April showers bring May flowers — and lots of family fun for metro Detroit families! How is a busy parent supposed to keep track of it all? With our list of the best things to do this month, of course!
This April we’ve found tons of family-friendly fun, including Earth Day events, Ramadan events and events to celebrate the solar eclipse viewing on April 8. Here is our curated list of the can’t-miss activities for metro Detroit and Ann Arbor in April 2024.
So, what are you waiting for? Take a look at our list and start the advance prep for your next family outing.
This article was recently updated on April 1, 2024 by Metro Parent’s Audience Development Coordinator, Kari Zaffarano. The update included her adding new Metro Detroit events to the MetroParent.com‘s calendar and featuring the best family events in metro Detroit this month, aligning Metro Parent’s mission to provide the top parenting resources for local families. Questions? Please reach out to kari@metroparent.com.
Best April family events in Macomb County
This month, the Warren Public Libraries have some fun events to celebrate the upcoming solar eclipse. Also, be sure to head to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks to celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up the parks with your kids. Find even more April events in Macomb County on our calendar.
Eclipse Crafts at Warren Civic Center Library
April 3, 2024
- Address: 1 City Square, Warren
- Cost: Free | Register
Join the library to receive a free pair of glasses to view the upcoming eclipse and create an eclipse craft. Registration required. Also, check out the Eclipse Viewing Event on April 8.
Swiftie Day in Downtown Mount Clemens at The Nest Collaborative
April 13, 2024
- Address: 66 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens
- Cost: $5/person
All ages can head to downtown Mount Clemens for a fun filled Swiftie Day. Dress to impress and create friendship bracelets, get a lanyard and have fun in the Photo Booth.
Monthly Story Time at The Mall at Partridge Creek
April 16, 2024
- Address: 17420 Hall Road, Clinton Township
- Cost: Free
Families can stop by The Mall at Partridge Creek for a monthly story time with the Clinton Township Library. April’s theme is Spring. Reservations are required through the library.
Earth Day Cleanup at Stony Creek Metropark
April 20, 2024
- Address: 4300 Main Park Drive, Shelby Township
- Cost: Free | Register
Celebrate Earth Day with this park clean-up. Check in at the Park Office to pick up your trash bags, gloves and directions/map to your assigned cleanup area. Pre-registration is required by 4 p.m. April 17.
Earth Day Cleanup at Lake St. Clair Metropark
April 21, 2024
- Address: 31300 Metro Pkwy., Harrison Township
- Cost: Free | Register
Kids ages 6 and up can meet at the Nature Center to pick up tools, safety equipment and area assignments to clean up the park in celebration of Earth Day. Snacks and water will be provided. Pre-registration required by 4 p.m. April 20.
Best April family events in Oakland County
This month, Oakland County offers some really great solar eclipse viewing events. Canterbury Village offers some really fun, free events this month, including their Dragon Days, Pokemon Weekend and Spring Fling. Find even more April events in Oakland County on our calendar.
Family Solar Eclipse Fun Day! at Troy Public Library
April 3, 2024
- Address: 510 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy
- Cost: Free
Families can come by the Troy Public Library to learn about the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8, do a craft and receive eclipse viewing glasses. For all ages.
FREE Friday Night Movies at Paradise Park
April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2024
- Address: 45799 Grand River Ave., Novi
- Cost: Free
Join Paradise Park for a free weekly movie all month long. April 5 is Despicable Me, April 12 is Coco,April 19 is Lilo and Stitch and April 26 is Super Mario Bros Movie.
HP Dinner in the Castle at Canterbury Village
April 7, 2024
- Address: 2325 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion
- Cost: $45/person; free parking | Get tickets
Witches and wizards are invited to dine in the elegant Canterbury Castle with characters from Harry Potter. A skit will also be performed before and after food is served. Dinner will be served buffet-style and a cash bar will be available with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic Butterbeer. The April 6 dinner is sold out.
Canterbury Dragon Days at Canterbury Village
April 13-14, 2024
- Address: 2325 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion
- Cost: Free entry, Free parking
Head to Canterbury Village for a dragon-themed scavenger hunt, crafts, games and more. Participate in the scavenger hunt and be entered to win 4 tickets to Dino & Dragon Stroll.
Earth Day Celebration at the Recreation Activities Center
April 18, 2024
- Address: 4640 Walnut Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills
- Cost: Free event, $5/nature hike| Register
Explore the Outdoor Natural Play Area and celebrate Mother Earth with a recycled craft, live animal interactions and guided hikes. Can register with or without the hike. Pre-registration required.
GreenFest at the Detroit Zoo
April 20-21, 2024
- Address: 8450 W. Ten Mile Road, Royal Oak
- Cost:Free w/ zoo admission and for members
Families can enjoy this annual celebration that teaches us how to live sustainability through educational displays and fun activities. There will be live music, a sustainable marketplace, food trucks, eco-friendly activities and more.
Pokemon Weekend at Canterbury Village
April 20-21, 2024
- Address: 2325 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion
- Cost: Free entry, Free parking
Bring the kids out to Canterbury Village for to play Pokemon GO. Saturday is Community Day in the game. Kids will have fun finding the hidden Pokemon in each shop and making a free Pokémon button at “Down the Rabbit Hole.” Also, receive a free Pokemon card for every $5 spent at village shops.
Canterbury Spring Fling at Canterbury Village
April 27-28, 2024
- Address: 2325 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion
- Cost: Free entry, Free parking
Families can enjoy springtime at Canterbury Village with shopping, a free kids craft at “Down the Rabbit Hole,” a free tea party at “All Natural Hippie,” flowers handed out and more.
Fling Into Spring Food Truck Rally at Civic Center Park
April 27, 2024
- Address: 32998 Palmer Blvd., Madison Heights
- Cost: Free
Kick off spring with a family-friendly event with various food trucks and plenty of activities everyone will love.
Best April family events in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County offers some really great solar eclipse events and Earth Day events to bring your kids to. Find even more April events in Washtenaw County on our calendar.
Solar Eclipse Celebration at Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
April 7, 2024
- Address: 220 E. Ann St., Ann Arbor
- Cost: Free w/museum admission
Families can celebrate the solar eclipse with hands-on activity tables at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.
Solar Eclipse Celebration at Leslie Science & Nature Center
April 8, 2024
- Address: 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor
- Cost: $5/person, free/under 2 | Register
Celebrate the solar eclipse with hands-on activity tables at the Leslie Science & Nature Center. Also, explore the night sky in the StarLab and meet nocturnal wildlife up close. Eclipse viewing glasses are included. Registration required.
Earth Day Fest at Ypsilanti Farmers Marketplace
April 20, 2024
- Address: 16 S. Washington St., Ypsilanti
- Cost: Free
This family-friendly event offers educational workshops, fun activities and proactive ways to protect the planet.
Earth Day – Little Monarchs at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker
April 20, 2024
- Address: 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti
- Cost: Free
At this family read event, decorate a pot and take home a pollinator-friendly native plant to attract butterflies and bees this summer.
Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas at University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
Now
- Address: 1105 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor
- Cost: Free
See a full-size cast skeleton leg of a Tyrannosaurus rex, two life-size models of Protoceratops—one skeleton, the other fully fleshed out, a life-size three-horned Triceratops skull and more.
Best April family events in Wayne County
Head to downtown Detroit for the Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day on April 5, 2024. Also, be sure to check out the many kid-friendly events to celebrate the NFL Draft, happening in Detroit April 25-27, 2024. The Paw Patrol exhibit at The Henry Ford is leaving on April 28, so make sure to check it out before it goes! Find even more April events in Wayne County on our calendar.
Celebrate Eid al Fitr! at Knapp Branch
April 6, 2024
- Address: 13330 Conant St., Detroit
- Cost: Free | RSVP
Come out to Knapp Branch to celebrate the end of fasting to learn about this important Muslim Holiday. RSVP required.
Eggstravaganza at Maybury Farm
April 6, 2024
- Address: 50165 Eight Mile Road, Northville
- Cost: $5/person, free/under 2 (cash only)
Kids ages 2-10 can enjoy an egg hunt, live animals, seed planting, face painting, crafts and more. Prize bags are limited to the first 700 children ages 2-plus.
Wild Science Saturdays at Outdoor Adventure Center
April 6, 2024
- Address: 1801 Atwater St., Detroit
- Cost: $5/ages 13-plus, $3/ages 2-12, free/under 2; $50/annual family membership
Enjoy hands-on activities one Saturday a month. April’s theme is Fabulous Fossils.
All Things Detroit Day at Eastern Market
April 7, 2024
- Address: 2934 Russell St., Detroit
- Cost: $5/general admission, $15/beat the crowd admission, free/kids 6 and under | Get tickets
Head to Eastern Market for a huge vendor show, based on the city of Detroit. There will be a DJ, retail vendors and local artists, coloring wall by Detroit’s Coloring Museum, food trucks and more.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown at Little Caesars Arena
April 12, 2024
- Address: 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: $30-plus | Get tickets
Families can come check out their favorite WWE Stars back at Little Caesars Arena in The Detroit District.
22nd Annual Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade in Historic Greektown
April 14, 2024
- Address: 500 Monroe St., Detroit
- Cost: Free
Head to Historic Greektown for their 22nd Annual Detroit Greek Independence Parade, which features 60 Greek-American organizations, churches, community groups, businesses, and other participants.
Down on the Farm in Downtown Detroit with Upland Hills Farm at DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
April 14, 2024
- Address: 1801 Atwater St., Detroit
- Cost: Free w/museum admission
Meet and get up close with farm animals from Upland Hills Farm at the barn at DNR Outdoor Adventure Center.
Earth Day Celebration with Joe Reilly and Friends at The War Memorial
April 20, 2024
- Address: 32 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms
- Cost: $20/adults, $18/military and veterans, $16/ages 17 and under | Get tickets
Families can celebrate Earth Day and the arrival of Spring with singer-songwriter, Joe Reilly with environmental songs for kids of all ages.
Earth Day Celebration at Redford Branch
April 22, 2024
- Address: 21200 Grand River Ave., Detroit
- Cost: Free | RSVP
Families can come out to Redford Branch to enjoy a groovy Earth Day Celebration. RSVP required.
NFL Draft Week Football Activities at Detroit Public Library, Main Branch
April 26-27, 2024
- Address: 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: Free | RSVP
Families can come celebrate the NFL Draft with crafts and games at Detroit Public Library, Main Branch. RSVP required.
Detroit Lions Day at the Library! at Redford Branch
April 27, 2024
- Address: 21200 Grand River Ave., Detroit
- Cost: Free | RSVP
Families can come out to Redford Branch to celebrate the Detroit Lions with games and crafts. RSVP required.
Paw Patrol: Adventure Play at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
Through April 28, 2024
- Address: 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
- Cost: Free w/museum admission and for members | Get tickets
Join Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Everest, Rocky, Zuma and Tracker in a series of hands-on, educational adventures in the world of Adventure Bay. Children will overcome challenges and learn how to work as a team in this play-based exhibit.
Check out our family guide to The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.
Above and Beyond at the Michigan Science Center
Through Sept. 8, 2024
- Address: 5020 John R St., Detroit
- Cost: $18/ages 3 and up, free children under 3 | Get tickets
See the aerospace interactive exhibit at the Michigan Science Center. Visitors will learn about the science of flight through flight simulators, immersive theater shows, touch displays and augmented reality experiences.
Check out our family guide to the Michigan Science Center.
Follow Metro Parent on Instagram.