Arbor Annie’s MLK Weekend Roundup – January 17-20

Usually the main talk of this weekend’s roundup would be the 3 day weekend for MLK Day. However, a snow storm looming on Friday night bringing 5-8″ of snow is going to have a big effect on the weekend.

Arbor Annie’s Weekend Picks

Last weekend we were worried about rain and subsequent freezing. This weekend seems to be the opposite – snow then possibly rain. The snow is accompanied by high winds, so I would still prepare for possible power outages.

It looks like we got on the lower end of the forecast (at least on the south side of Ann Arbor where I am. Check out our Snow Day List for closures and late openings on Saturday.

Ann Arbor Restaurant Week concludes on Friday. We enjoyed lunch on Sunday at Bigalora (where their 2/$28 was almost enough for my family of 2 adults and a teen). Wednesday night, we visited the newly rennovated bds Mongolian Grill. I recommend both.

If we get the snow totals that are predicted for late Friday night/Saturday morning, plan to verify any events listed with the organizer before heading out and travel with caution. I wonder if the Dexter Ice Fest will be cancelled for the weather.

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr Day. We’ve assembled a list of local events for Monday as well as started a list of events for Black History Month.

Of course if we have significant snowfall, sledding will be a great activity. Check out our list of favorite sledding hills.

Top Weekend Event Picks

Friday Picks

8:30am High School Open House at Rudolph Steiner High School Campus

10:00am-11:00am Emerson K-1 Information Meeting at Emerson School

10:30am-11:00am Just for Younger Kids Storytime Tasting: Chicken Soup & Rice at Zingerman’s Deli

7:30pm FutureStars Preliminary at Pioneer High School

9:30pm Shrek at Michigan Theater

Saturday Picks

11:00am-5:00pm Dexter Ice Fest at Monument Park

11:00am-12:00pm Special Storytime: Are your stars like my stars? at Nicola’s Books

12:30pm-2:00pm Art From Around the World: Modern Art at Malletts Creek Branch Library

1:00pm-2:00pm Drag Bingo with Jadein Black at Downtown Branch of AADL

1:00pm-2:00pm Popsicle Stick Paper Dolls at Westgate Branch of AADL

2:00pm Scholarship Open House at Ypsilanti District Library – Downtown

4:00pm-6:00pm Reuse Collage Buttons at the Scrap Box

7:30pm FutureStars Preliminary at Pioneer High School

Sunday Picks

12:00pm-1:00pm Hedgehog Day Crafts at Westgate Branch of AADL

1:00pm-2:00pm Drawing for Kids: Chinese New Year Dragons at Downtown Branch of AADL

Monday Picks

8:30am-3:00pm UM MLK Children & Youth Day at Modern Languages Building

9:30am-11:30am Diversity Day at Jewish Community Center

10:00am-4:00pm MLK Day - Discounted Admission at Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

10:00am-10:00pm MLK Unlimited Play Day at Zap-Zone

11:00am-12:00pm Animals of the Rain Forest at Dexter District Library

11:00am-12:30pm Black Writers Matter at Ypsilanti District Library – Downtown

11:00am-3:00pm MLK Day – Free Family Drop-In at Ann Arbor Art Center

11:00am-12:00pm MLK Day Event at Learning Express Toys of Ann Arbor

11:00am-1:00pm MLK Jr Day Skate and Tribute at Veterans Ice Arena

12:30pm-8:30pm Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speaks at Malletts Creek Branch Library

12:30pm-8:30pm Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speaks at Pittsfield Branch Library

12:30pm-9:00pm High School Exam Study Space at Westgate Branch of AADL

1:00pm-3:30pm Family Plank & Canvas Workshop at AR Workshop

1:00pm-5:00pm Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Sculpture at Downtown Branch of AADL

1:30pm-8:15pm MLK Day Film Marathon at Ypsilanti District Library – Downtown

2:00pm-8:00pm Knockerball Open Play at Knockerball Saline

2:00pm Martin Luther King, Jr Day Activities at Ypsilanti District Library – Superior

6:30pm-7:30pm MLK Day Celebration at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd

7:00pm Selma at Michigan Theater

Movies

The first big family-friendly movie of the year is Dolittle this weekend. The initial reviews don’t look very good for the movie.

Just in time for the snow storm is a Sing Along version of Frozen 2 this weekend.

Friday night Michigan Theater is showing Shrek (although I expect a lot of college students in the audience).

Family friendly films in the theater include:

• Little Women
• Spies in Disguise
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker  (PG-13) – Check out our review & parental guidance.
• Frozen 2 (Regular & Sing Along)
• Just Mercy (PG-13)
• Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13)
• Cats
• Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
• Ford v. Ferrari (PG-13)

Upcoming Sponsored Events

Thank you to our advertisers for sponsoring these event listings:

Looking Forward to Next Week

11:30am-9:00pm High School Exam Study Space at Westgate Branch of AADL

6:00pm Washtenaw Technical Middle College Information Session at Washtenaw Community College

6:30pm-8:30pm Soundwalk in Winter at Downtown Branch of AADL

7:00pm-8:00pm Washtenaw Reads Book Discussion | Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen at Pittsfield Branch Library

7:00pm-9:00pm High School Exam Study Space at Westgate Branch of AADL

7:00pm-8:30pm Strategies for Overcoming Climate Eco-Anxiety at Downtown Branch of AADL

10:00am Frog and Toad at Morris Lawrence Building

4:00pm-9:00pm High School Exam Study Space at Westgate Branch of AADL

10:00am Frog and Toad at Morris Lawrence Building

10:00am-11:30am Morning Movies for Toddlers & Preschoolers at Dexter District Library

12:30pm Frog and Toad at Morris Lawrence Building

5:30pm-8:45pm Family Night at Kidopolis

6:00pm-8:30pm Free Community Talent Show & Flavor Debut at Go! Ice Cream

6:00pm-8:00pm Mother-Son Luau at Pittsfield Township Community Center

6:00pm-8:30pm Winter Night Hike at Independence Lake

10:00am-10:40am Dancing Babies with Denise Owens at Pittsfield Branch Library

10:30am-11:30am Enrollment Meeting at Honey Creek Community School

11:00am-1:30pm American Girl Doll, Clothing & Accessories Sale at Saline Rec Center

11:00am-12:30pm Black Writers Matter at Ypsilanti District Library – Downtown

11:00am-12:00pm Dig It Up Fun! at Learning Express Toys of Ann Arbor

11:00am Frog and Toad at Morris Lawrence Building

11:00am-12:00pm Preschool Makerspace at Dexter District Library

11:00am-1:30pm Trampoline Extravaganza with Diabetes Youth Services at Airtime Trampoline

12:00pm-3:00pm Snow Much Fun! at Rolling Hills County Park

2:00pm-4:00pm Admissions Open House at Summers-Knoll School

2:00pm James and the Giant Peach at Copeland Auditorium

7:00pm James and the Giant Peach at Copeland Auditorium

7:30pm FutureStars Finale at Pioneer High School

10:00am-11:30am A Taste of HDS: I Spy Kindergarten at Hebrew Day School at the JCC

1:00pm-4:00pm Amigurumi Cocoa Mug with Drew Hill at Pittsfield Branch Library

1:00pm-4:00pm Preschool Expo at Downtown Branch of AADL

2:00pm-5:00pm Build a Square Wave Oscillator at Downtown Branch of AADL

2:00pm-4:00pm Film & Discussion | Souls of Black Girls at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd

2:00pm James and the Giant Peach at Copeland Auditorium

2:00pm-3:30pm PJ Masks Live! Save the Day at EMU Convocation Center

3:00pm Sing-A-Long Little Mermaid at Michigan Theater

All Weekend Events