Kids Calendar
(age 12 & under)
September 2025
Key to Locations
AADL: Ann Arbor District Library, (734) 327–4200, aadl.org. Events (all free) offered at Downtown (343 S. Fifth Ave.), Westgate (2503 Jackson Ave.), Traverwood (3333 Traverwood), Malletts Creek (3090 E. Eisenhower), and Pittsfield (2359 Oak Valley) branches, as well as the AADL Warehouse (265 Parkland Plz.).
HSHV: Humane Society of Huron Valley, (734) 661–3575, [email protected]. 3100 Cherry Hill Rd. Events also hosted at Tiny Lions Lounge & Adoption Center (5245 Jackson Rd., ste. A1). hshv.org.
Events
Every Mon.–Fri. (different times): Preschool Storytimes: AADL. Half-hour program of stories and songs for kids ages 2–5 (with caregiver). Pittsfield (Mon. 10:30 a.m., except Sept. 1), Downtown (Tues. 11 a.m.), Malletts Creek (Tues. 11 a.m. & Wed. 10:30 a.m.), Traverwood (Thurs. 11 a.m.), and Westgate (Fri. 1 p.m. & Sept. 15, 7 p.m.).
Every Mon.–Wed. & Fri. (different times): Playgroups for Babies: AADL. Fifteen minutes of stories, rhymes, and songs led by AADL staffers, followed by a short open playtime. For kids up to 24 months (with caregiver). No older siblings. Malletts Creek (Mon. 10:30 a.m., except Sept. 1), Traverwood (Tues. 11 a.m.), Westgate & Pittsfield (Wed. 10:30 a.m.), and Downtown (Fri. 10:30 a.m.).
Sept. 2 (10–11 a.m.): “Outdoor Story Hour”: Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Environmental Education. Caregivers with children ages 2–5 invited to hear stories and sing songs about autumn. Fuller Park playground, 1519 Fuller. Free, preregistration required (space limited) at tinyurl.com/a2parksrec. [email protected].
Every Thurs. (10:30–11:30 a.m.): “Little Paws Toddler Time”: HSHV. Stories, crafts, & fingerplays. Also, interaction with adoptable cats and dogs and a chance to make a toy or treat for the animals. For kids ages 2–5, accompanied by an adult. HSHV. $5 (babies under age 1, free). Space limited; preregistration required at hshv.org/event-calendar. [email protected], (734) 661–3575.
Sept. 5 (11–11:45 a.m.): Preschool Dance Party”: AADL Malletts Creek. A chance for kids ages 2–5, accompanied by a caregiver, to dance together to a few guided songs, followed by free dance time, and ending with a calm-down song.
Sept. 5 (5:30–8:30 p.m.): “Pets and Pajamas Movie Night”: HSHV. All kids ages 6–11 invited to watch an animal-themed movie and interact with adoptable pets. Cheese pizza dinner. Wear pajamas and bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Call for movie selection. HSHV. $35 per child. Preregistration required at hshv.org/event-calendar. (734) 661–3564, [email protected].
Sept. 6 (11:15 a.m.–noon): “Read and Look”: U-M Kelsey Museum of Archaeology. Kelsey staff read the children’s book Cleo and Cornelius: A Tale of Two Cities and Two Kitties, a spin on Aesop’s “Town Mouse, Country Mouse” fable that doubles as an introduction to the classical world. Followed by a chance for kids ages 4–7 (accompanied by an adult) to explore the museum’s Roman and Egyptian collections to find items pictured in the book. Kelsey Museum, 434 S. State. Free. (734) 764–9304.
Sept. 6 & 27 (1–4 p.m.): “Make Your Own Rag Doll”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission. WCPARC representative Dana Sutton-Myers leads kids and adults, using only scraps of cloth and string, in making a traditional rag doll to take home. No sewing required. Parker Mill County Park, log cabin, 4650 Geddes Rd. Free. No preregistration required.
Sept. 6 (3 p.m.): Gemini: Westminster Presbyterian Church. Outdoor family concert by the popular veteran acoustic duo of twin brothers Laszlo and Sandor Slomovits. Their repertoire includes sing-alongs, folk songs from around the world, and upbeat originals about life’s simple pleasures, performed on more than a dozen instruments. Bring things to sit on, along with a donation of canned or dry goods for Food Gatherers, if you can. 1500 Scio Church Rd. Free. (734) 761-9320.
Sept. 6 (4–5 p.m.): Kids & Family Open Mic and Comedy Hour: Oz’s Music Environment. Kids ages 6–12 and their family members invited to play a song, or share a story or joke. Oz’s Music Environment, 1922 Packard. Free; donation accepted. (734) 662–8283.
Sept. 7 (10–11 a.m.): A2 Summer Streets Storytime: Literati Bookstore. Literati staff read children’s books TBA. Outside Pretzel Bell, 226 S. Main. Free.
Sept. 7 (3–4 p.m.): “Building Big with Paper Cups”: AADL Malletts Creek. Kids grades preK–3 invited to stack paper cups into tall towers, pyramids, walls, swirls, and other patterns.
Sept. 8, 10, & 11 (10:30–11 a.m., different branch locations): “Preschool ArtStart”: AADL. AADL staff lead children ages 2–5, accompanied by an adult, in arts and crafts, with an emphasis on fun. AADL Traverwood (Mon.), AADL Downtown (Wed.), & AADL Malletts Creek (Thurs.).
Sept. 10 & 24 (9:30–10:30 a.m.): “Tiny Tails Toddler Time”: Tiny Lions. Stories, crafts, fingerplays, and interaction with adoptable cats. For kids ages 2–5, accompanied by an adult. Tiny Lions. $10 per kid (babies under age 1, free). Preregistration required at hshv.org/event-calendar. [email protected], (734) 661–3575.
Sept. 11-13: “Kinder Concert”: Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. AASO saxophone player Noah Stoker is joined by local pianist Kathryn Goodson and AASO program manager Jaxon Williams to present a program for kids 5 and under (accompanied by an adult) that includes a guided introduction to the instruments of the orchestra and dancing to live music. Saline District Library, Sept. 11 (10–10:30 & 11–11:30 a.m.), 555 N. Maple, Saline. AADL Downtown, Sept. 12 (10–10:30 & 11–11:30 a.m.). Chelsea District Library, Sept. 13 (10:30–11 a.m.), 221 S. Main St., Chelsea. Ypsilanti District Library, Sept. 15 (10–10:30 & 11–11:30 a.m.), 1900 N. Harris, Superior Twp. Various times and locations. Free.
Sept. 13 (1–2 p.m.): “Minecraft Magnets”: AADL Westgate. A chance for kids grades K–5 to make a Minecraft-themed refrigerator magnet using Perler beads.
Sept. 14 (1–1:45 p.m.): “Young Scientists”: AADL Malletts Creek. Science-themed stories and simple science experiments for preschoolers accompanied by a caregiver.
Sept. 14 (1–2 p.m.): “Draw Your Day”: AADL Pittsfield. A chance for kids grades K–8 to capture their day in drawings, then put them together in a zine-style book.
Sept. 17 (6:30–7:30 p.m.): “Learn to be a Welcomer”: AADL Downtown. Jewish Family Services representatives read stories for kids grades K–5 and discuss how to make others new to a school, neighborhood, or community feel at home.
Sept. 19 (10:30–11:15 a.m.): “Sensation Stations”: AADL Pittsfield. Babies and infants age 2 and under, accompanied by an adult, invited to engage their senses by scooping, pouring, shaking, and sorting a variety of materials while exploring colors, shapes, textures, and sounds.
Sept. 20 & 21 (10 a.m.–noon & 2–4 p.m.): “Crafty Chaos”: Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Kids of all ages invited to make various crafts. AAHOM, 220 E. Ann. $16 museum admission (babies under 2, free). discoverscienceandnature.org/aahom, (734) 995–9439.
Sept. 20 (10:30–11:30 a.m.): Book Party with Black Men Read: AADL Westgate. A chance for kids grades preK–5 to listen to volunteers read stories of the African diaspora, then do related activities.
Sept. 20 (3–4 p.m.): “Domino Days”: AADL Traverwood. A chance for kids grades K–5 to play with the library’s dominoes.
Sept. 20 (3–4 p.m.): “Lightsaber Bookmarks”: AADL Malletts Creek. Kids grades K–5 invited to cut out and color paper bookmarks in the shape of a Star Wars lightsaber.
Sept. 20 (11 a.m. & 1 p.m.): Birds of a Feather: University Musical Society Ypsilanti Freighthouse Residency. Two kids music luminaries, Brooklyn-based Suzi Shelton and Chicagoan Little Miss Ann, join forces for an interactive concert on the theme of going back to school. Doors open at 7 p.m. Ypsilanti Freighthouse, 100 Market Pl., Ypsilanti. Pay what you wish. Preregistration required at ums.org/season or (734) 764–2538.
Sept. 26 (7:15–8:45 p.m.): “Cats and Kids”: Tiny Lions. Kids ages 6–11 invited to spend time with adoptable cats and kittens at the Tiny Lions Lounge. Also, crafts and games, popcorn, and juice. Kids only. Tiny Lions. $20. Preregistration required at hshv.org/event-calendar. [email protected], (734) 661–3575.
Sept. 27 (9:30–noon): “Fall Festival”: First Steps/Ann Arbor PTO Fundraiser. All kids invited to ride their stroller, scooter, trike, or bike around an empty parking lot at this annual trike-a-thon. Also, an AAFD firetruck, AAPS school bus, balloon creatures, face painting, chalk drawing, games, and a ride-through bike wash. Westerman Preschool & Family Center parking lot, 2775 Boardwalk. $5/child suggested donation cash or card at the gate or online at tinyurl.com/a2trike-a-thon-2025. [email protected].
Sept. 27 (11 a.m. & 1 p.m.): Fun Girl Dance Company: University Musical Society Ypsilanti Freighthouse Residency. Performance by this Ypsi-based dance company, led by artistic director Chloé Gray. Followed by a chance for the audience to dance along. Ypsilanti Freighthouse, 100 Market Pl., Ypsilanti. Pay what you wish. Preregistration required at ums.org/season or (734) 764–2538.
Sept. 27 & 28 (noon–3 p.m.): “Critters Up Close!”: Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Leslie Science & Nature Center staff show live animals TBA. Also, animal-oriented hands-on activities for all ages. AAHOM, 220 E. Ann. $16 museum admission (babies under 2, free). discoverscienceandnature.org/aahom, (734) 995–9439.
Sept. 28 (11 a.m.–noon): “Clay Monsters”: AADL Malletts Creek. Kids grades K-5 invited to create silly and fun monsters out of air-dry clay.
Sept. 28 (11 a.m.–noon): Magic Sponge Painting: AADL Traverwood. Kids grades preK–3 invited to draw designs on a cellulose canvas, then add water to make it puff up to make 3D patterns.
Sept. 29 (1–2:30 p.m.): “HEXBUG Adventures”: AADL Traverwood. A chance for kids grades K–5 to play with the library’s robotic HEXBUGs in an interactive obstacle course.
Sept. 29 (1–2 p.m.): “DIY Stamps”: AADL Westgate. Kids grades preK–5 invited to use foam shapes to make their own rubber stamps.
Sept. 29 (1:30–3 p.m.): “K-5 Leaf Prints”: Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Environmental Education. Caregivers with children K–5 invited to hunt for falling leaves and make prints using Gelli gel printing plates and Tempera paint. Burns Park Warming Hut, 1700 Wells. Free, preregistration required (space limited) at tinyurl.com/a2parksrec. [email protected].