It might feel like summer is quickly coming to a close, but there’s still time to soak in all the summer fun. The Huron-Clinton Metroparks have an event or program scheduled nearly every day this month to fill your calendar. Your last month of summer could be filled with so much excitement that the kids may even forget that school is right around the corner!
Below is a select list of events happening at the Metroparks this month that will get your families outdoors, exploring, and having fun. Many events require pre-registration, so if you see something you like, be sure to click through and register before spots fill up.
To see all the events and programs at your favorite Metropark, check out the Metroparks’ park-specific calendars. If you’d like to see all events and programs at once, visit the full Metroparks Events Calendar.
August Events at Huron-Clinton Metroparks
Movies in the Park: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish | August 4 | Kensington Metropark
Pack up the family, lawn chairs, blankets, bug spray, and movie snacks for a great night under the stars. After you pick your spot to view Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, enjoy the accessible playground, splash in Kent Lake, or take a walk on the Hike-Bike Trail. The movie will be shown on an LED screen and will start before dark–so even the little ones might make it to the end.
Music and Moves | August 5 | Hudson Mills Metropark
Let’s get ready to crank up the music and show off those dance moves! Come on out to Hudson Mills Metropark for an afternoon of music, dancing, a School of Rock concert, an inflatable obstacle course and games, face painting, yard games, and more.
Kick off your afternoon with music and dancing by Get Ready to Move featuring Jen and Jonny! Their DJ style, non-stop music, live vocals, and high energy choreography will have kids of all ages on their feet and moving. Then, the Ann Arbor School of Rock House Band will hit the stage for a concert. This band features the very best students from the school and sends them out to perform at public events.
Explorer’s Club: Butterflies | August 5 | Oakwoods Metropark
Explorer’s Club is a monthly program for your 6- to 14-year-olds to learn about Michigan’s native species. We’ll cover everything from plants, to animals, to insects, and everything in between! Each month will have a specific theme or topic, but we will learn and explore inside and outside each month.
Tadpoles: Rendezvous in the Rain | August 5 | Oakwoods Metropark
Tadpoles is a monthly program designed for toddlers and their parent(s) to spend time together with us to develop a love of nature and learning. Join us for a story, a short lesson, music and movement, and time outside.
Harness & Hitch | August 8, 22, 29 | Wolcott Mill Metropark
Watch our staff get our draft horses ready for action. Take pictures and ask questions in this behind the scenes look at what it takes to get the draft horses harnessed and hitched to the wagon. Learn what makes draft horses so special, and how we care for these amazing animals. Then climb aboard for a short wagon ride around the farm!
Calling All Owls | August 11 & 19 | Hudson Mills Metropark
Join us to learn about the common owls of our area and their amazing adaptations that make them the top predators of the night. We’ll take an evening stroll along our nature trails to search for and call the owls that live in Hudson Mills Metropark.
Voyageur Canoe | August 11, 13, 25 | Lake St. Clair Metropark
Join us as we paddle through the North Marsh aboard a 34-foot voyageur canoe. Learn about this unique wetland habitat while searching for the animals that call the marsh home. You’ll also hear stories of the Voyageurs who paddled these canoes during Michigan’s fur trade era.
Stories in the Shade | August 12 | Stony Creek Metropark
During this outdoor program, your child will explore nature through a book, activities, and a craft. Bring a blanket and enjoy the cool shade of a tree as your child discovers the worlds of caterpillars, frogs, fireflies, and more. Each week, we’ll explore a new topic.
End of Summer Bash | August 12 | Lake Erie Metropark
Before school starts back up and the long days of summer are gone, come out for a family-friendly event complete with food trucks, bounce houses, face painting, a corn hole tournament, live music, and more!
Meteors in the Metropark | August 12 | Huron Meadows Metropark
Come out to Huron Meadows Metropark to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower. Enjoy some sweet treats and gather around the fire while we wait for the show to begin. We will view the annual Perseid Meteor Shower, but our sights will also be set on the constellations above as we look up and learn what is above us.
DiversAbility Day: Lake St. Clair | August 17 | Lake St. Clair Metropark
In collaboration with Disability Network of Eastern Michigan and the Michigan Adaptive Recreation Coalition, join us for DiversAbility Day, an outdoor adaptive recreation event! EVERYONE can play outdoors, regardless of their physical abilities. This event is designed for individuals with disabilities to enjoy a variety of recreational activities including adaptive tennis and pickleball, track chairs, archery, yard games, fishing, and more! Join us anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to participate in the games and enjoy some food.
Food & Tunes | August 19 | Willow Metropark
Jam with the fam this summer at Food & Tunes! Bring out the family, grab some friends, and head out to the park to enjoy some good food and tunes. Lounge on a blanket or lawn chair on the hill in front of the stage area, or get on your feet and dance! Two bands will perform on each date. There will be fun for the whole family including a kid’s zone with a free inflatable obstacle course, carnival games, Metroparks Mobile Outreach Vehicle, and face painting.
Eco-Play | August 20 | Indian Springs Metropark
This program series will work on developing skills through outdoor play and adventure. Educational activities, crafting, and guided hikes will explore exciting ways to turn backyard fun into an eco-friendly adventure the whole family can enjoy.
Fun on the Farm: Tractors | August 24 | Kensington Metropark
Fun on the Farm is an indoor and outdoor children’s series that focuses on different animals and aspects of farming each session. Each program will include a story, a hands-on activity, and a chance to get up close and personal with that week’s topic.
Twilight Bat Hike | August 25 | Indian Springs Metropark
Their nocturnal nature makes them mysterious, but their benefits are serious! Come out for a night hike as we explore the role Michigan bats play in our ecosystem and our communities.
Movies in the Park: Super Mario Bros. | August 26 | Lower Huron Metropark
Pack up the family, lawn chairs and blankets, bug spray, and movie snacks for a great night under the stars. After you pick your spot to view Super Mario Bros., enjoy the park trails, play on the playground, or shoot some hoops. Van Buren Township Parks and Rec will be on-site providing free crafts and activities.
Insect Sweeping & Investigation | August 27 | Stony Creek Metropark
Have hands-on fun with your family as we explore outside with nets, tarps, and magnifiers. You’ll use a net to sweep for insects, then investigate. How do you know it’s even an insect? What adaptations does it have? How does it move? How many different insects can you find? Come and indulge your curiosity!
Blue Moon Celebration | August 30 | Lake Erie Metropark
Have you ever wondered where the term “Blue Moon” came from? Want to participate in some fun nighttime activities? Then this program is for you! Join us as we celebrate the only Blue Moon of 2023. Enjoy our inflatable star dome, some astronomy-related activities, and venture outdoors for a moon-themed hike.
