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Free and Fun Family-Friendly Events in Mid-Michigan August 2019

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Summer may be almost over, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty left to do in the Mid-Michigan area! Check out this month’s family-friendly free and fun events we’ve discovered.

Fun and Free Family Friendly Events in Mid-Michigan August 2019

August 1-3rd – Midland’s RiverDays features music, food, hot air balloons and more all for free! Get the details and plan your family’s adventure.

August 3rd – Catch the first Movies by Moonlight in downtown Mt. Pleasant! The first show is A Dog’s Purpose, rated PG. Movies start at 8:30 pm.

August 3rd – Alma Church of the Nazarene is hosting a community picnic and everyone is invited! Stop by between 3-6 pm for food, fun and back to school giveaways.

August 5th – Celebrate the addition of an amphitheater at Island Park in Mt. Pleasant with a free concert and ribbon cutting! Concert to begin at 7pm.

August 8th – Stop by downtown Mt. Pleasant for another installment of Thrilling Thursdays and celebrate space! Build and launch your own water bottle rocket and enjoy Tang and moon pies. Event kicks off at 6pm at City Hall.

August 9th – Play it Safe at this free community event brought to you by ICCU. Stop by Island Park in Mt. Pleasant between 12noon and 4pm for games, prizes, crafts and more! Plus, the first 200 kids will receive a free bike helmet! Get more details here.

August 9th – NCG Cinemas kicks off their Free Family Film Festival. Free films include Hotel Transylvania 3, the Goonies, Wonder Park, and How to Train Your Dragon 3. The festival runs from August 9th – August 31st.

August 10th – Stop by the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum for another Kids & Culture event! This month kids will get to take a peak into Mexican culture and explore through crafts and games. The event is from 10am – 12noon.

August 11th – 17th – Visit the Midland County Fair this week for some animal fun!

August 24th – Victory church is hosting a free community carnival that will feature food, games and carnival rides. Stop by between 2-5pm.

August 28th – Have you ever wanted to read to an animal before? Your family can at Leaman’s Green Applebarn today at 10am.


Free Family Fun Activities in Mid-Michigan May 2019

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You may have noticed that we completely SKIPPED a month of free family fun activities this last April. We apologize for the inconvenience, but sometimes life just gets busy. And April was REALLY busy here at the MSD household.

We’ve finally adjusted to our new rhythm and we’re excited to share some fun and free activities just in time for May.

Free Family Fun Activities in Mid-Michigan May 2019

May 4th – FREE comic book day! Check out your local comic bookstore or see if your local library is participating. In downtown Mt. Pleasant, Hall of Heroes, LLC will have over 50 different FREE comic books to choose from! Plus, you’ll find some great deals throughout the store and can stick around to enjoy the 1966 Batman movie showing at the Broadway Theater across the street for only $2 a person.

The Chippewa River District River Library is also hosting a Mini-Con this year where you can pick up a FREE comic book (while supplies last) when you visit the library between 12 noon and 2 pm. Additionally, your family can participate in a variety of activities around the library and even meet LEGO Batman!

May 6th – FREE slice day at Bell’s Pizza! Stop by anytime during open hours and claim your free slice of pizza. Limit one slice per person.

May 11th – Enjoy a free movie at the Ideal Theater in Clare! Stop by the theater at 2 pm for a family-friendly show. Hosted by the Coleman Wesleyan Church Women’s Ministry.

May 11th – Its another Kids & Culture Saturday! This month, visit the CMU Museum of Cultural and Natural History from 10 am – 12 noon for an educational, fun and free event.

May 17th – Register for Family Trivia Night at the Chippewa River District Library. The game begins 6pm and pizza and refreshments are provided. Plus, there will be PRIZES! Trivia questions are for elementary aged through adult.

May 18th – Stop by the Barnes & Noble bookstore in the Midland mall for free story time fun! Today at 11am, story time will feature the Dr. Seuss classic “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

May 19th – Stop by and celebrate Hope Well Ranch’s 15 year anniversary! Its free to attend, but after you learn more about this great organization, you may want to consider providing a donation to support their mission if you are able. The event will feature the Incredible Dr. Pol, the Palooka Brothers string band, food trucks, Maxon’s Blue Country Barbeque, Cruisin’ Chef, the Grub Hub, kids games, ranch tours and more!

May 25th – Join Living the Good Life Alpaca Acres for their free community event, the 3rd Annual Alpaca Palooza in Harrison, MI. There will be live music, unique vendors and all sorts of fun photo opportunities! Stop by anytime between 10 am – 4 pm.

Are there other opportunities happening in our community we should know about? Share in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Free Family Fun Events in Mid-Michigan March 2019

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Looking for some ways to welcome Spring? We’ve got you covered all March long with our list of FREE family fun events happening throughout Mid-Michigan.


Photo by Benjamin Manley on Unsplash

Calling all LEGO fans! Stop by your local Barnes & Noble for a special LEGO architecture build event on Saturday March 9th at 6pm! For those of you in mid-Michigan, Barnes & Noble is located in the Midland Mall.

It’s time for another Kids & Culture event, this time at Off-Broadway Performing Arts Studio! Stop by Saturday March 9th between 10 am – 12 noon for a fun and free family-friendly event.

Another great opportunity this month is a comedy magician show taking place at Plachta auditorium on Central Michigan University’s campus on Tuesday, March 12th at 7 pm. Trent James, the award-winning comedy magician, is sure to wow you, making this an evening of fun for everyone. Free to attend and open to the public.

Not sure if this show is right for you? The video below will give you a sneak peek into a Trent James show.

We’re told that March 12th is FREE pancake day at IHOP! Stop by and enjoy your free shortstack and, if you’re able, consider donating to help children battling critical illness while you’re there.

And if you love free food, you might want to mark down March 20th on your calendar. We’re told that Dairy Queen will be serving up free ice cream cones that day, but haven’t been able to officially confirm it. Check with your local Dairy Queen to see if they will be participating.

Stop by the Chippewa River District Library, Shepherd branch for Create, Make and Take Craft time on March 13th at 3:30pm. All materials will be provided – you just need to bring your creativity!

Grab your favorite board game and head on over to the Salvation Army in Alma on March 15th at 6pm for a free family game night! Movies will also be playing in the chapel.

Looking for an opportunity to introduce your family to the orchestra? Creative 360 in Midland will be hosting the Midland Community Orchestra Small Ensemble and invites everyone to come and listen March 15th at 7pm. More details can be found on the Great Lakes Bay Parents website.

Did you know that Michigan is one of the top maple syrup producers across the nation? In 2017 it was ranked as the 7th top producer of this sugary confection. On March 16th, your family can discover how maple syrup is made during Maple Syrup Day at the Chippewa Nature Center! The event is free for kids and members, but $5 for adults who aren’t members at this time.

Stop by the Chippewa River District Library, Veterans Memorial campus for a rescheduled family date night featuring Kim Darst from Husky Haven Sled Dogs and her incredible story of racing in the Iditarod! Attendees will get the opportunity to see her sled gear and interact with one of her dogs! Be sure to arrive early to this event taking place March 17th at 2pm. 

Take a break from technology and stop by the “Pop” in carnival taking place at Finch Fieldhouse on Central Michigan University’s campus March 22nd from 6 – 8 pm. CMU’s Recreation, Parks and Leisure services RPL 430 class is partnering with Angel Wings to host a family-fun night where kids and adults can play classic carnival games like ring toss and mini bowling. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged to help support the local charity.

Are there free family-fun events we missed? Share them in the comments or on our Facebook page.

Our Movie Adventure to the Crystal, MI Box Office Theater

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We love going to the movies, but by the time you buy tickets for the entire family, it can be a long term negotiation on what you can afford at the concession stand. As a result, we are always on the lookout for a great deal.

A friend tipped us off to the Crystal Box Office in Crystal, MI as a suggestion. An affordable, single screen theater in a small town we had never stopped in before. We checked the schedule and saw that they were playing Aquaman around New Years. The boys and I were ready for an adventure to someplace new, and we set off to check it out. 

I had no idea what to expect. Maybe a small screen and long lines. But we arrived to find a parking space right in front of the theater and no wait to purchase our tickets at the old style booth that opened to the outside sidewalk. The tickets were only $4 each!

Then we got inside and found a concession stand from a bygone era, filled with the fresh smells of popcorn and other treats. For $3 you could get a huge popcorn and fountain pop for a buck.

We had the theater almost to ourselves and got a perfect spot toward the middle. The sound was great and the screen large. While we were enjoying the film we didn’t even remember that we were at a smaller theater. 

The building is a bit dated and the facility shows a little wear and tear, but it also gives it an old school charm. I would recommend this stop to anyone in the Central Michigan area looking for a fun, new spot to catch a flick on a budget. Although, you’ll want to check ahead to see if they are playing the movie you want on their only screen. 

For the most up to date listings and more information, visit their facebook page at facebook.com/crystalboxoffice.

Free Family-Fun Events in Mid-Michigan February 2019

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No matter your entertainment budget, there are always wonderful ways to spend time together as a family in Mid-Michigan. Every month we’ll highlight free events every family can enjoy!

Free Family Fun Events in Mid-Michigan February 2019

Join Mount Pleasant Community Church at the Chippewa Nature Center for a free Family Fun Nature Day February 2nd, 2019. There will be indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts and plenty to explore together as a family from 10am – 12noon. RSVP at mpcc.org/events.

If you’re looking for an activity to do with older kids, you may want to check out this fun and free event hosted by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy on February 2nd, 2019. Families can go snowshoeing at Sylvan Solace. To reserve snowshoes, call 989-772-5777.

Have a Home Depot nearby? Kids can make a Valentine Candy Box at this month’s free kid workshop on February 2nd, 2019. If you live in Midland or Mt. Pleasant, workshops are scheduled between 9am – 12noon. Kids will get to take home their craft, receive a certificate of completion, a workshop apron and commemorative pin while supplies last.

The West Midland Family Center wants to keep you moving despite the cold temperatures winter brings. This February 5th, 2019 families are encouraged to come out and give martial arts a try at no cost. Participants must sign a waiver before each class; however, free opportunities are available every Tuesday through June. A full list of winter activities offered through the family center can be found here.

Let the Chippewa River District Library host your family date night! On February 8th, families can join Kim Darst from Husky Haven Sled Dogs as she shares her experience competing in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage Alaska. You’ll also get to stand on her sled and interact with one of her dogs! Pizza from Dominos Pizza also provided.

Head on over to Mid Michigan College’s Harrison campus for a Winter Blast February 9th, 2019. Families can learn how to geocache, create a pine cone bird feeder, learn how to snowshoe, ride a fat tire bike, test out hockey skills, and relax with a cup of hot chocolate. Event takes place 10am-2pm.

On the first Saturday of every month families in the Mid-Michigan region can participate in free Kids & Culture events hosted by Art Reach of Mid-Michigan. This February 9th, kids and families are invited to the WCMU Public Media studio to participate with PBS’s latest program, Lets Go Luna. The event is scheduled from 10am – 12noon and will include a story time and valentine-making craft.

Whether you or your child is a plane enthusiast, this event is unique in that it gives kids the opportunity to go up in an airplane and learn about flying from the perspective of a trained pilot. This Young Eagle Rally is taking place February 9th from 9am – 12noon at the Jack Barstow Airport in Midland. Call Jeff Gallant at 989-948-4704 to register for this event.

Stop by Barnes & Noble on February 11th for a free evening story time at 7pm. This event is great for children ages preschool and up.

Love legos? Love Target? Then you’ll love the free LEGO movie 2 event Target is hosting at its stores February 16th, 2019. Kids can help Emmet build a ship with available lego blocks, play a game, and get a vest to keep that matches Emmet’s. To find out of if your local Target is participating, visit Target.com.

Enjoy a free movie thanks to the Salvation Army in Alma on February 17th, 2019. I Can Only Imagine will be playing in the chapel theater while Incredibles 2 will be playing in the community room. Bring some snacks and enjoy the movie of your choice. Event goes 5-7pm.

Have your kids ever wanted to try hockey? USA Hockey is hosting a Try Hockey for Free event at rinks across the US on February 23rd, 2019. Go to tryhockeyforfree.com to find a participating rink near you.

What sort of adventures will you find this February? Be sure to share your favorite free events with us in the comments or on our Facebook page.

Our No Spend Weekend Adventures

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Every so often we decide to host a “no spend weekend.” The concept is rather simple – don’t spend any money on anything other than the essentials. But not every no spend weekend looks the same.

Our No Spend Weekend Adventures

After Aaron’s birthday weekend, we decided it might be wise to embrace what we affectionately refer to as our “No Spend Weekend” – a weekend where we don’t spend money on anything other than the essentials.

Typically, this means we still go grocery shopping for the week. Other than that though, we intentionally look for activities to enjoy at home that cost us nothing.

Although these weekend’s were a little challenging at first, we’ve come to really enjoy the opportunity they provide. Before the weekend we brainstorm ways to spend our time. This weekend our activities included:

An epic battle of Settler’s of Catan. The boys and I just learned how to play this game; although full disclosure, we’ve owned this game for a few years now. It took a little effort to learn how to play (thanks YouTube how-to videos!) but once we figured it out, we’ve found that its a game we all enjoy.

Settlers of Catan board

Finally hanging up artwork in our basement! We’ve had really good intentions to get all our artwork up on the walls of our basement, but it also happens to be an activity that is super easy to put on the back burner. We thought this weekend would be the perfect time to do this and it was.

Michigan Copper Image with Barn Wood frame
Isn’t this beautiful? This is one of the art pieces we hung up in our basement – we’re going for an adventures in Michigan theme.

Watching a movie we already own that we haven’t watched in awhile. Our family loves to have movie nights where we make popcorn and rent a movie to watch on the weekend. This weekend though we opted for a movie we already own but haven’t watched in awhile. Ben’s been reading Lord of the Rings so we thought it be fun to watch this movie together.

Have you ever implemented a “no spend weekend?” What are some of your favorite no-cost activities?