As free summer festivals go, Ann Arbor has one of the best. With events nearly every evening all…read morethroughout June and into early July, it's one festival that you won't want to miss! I was able to visit several times with friends, and we always ended up wandering to the "Top of the Park" where we would away to upbeat music and enjoy some delicious food. Everyone seems to congregate here, so it's not uncommon to bump into other friends and see your party grow as the night wears on. We would find ourselves talking, eating, dancing, and laughing late into the night and after the stars had already appeared on more than one occasion. I was sad that the festival wasn't longer but am already looking forward to next year and more summer nights under the stars at the top of the park!

The summer festival is back! A three week community celebration with evening performances on two…read moreoutdoor stages, and a ticketed indoor venue. Kids activities, a family tent with cornhole, demonstrations, and free bike tune-ups on Weds. Held on UM campus by the clock tower. Drinks and food for purchase available on site.

First time back in several years. I would recommend going a nice enjoyable drive through Hines…read moredrive and the lights are a sight to see. We usually get some kind of a snack for the kids as we drive through the park. I do have to say it is less busy during the week then on the weekends.

Excellent. A wonderful and affordable holiday tradition for our family for generations. Always…read morewell organized and awe inspiring no matter your age, and inclusive of all in the Wayne County Community. Highly suggest!

Have been here a handful of times since the Summer of 2020 and have always had a good experience,…read moreso I decided to have my son's first birthday party here September 2021. The staff member with us (Sophia) was helpful and was frequently asking what I needed help with. She helped us set up and take down as well. The decorations were all set up upon our arrival. They had balloons and tablecloths set up for us. The only thing I brought related to decor was a backdrop and "happy birthday" sign for the dessert table. Also brought our desserts and food. The party room was clean and all of our guests complimented how well kept the farm was. There was a high chair for the birthday boy and 6 larger tables for the guests (there were a bunch more outdoors as well but all of our guests ate in the party room). I appreciated having the entire farm and party room to ourselves. All of the kids enjoyed their play time in the yard (a bunch of toys, some ride on car/roller coasters, sand area, and more out there to keep them busy) in addition to the petting farm itself. They also enjoyed riding the horse. I would recommend some rain boots if you're coming after heavy rain. It gets muddy on the farm. The only downside was that I had to bring literally everything needed along with us such as plates, silverware, napkins, a knife and spatula and lighter for the cake (just some examples).... It would be awesome if some of those things were provided by Carousel Acres but it was no big deal since I knew in advance. This still didn't take away from the experience. Overall, we truly enjoyed our time here and would recommend it for others! I would definitely have another party here again.

The middle part of our visit was great! It would have earned five stars! We got to pet a really…read morecool Zebra-Donkey (Ze-Donkey / Zonkey) and talked with the nice worker in its area who was friendly and safety minded. We enjoyed seeing all the animals. The granddaughter of the owner, Kenzie, was super nice and good with the kids. She should manage all the guest relations as she is welcoming and friendly. But that was the middle part of the visit. The beginning and the end were BAD; and it was all because of one woman and her rude attitude. Her name is Lorraine. When we arrived, we were not aware we were supposed to "check in" at the porch as there was no sign saying to do so. Another worker ran after us saying we had to check in at the porch. So we did. Then we learned we needed to pay $12 each, which caught us by surprise because the Facebook event did not say there was an entry fee. Lorraine said rudely "there's ALWAYS a $12 entry fee to get in!" We said we'd never been there so we didn't know that and that events on Facebook usually say if there is a fee. We found a way for the 7 of us to pay because only one of us had cash. (She should not be in a greeter position or any position facing off with the public. She does not know how to talk nicely to people). And then after we'd enjoyed time with the animals and had forgot about the rough start, we encountered her again and she was she was rude to our family again; twice before we left. Once when we decided to go into the gift shop and Lorraine said, "What are you doing? You can't go in there!" when we tried to open the door. She then said it was closed for a private event. I said, "the sign on the door says OPEN and come in." She didn't say anything, but stood up and slid it over so it said it was Closed. (She could've said...oh sorry for the confusion; we should have changed that). She made us feel like we did something wrong when they should've changed the sign. (Her approach and tone was very unwelcoming every time we interacted with her). Then when I was over talking to Kenzie about the cute swinging ghosts hanging over the entryway Lorraine took it upon herself to walk over and yell at my son-in-law who was playing on a teeter totter with his daughter, acting like he was riding it up and down with her, but using his legs to stand and go up and down. She rudely told him he wasn't allowed to be on the equipment. He didn't appreciate her tone and how she spoke to him in front of his daughter. That was totally unnecessary! This place has so much potential, but having someone like that as your first (and last) impression will not help you. I told Lorraine before we left that we had really enjoyed the Farm, but that she had been rude to our family several times during our visit and it had really ruined the visit for us ...and she said nothing back. Wow.

Just a fun homemade- community made festival and parade. We have never been to the Friday night…read morepart of the fest, we attend the Sunday parade. We have been going from time to time since the kids were really little, at least a decade. We have not always made it out here, but we were able to attend this year then take a nice walk around the city. This is a fun little event, nothing fancy, but great for all ages and the kids love the bubbles.

The kickoff to the Ann Arbor festival season and by far one of the funnest gatherings in town…read more Festifools is split up into two events--the original and flagship "Festifools" and a younger twilight party called "FoolMoon." Here's the dish on each. Firstly--Both typically take place on the second weekend of April. FoolMoon goes down on Friday night and Festifools on Sunday. FoolMoon is a night time processional through several streets of Ann Arbor made up of locals who have made luminaries and are dressed up in lovely glowing garb (in the weeks leading up to FoolMoon you can attend luminary workshops to help make your own or buy kits at a few local shops like Downtown Home and Garden). The processionals all end downtown by Washington and Ashley for a nightime block party filled with cool sights, light projects and shows, beer, food, music and merriment. And all those eye popping and impressive luminaries. The party, on a nice weather night, goes until midnight. So it's truly a party. In general FoolMoon is my favorite of the two and is one of my favorite things to do in town. Sadly this year it was raining and I'm just not built for elements like that so I didn't make it down but next year I shall be sure to return. Festifools is what they call "a gigantic public art spectacular, created by members of the community and U of M students." Folks get together in the weeks leading up to the event and make huge papier-mâché puppets (most of which need several people to help control) which they then take to Main Street and march in a parade (along with costumed revelers and marching bands) for folks to enjoy. The puppets typically veer into the silly, the surreal, and maybe a little creepy. This year I saw some Pac Man ghosts (silly), big headed replicas of notable locals (the surreal), and a big fat baby with a phone that said "send nudes" (the creepy). There was also a huge Vincent Van Gogh, little kids dressed up as robots, Chinese dragons, an octopus controlled by about 10 walkers, and so so much more. This event is short, it only runs about an hour (4-5 pm) but they pack in a lot into it. Lots of fun, great for kids, pet friendly (I walked my dog down to watch the processional), and most importantly-- FREE! Great cheap fun for the whole family! Or just curious onlookers on the street! Happy to have such a cool, creative community in town working on this. Hoping they continue this tradition for many many years into the future!

They had one of their open weekends and I have to say Woohoo! As good as it gets for pinball games…read more They had over 200 pinball games, 11 hours of play time for $25 on Saturday! The staff was great! Very friendly and helpful and if anything went wrong with the game, they were johnny-on-the-spot taking care of it. They also offered food and drinks outside in the pavilion area. Just a fantastic nostalgia event for those that love to play pinball! I can't wait for the next one!!

This place was an absolute blast! To my surprise, I enjoyed the games from the 50s most of…read moreall...there was something just wonderful about the simplicity. But all the games were fun...great atmosphere, really fun time!

We all know that the weather in Michigan can be unpredictable, so you have to give credit to an…read moreannual festival that is so dependent on the weather. This year was a little warm. This year, the highs will reach 40. Having said that, this a magical festival based on absolutely beautiful, if transitory, works of art. My husband and I live just down the street, and it is worth it for us to go every year.

The 40th annual Plymouth ice festival was held in February 2022. Because of Covid, the ice…read moresculptures were spread throughout downtown Plymouth which I think is a good idea to also entice people to visit businesses along different streets. The ice sculptures were impressive. I'd like to see the number of statues increase in the future. February is one of my least favorite months because it's cold and there aren't a lot of outdoor activities. The ice festival was fun and encouraged me to go to Plymouth twice to take a walk around town to see the ice sculptures. I'd like to see more winter events like the ice festival that bring people together and have a positive impact on local businesses. I stopped by Max and Bella's Smokehouse for the first time to get dinner while I was at the ice festival. I recommend eating here for a quick take-out plate. I thought there would be a long wait but the business was prepared to serve quick and hearty meals. There were also food trucks and food vendors next to Kellogg Park. Don't expect an internationally renowned ice festival like the one in Harbin, China, but this is a decent festival for a small city and worth seeing.

What a treat to see a classic story like Beaty and the Beast acted out in this classic, historic…read moretheatre. Outside, handills and sandwich boards announce the current performance. Inside, the smell of freshly popped popcorn will greet you as you make your way into the lobby/foyer. Despite the ornate gold fixtures and red velvet curtains in the auditorium that speak to the theatre's bygone days, it's now a family-friendly place so popcorn as a snack option is a hit. Ticket prices are reasonable so the whole family can experience live theatre without breaking the bank. The matinee performances on Saturdays and Sundays are perfect for kids and birthday parties are a regular event. At the end of performances, after curtain calls, the cast announce the names of the birthday boys and girls and everyone, including the audience, sings happy birthday. Community theatre is a wonderful way to showcase local talent and it's fun to see such an active group alive and well in historic Northville.

They have great shows and have for many years. I'm confused by the woman below who is complaining…read moreabout someone stopping her from texting during a show. She's in the wrong! You shouldn't text during a show. Also, the shows are based on classic fairytales and not Disney movies. I see all their shows and the kids I take are always impressed.

Wow! Just wow! The…read moreArcade is amazing. So many machines crammed into one space. Admittedly, I came for the pinball of which there was plenty. But on top of that there are modern international rhythm games, classic arcade cabinets, and even those modern sit down arcade monstrosities that are more like pieces of furniture than games. All of which are included to play for free with your admission. For some, that is an incredible deal. But if you are pretty good at pinball $20 can last a long long time at a regular arcade. Still, free play offers an opportunity to try out difficult shots and improve one's pinball game without dipping deeper into your wallet. There are a few downsides. As others have mentioned it's warm inside. Not surprising given the number of machines. On a hot summer day, despite fans circulating overhead, I was literally dripping in sweat wearing just shorts and a t-shirt. Next time, I will wear a lighter shirt and might consider rocking a sweat band around my noggin. Or, I might wait until cooler temperatures roll along. Being open only three days a week is a bit of a bummer. I'd also love to see a little more space between machines, as it's not uncommon to get bumped into during a game, and that's unfortunate. However, I would also hate to see The Arcade lose any of the machines they've got, so I'll happily suck up the occasional physical contact. At the moment, The Arcade has pinball machines spanning a wide swath of time including The Big Lebowski, Bonzai Run, Pinbot, Taxi, Toy Story 4, and the brand new John Wick. Their Elton John machine was wrapped up for transit, and it was unclear if it was coming or going. I do also love that you can have in and out privileges. One of these days, I'm going to have a Saturday pinball marathon, arriving at noon when The Arcade opens and staying until my body fails me. Maybe I can even make it to closing at 11pm, but even if I could log eight hours of pinball, that would be incredible. My biggest piece of advice is dress appropriately. Maybe consider bringing a portable fan or cooling device to hang around your neck. Ear plugs or headphones might also help you last longer and get more out of your admission fee.

Clean, well kept absolutely nicely maintained, the games mostly all work, and it's $20 for all you…read morecan play. I brought my little boy here who's a huge Dave and Busters fan. He's a little young yet to get into the old school arcade games but we had a good time on the racers and he's just starting to get down with pinball which they have a lot of. We often go to Pinball Pete's but this is a great alternative. They don't have the skeeball or some of the larger games, and there isn't a prize counter but for the cost and location I much prefer The Arcade. He and I can play for $40 where D&B or Pete's is more like $50-100 if we're both playing.