21, 2017 3-6 p.m. Cost: Free. Make your own trail mix station, recycled crafts, make yarn from recycled plastic bags, enjoy a meet and greet with a farmer, and explore the nature room with live animals and the outdoor natural play area. Borrow a nature backpack to take a hike. Bring bottle caps and clean baby food jars for donation for upcoming summer camp crafts.
- Waterford Parks and Recreation Earth Day Cleanup & Crafts Location: DPNC 2125 Denby. Time: Saturday April 22, 2017 12-2 p.m. Cost: Admission is free with donation of clean glass jar, clean rags, craft supplies. Walk the grounds, clean up litter and then make a recycled craft and plant some seeds. DPNC 2125 Denby
- Hess Hathaway Park Sheep Shearing and Family Breakfast Location: Hess Hathaway Park 825 S. Williams Lk Rd. Waterford, Mi. Time: Saturday April 29, 2017 Pancake breakfast from 9-11 a.m., Sheep Shearing 10-11 a.m. Cost: Children 11 and older $5.00, Children under 10 $3.00 All donations and proceed benefit the park. Watch the sheep getting sheared, visit the historic farmhouse and visit the animals early in the season.
- Day out with Thomas: The Friendship Tour Location: Greenfield Village Time: April 29-30, May 6-7 and May 13-14. Purchase tickets and register for your train ride. Cost: Member tickets $11.75, Nonmember children ages 1-2 $11.75, children 3-11 $32.00, children 12 and up $38.75. Take a ride on Thomas the Train and enjoy a visit with Sir Topham Hatt. Enjoy songs, coloring, games and more!
Sports
- Nothing says Spring Quite like A Detroit Tigers baseball game – Celebrate Opening Day Family Style – Detroit Tigers KIDS opening day – April 9 1:10PM get your tickets
- Mount Clemens Gibralter Trade Center Sports Card & Collectibles Show – April 21-23.
- Cheer on the Women’s 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Plymouth At USA Hockey Arena 3-31-April 7
- Calling all Tennis Lovers – Dearborn Racquet & Health Club Spring Fest Open in Dearborn April 21, 2017 – April 23, 2017
- Start Memorial Weekend with a little WWE Smackdown Toledo OH – 05/23/17 7:45PM Pick your seats
- Only a few final games left at the Joe – Detroit Red Wings – https://www.nhl.com/redwings/schedule/2017-04-01/ET/list
- Detroit Pistons Family 4-pack Hungry Howie’s special 4 tx – 4 pops – LG pizza $64 April 5 & April 10th games tickets to the game
- Make your way to Jimmy John’s Field in Utica beginning May 11 to catch a baseball game here is the schedule
- A Nationwide 3-day competition race to discover the most fuel efficient vehicle – Shell Eco-Marathon Americas – April 28-April 30 for more details
- The Fun and Entertaining Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their World Tour to The Palace of Auburn Hills – April 14th grab your tickets here
