Who doesn’t love music? Outside of family festivals, movies and other family activities in southeast Michigan, music shows offer another chance for fun and excitement. Children can sing along to the songs and dance to the beat at several local concerts in Detroit and beyond.
From kid-friendly musicals to symphony orchestra events, here’s our roundup of kids’ concerts at venues like the Fox Theatre in Detroit, the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor and beyond – and if you need help making the most of it, visit our guide to taking kids to concerts for some tips.
Disney Around the World
Oct. 14, 2018
- Venue: Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor
- Time: 2-3:15 and 5-6:15 p.m.
- Cost: $10-plus/kids, $25-plus/adults
The Michigan Theater is partnering with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra to perform works from original Disney classics and modern flicks we love.
Disney On Ice Presents Frozen
Oct. 18-21, 2018
- Venue: Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Time: 7 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
- Cost: $15-plus
See Anna, Elsa, Olaf and all of their friends bring their story to life on ice.
Halloween at Hogwarts
Oct. 27, 2018
- Venue: Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Time: 11 a.m.
- Cost: Packages start at $40 for four concerts
Celebrate the scariest holiday of all with music from your favorite school of magic, plus a costume contest and more.
Rock O’Ween with Miss Paula and the Candy Bandits
Oct. 27, 2018
- Venue: Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Time: 10 a.m.
- Cost: Packages start at $40 for four concerts
This rock band plays all of the kiddie classics you love set to a rock n’ roll beat.
Music with Miss Ann
Nov. 13, 2018
- Venue: Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak
- Time: 7-8 p.m.
- Cost: Free
Miss Ann will play songs on her guitar and tell musical stories. The event will help kids with pre-reading skills by singing, rhyming and adding to the beat with shakers and other percussion instruments.
ELF: The Musical
Nov. 20-25, 2018
- Venue: Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Time: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m., 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday
- Cost: $39-plus
Buddy snuck into Santa’s bag as an orphan and was raised by elves at the North Pole. Follow him on his journey to New York City to find his birth father.
Sean Dobbins and Friends – Jazz Meets Dr. Seuss
Dec. 8, 2018
- Venue: Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Time: 10 a.m.
- Cost: Packages start at $40 for four concerts
Sean Dobbins combines the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss and jazz at this fun and interactive youth show.
Making Spirits Bright
Dec. 12, 2018
- Venue: The Village Theater at Cherry Hill, 50400 Cherry Hill Road, Canton
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Cost: $10-$12
The Canton Concert Band and the Fireside Singers bring the spirit of the holidays to the stage by performing some classic Christmas tunes.
KinderConcerts
Jan. 18-19 and 21, 2019
- Venue: Ann Arbor District Library (downtown), Dexter District Library, Chelsea District Library and Ypsilanti District Library (Whittaker Road)
- Time: 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Cost: Free
Introduce your kids to classical tunes with this 30-minute concert featuring the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Children ages 2-5 dance and move while listening to music.
Under the African Sky
Feb. 21-23, 2019
- Venue: Towsley Auditorium, 4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor
- Time: 10 a.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday
- Cost: $10-$15
Enjoy a delightful collection of African tales performed through storytelling, acting, dancing and drumming. Colorful costumes, masks, traditional music and audience participation add to the experience, too.
Pete the Cat
March 2, 2019
- Venue: Meadow Brook Theatre, Oakland University, 207 Wilson Hall, Rochester
- Time: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Cost: $15
See a stage show based on the popular kids’ book.
Disney’s Mary Poppins Jr – All the World’s a Stage
March 2, 2019
- Venue: Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township
- Time: 11 a.m.
- Cost: $13/advance, $15/at the door
Sing along to your favorite zany songs from the classic story about a magical nanny that brings a family back together.
Fox & Branch
March 23, 2019
- Venue: Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Time: 10
- Cost: Packages start at $40 for four concerts
Your toes will tap along to the sing-a-longs performed by this American roots duo.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
March 29-31, 2019
- Venue: Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday
- Cost: $34-plus
The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical puts a fresh take on the classic story of a young girl whose dreams come true.
Charlotte’s Web
May 1-5, 2019
- Venue: Towsley Auditorium, 4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor
- Time: 10 a.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
- Cost: $12-$18
This inspirational story about a spider who saves a pig’s life will inspire all of us to value our talents and what we can share with the world.
May the 4th be with You
May 4, 2019
- Venue: Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Time: 11 a.m.
- Cost: Packages start at $40 for four concerts
The DSO takes you into a galaxy far, far away with performances of the music featured in the Star Wars films.
KinderConcerts
May 10-11 and 13, 2019
- Venue: Ann Arbor District Library (downtown), Dexter District Library, Chelsea District Library and Ypsilanti District Library (Whittaker Road)
- Time: vary by location
- Cost: Free
Introduce your kids to classical tunes with this 30-minute concert featuring the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Children ages 2-5 dance and move while listening to music.
Guy Louis: The World of Music Tour
May 11, 2019
- Venue: Meadow Brook Theatre, Oakland University, 207 Wilson Hall, Rochester
- Time: 1 p.m.
- Cost: $10
Guy Louis brings his kid-friendly musical show to Rochester.
Looking for more family fun activities or kids’ concerts? Check out the Metro Parent calendar for more.
This post was originally published in 2015 and is updated regularly.
