You can’t go wrong with FREE family fun! Here are some places to visit without breaking the budget.
Detroit Winterfest
Saturday, January 13 @ Kemeny Recreation Center, Detroit
FREE family from 1pm to 5pm with ice skating, carriage rides, build a bear station, aerial artist, face painting, ceramics, laser tag, inflatables, Frozen character meet and greets and MORE!
FREE Family Swim @ Goldfish Swim School
Monday, January 15th (11am to 12:30pm) – Birmingham
Come celebrate MLK Jr. Day with a FREE Family Swim here at Goldfish Swim School
FREE Family Swim @ Goldfish Swim School
Monday, January 15th (11am to 12:30pm) – West Bloomfield
Come celebrate MLK Jr. Day with a FREE Family Swim here at Goldfish Swim School
FREE Family Swim @ Goldfish Swim School
Monday, January 15th (2pm to 3pm) – Ann Arbor
Get the wiggles out, meet up with friends, and spend the afternoon splashing in our 90-degree pool!
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.
Monday, January 15th @ The Henry Ford
Admission and parking to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is also free on the recognized holiday, January 15. Celebrate the life and lasting legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with new featured programs, performances and living history demonstrations, plus special tours and screenings in Giant Screen Experience
MLK Celebration
Monday, January 15th @ Detroit Historical Museum
This MLK Day, meet Sharon Elizabeth Sexton who will read from and discuss her new children’s book MLK Jr’s Detroit Dream. After the program, children are invited to make their own signs and join a peace march through the museum. The day will conclude with a birthday celebration for Dr. King with cupcakes and singing. Attendees can also take a selfie with our life-sized photo of Dr. King photo.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, January 15th @ Flint Children’s Museum
Enjoy free museum admission and activities to celebrate MLK Day.
Third Thursday @ Cranbrook Institute of Science
Thursday, January 18th
Every third Thursday of the month, visitors can receive free admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science from 5:00 – 8:00pm AND the Cranbrook Art Museum from 11:00am – 8:00pm, courtesy of the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.
Frost Festival
Friday, January 19 – Saturday, January 20 @ Downtown Rochester
Frost Fest promises a weekend filled with icy delights, from stunning under the sea themed ice sculptures, to a carving competition, topped off with a shopping and dining Bingo game that will have you exploring the heart of the city!
Motown Magic
Friday, January 19 – Sunday, January 21 @ Valade Park, Detroit
Celebrate everything you love about Detroit at Motown Magic weekend at Valade Park! We’ll have a local vendor market, a Detroit Pistons park takeover, and a classic Motown soundtrack courtesy of local DJs and dance groups.
Ice Sculpture Festival
Saturday, January 20 & Sunday, January 21 @ Downtown Tecumseh
Downtown will have over 40 ice sculptures for you to see. The Michigan Avian Experience will be here this year with their majestic eagle for everyone to see. Try your hand at our Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a gift card packet.
Dexter Ice Festival
Saturday, January 20 @ Downtown Dexter
Live ice carving demos, more than 70 ice sculptures, hot chocolate, s’mores, and a kids zone with games and entertainment, all in Monument Park. Depending on weather, sculptures remain in place for three weeks.
Winter Carnival
Saturday, January 27 @ Bear Creek Nature Park
This FREE event in Oakland Township is held no matter the weather. They’ve got ice carving demos, snow games, archery, snow snake luge, broom ball, snowshoes, ice skating, puppet and magic show! But don’t worry – they’ve also got warming tents and indoor bathrooms.
Winterfest
Saturday, January 27 @ Belle Isle Nature Center
Trek through the trails on snowshoes, make a feeder to care for birds in the winter, learn about animal adaptations and winter survival, and much more. Don’t miss out on this event full of outdoor adventures and cold-weather fun! Reminder – admisison to the Nature Center is ALWAYS FREE!
Winterfest
Sunday, January 28 @ Oak Park Community Center
Face painting, craft tables, ice skating, reindeer pen, carriage rides, ice carver, chili, hot chocolate & s’mores… free admission, free parking and free ice skating!
Visit these FREE places anytime and have fun:
- Museum of Natural History at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
- 2/42 Community Church (Ann Arbor)
- Great Lakes Crossing (Auburn Hills)
- 2/42 Community Church (Brighton)
- Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit) – residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb
- Riley Ice Rink (Farmington)
- Farmington Hills Nature Center (Farmington Hills)
- Ward Church (Northville)
- Baxter’s Cafe (Riverview)
- Sterling Heights Nature Center (Sterling Heights)
- Stage Nature Center (Troy)
- Our FAVORITE libraries!
Photo: 2/42 Community Church