Looking for fresh ideas to get the kids out of the house this week? We’ve got you covered. From FREE family fun and everyday outings to can’t-miss special events, we’ve rounded up the best things happening around Metro Detroit—so you can spend less time searching and more time making memories. Here are our top picks for family fun this week.
TOP FEATURES THIS WEEK
- FREE & Fun Family Activities For Memorial Day Weekend
- Splash Pads & Beach Opening Memorial Weekend
- 5 Festivals Happening over Memorial Day Weekend
- Memorial Day Parades in Metro Detroit
- JUST ANNOUNCED: BLIPPI is coming to Detroit in 2026
- Recharge This Summer: Fitness & FREE Childwatch at The YMCA
- WhoaZone Brings Floating Fun To Bald Mountain Recreation Area For 2026
- Parenthood and Finances Tips for Every Age and Stage From VIBE Credit Union
- SAVE THE DATE: LittleGuide Detroit’s FREE Safety Day Returns
CAN’T MISS EVENTS
- West Bloomfield’s Touch-a-Truck @ Drake Sports Park – Monday, May 18
- Let’s Go Outside Pre-K @ Stony Creek Nature Center (Shelby Township) – Monday, May 18
- Kids Open Chess @ Northville District Library – Tuesday, May 19
- Detroit City FC Game @ Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck – Wednesday, May 20
- PokePals @ Ferndale Area District Library – Wednesday, May 20
- Nature Tales @ Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve (Rochester Hills) – Thursday, May 21
- Village Open Late @ Troy Historic Village (Troy) – Thursday, May 21
- Otterpalooza @ John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids) – Friday, May 22 – Sunday, May 24
- Open Barn @ Bowers School Farms (Bloomfield Hills) – Friday, May 22
- OPENING WEEKEND @ Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad (Flint)
- FREE Nature Tots @ Belle Isle Nature Center – Saturday, May 23
- Kid’s Night Out @ The Robot Garage – Saturday, May 23
- Petting Farm @ Plymouth Farmers Market – Saturday, May 23
OPEN SWIMS @ GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOLS (FREE for Members):
- Birmingham: Tuesday (12pm – 1pm); Wednesday (12pm – 1pm); Thursday (12pm – 1pm); Friday (6:30pm – 8pm)
- Farmington: Tuesday (12pm – 1pm); Wednesday (12pm – 1pm) & (6:30pm – 8:30pm)
- Rochester: Tuesday (12pm – 1pm); Friday (12pm – 1pm)
- Macomb: Tuesday (1pm – 2pm); Wednesday (1pm – 2pm); Friday (6:30pm – 8pm)
- Canton: Wednesday (12pm – 1pm); Thursday (12pm – 1pm); Friday (6:30pm – 8pm)
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FESTIVALS & FAIRS
- Livonia Rotary Carnival – May 21 – 31, 2026
- Spring Fling in The Park Carnival (Lincoln Park) – May 21 – 25, 2026
- Madison Family Spring Carnival (Madison Heights) – May 22 – 25, 2026
- Balloons Over Bavarian Inn (Frankenmuth) – May 23, 2026
- Hazel Park Homecoming Festival – May 22 – 25, 2026
- Kensington Metropark Art Fair (Milford) – May 23 – 25, 2026
- Canterbury Village Medieval Faire (Orion Township) – May 23 – 25, 2026
- Grand Rapids Lantern Festival @ John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids) – Tuesdays – Sundays starting May 19 from 7:30am to 11:30pm; Ends June 14
MEMORIAL DAY PARADES:
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Monday, May 25, 2026
- Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade
- South Lyon Memorial Day Parade
- Beverly Hills Memorial Day Parade
- Sterling Heights Memorial Day Parade
- Dearborn Memorial Day Parade
- Novi Memorial Day Parade
- Waterford Memorial Day Parade
- Northville Memorial Day Parade
- Brighton Memorial Day Parade
- Downtown Milford Memorial Day Parade
- Walled Lake Memorial Day Parade
- Sylvan Lake Memorial Day Parade
- Hartland Memorial Day Parade
FREE FAMILY FUN
- 2/42 Community Church (Ann Arbor)
- Ward Church (Northville)
- Oak Pointe Church Playscape (Novi)
- Baxter’s Cafe (Riverview)
- Museum of Natural History at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
- Farmington Hills Nature Center (Farmington Hills)
HANDS-ON MUSEUMS
- Sloan Museum of Discovery (Flint)
- Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum (Ann Arbor)
- Michigan Science Center (Detroit)
- DNR Outdoor Adventure Center (Detroit)
- Cranbrook Institute of Science (Bloomfield Hills)
- The Henry Ford (Dearborn)
INDOOR FUN
- Yoyo’s Fun Center (Clinton Township)
- Just Play (Dexter)
- Dinoland (Madison Heights)
- Outdoor Adventure Center (Detroit)
- T & B Play (Canton)
- Kidcadia (Dearborn)
NATURE CENTERS & CLASSES
- Indian Springs Discovery Center (White Lake)
- Leslie Science and Nature Center (Ann Arbor)
- Hawk Woods Nature Center (Auburn Hills)
- Farmington Hills Nature Center
- Howell Nature Center
- Red Oaks Nature Center (Madison Heights)
- Sterling Heights Nature Center
- West Bloomfield Nature & Recreation Center
Photo credit: Facebook
