Easter Egg Hunt Round-up: Ann Arbor, Dexter, Manchester, Saline & Ypsilanti

I have taken my children to several area Easter Egg hunts and marshmallow drops throughout the past few years - Some taking place in the snow, some in the bitterly cold and rain of early spring and others on gloriously beautiful sunny days. We haven’t found one we attend exclusively though - I suppose that's mostly due to my despising these events because my children being pushed, smashed or stepped on by ADULTS who behave terribly - so we'll continue to search for the "right event" again this year!

For interested families, below are several area Easter Egg hunts happening throughout the Ann Arbor area in the coming weeks.

ANN ARBOR

The Ann Arbor Jaycees hold an annual Easter Egg hunt with games, face painting and other fun family activities in addition to the egg-scramble. It is free however they will accept donations for the Ann Arbor Ronald McDonald House. This year the event will be held Saturday, March 27 (Rain Date: Sunday, March 28) from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Veteran's Memorial Park (2150 Jackson Ave.) in Ann Arbor.

DEXTER

Hudson Mills Metropark is hosting their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 28th, 12 pm - 2 pm. Kids twelve and under may participate and enjoy a variety of activities such as the petting farm animals, face painting, and visiting with the Easter Bunny while waiting for their age group egg hunt. Tickets are $3 per child in advance, and $5 per child at the door. Call (734) 426-8211 to purchase tickets. A vehicle entry permit is also required to enter Hudson Mills Metropark and is only $25 annually for regular admission or $5 daily.

MANCHESTER

The Manchester Men’s Club is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt at Carr Park Saturday, April 3 at 1:00 PM.

SALINE

The Saline Recreation Center is hosting an Egg SCavENgER HuNT on Saturday April 3 at 11:30 a.m. for children ages 2-7 years. Bring a basket to collect eggs that have been scattered throughout the wooded area behind the Recreation Center and Miller Field. Children will be broken down into age appropriate groups with every child receiving a goody bag - A few lucky eggs will have prize tickets inside though! Register each family member in advance at the Recreation Center for $6 by April 2, or for $10 on the day of the event.

YPSILANTI

The Ypsilanti Jaycees' 10th Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Marshmallow Drop will be help on Saturday, 27 March 2010, 9:00am - 12:00pm at Frog Island Park in Ypsilanti. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with a $1 fee per child. Fun family games begin at 9:30 a.m. while children await their age group egg hunts - the Easter Bunny will even be standing by for a photo op! A marshmallow drop follows the egg hunt and begins at 11:00 a.m. allowing children to return their captured marshmallows for small prizes!

There are many other opportunities for families to participate in area Easter Egg hunts at local churches throughout the area, also Domino Farms is also continuing their Easter Egg hunt, however this year it is for members only. So keep your eyes “peeled” and let me know of other local Easter Egg hunts that should be highlighted or feel free to list them in the comments section below. Please specify when the hunt will take place, the ages allowed at the hunt and any costs to families - Thanks!!!

Get $5 off Shrine Circus Tickets, March 18-21 at the Hazel Park Raceway

My grandfather is a Shriner, so growing up my brother and I attended the Shrine Circus with some regularity, that's why I am excited to be able to offer area families the opportunity to attend the Shrine Circus when it comes to the area for $5 off ticket prices!  Yes, that's $5 off courtesy of Hungry Howie’s Pizza. 

So stop and pick up your voucher for $5 off of a ticket at any Metro-Detroit area Hungry Howie locations, or around Ann Arbor at: 2145 West Stadium and 4079 Stone School Road or in Ypsilanti at: 215 S Ford Blvd. or 2614 Washtenaw Road.

The Shrine Circus

March 18 - 21, 2010

Hazel Park Raceway

Thursday-Saturday at 10:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. 

Sunday at 1:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $15 - $30 depending on seating

For more information call 866-922-Circus and don't forget to look for Howie (of Hungry Howie's) as the Circus Grand Marshal on March 18!

Visit Local Museums for FREE

Last year at this time, my family and I were in a much different place with both my husband and I being out of work. I was making ends meet with clients here and there, and our family was helping much of the time; however that didn't diminish my kids wanting to "do things". I was challenged to find fun and interesting things for us to do for very cheap or free. I suppose I still enjoy finding inexpensive things to do for the family, and the kids still want to "do things" so I was happy to see that the Detroit Adventure Pass was back at the Ypsilanti District Library (the passes are available at almost every local library including the Ann Arbor District Library!).


If you don't know what the Detroit Adventure Pass is presumably because you've been living under a rock for the past three years, didn't notice the opportunity or possibly because you didn't have a need for the passes then I'll tell you about them...

Now through October 24, 2010 you can adventure through a variety of Detroit area cultural institutions - For FREE. Art that inspires and engages, hands-on science that excites and educates, history and culture that brings past and present Michigan to life - all of these and more are waiting for you at your local public library. Just use your library card to receive a Museum Adventure Pass, presented by Macy’s, and get free admission to the following organizations.

LOCATIONS THAT ADMIT 4

Anton Art Center
Arts & Scraps
Automotive Hall of Fame
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center
Birmingham Historical Museum & Park
Detroit Artists Market
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Grosse Pointe Historical Society
Howell Nature Center
Lorenzo Cultural Center
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD)
Pewabic Pottery
Paint Creek Center for the Arts
Shalom Street
The Scarab Club
Troy Museum and Historic Village
University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History
University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Wyandotte Historical Museum
Ypsilanti Historical Museum

LOCATIONS THAT ADMIT 2

Arab American National Museum
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Cranbrook House and Gardens
Cranbrook Institute of Science
Detroit Historical Museum
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Henry Ford Estate, Fair Lane

Last year the kids especially enjoyed visiting Cranbrook and are looking forward to going again this year! Be sure to check it out and enjoy a day with the family

Something Fun For the Kids - Tapping Maple Trees to Make Maple Syrup!

It's that time of the year - Maple Syrup season...  My kids and I have made maple syrup from the sap for the past two years. We tapped 10 trees today and immediately had flow from 8 of them - Zach even drank the sap directly from the tree...

For more information on how to tap maple trees (it's VERY easy to do) check out my gardening blog and search for "Maple Syrup".

Contest: Win Free Tickets To See Justin Roberts at The Ark

On Saturday March 13, Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players will be playing at The Ark and Ann Arbor families have the opportunity to win 4 tickets to see the show for free! All you need to do is comment here about your kids funniest sports stories - although you may want to listen to Justin's hit song "Pop Fly" first as inspiration! A winning family will be choosen by Wednesday March 10.

The concert begins at 11:00 a.m. at The Ark (316 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor 48104). Tickets are $12.50 and can be purchased online or at the door, for more information call 734-761-1818.

Justin Roberts is truly one of the "all-stars" of the indie family music scene. Logging thousands of miles on the road each year in the name of children's show business, Justin has won numberous national awards and recognition and a gained a devoted fan base. Justin and The Not Ready for Naptime Players dish out unexpectedly intelligent and whimsically rocking music for kids and their parents alike.

As one of the best-selling kids' independent artists, Justin Roberts should not be missed - be sure to enter to win your family passes for the show courtesy of The Ark! As readers of the Ann Arbor Mom, YOU have a foot up on entering the contest before it is published Friday at AnnArbor.com, so be sure to enter the contest early!