Winter & Rainy-Day Survival
Indoor Play in Traverse City
Indoor play spaces in Traverse City are a winter (and rainy-spring, and too-hot-summer) lifesaver. The Great Lakes Children's Museum, climbing at ELEV8, GT Butterfly House & Bug Zoo, the indoor playgrounds at certain community centers, and seasonal indoor pop-ups round out the local options.
If you're new to TC, the museum membership pays for itself in roughly two visits — it's our most-recommended indoor reset for moms with multiples. For older kids who need to move, the climbing gym is what saves February.
Browse upcoming indoor-play events and open-play times below. For our complete list of TC playgrounds (outdoor), see playgrounds. For rainy-day art classes and storytime in heated buildings, see our classes directory. Need real-time "is the museum crowded today?" intel from other moms? That's what The Exchange is for.
Upcoming sessions
- Free
Storytime
Mon, Jun 29 · 11:00am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Coding Club w/ Mr. Andy
Mon, Jun 29 · 4:00pm Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Clubhouse: Craft and Play
Tue, Jun 30 · 10:00am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Sing & Stomp with Miss Amanda
Wed, Jul 1 · 10:00am East Bay Branch Library - 1989 Three Mile Rd. Traverse City, MI 49686 - Free
Storytime and Craft-Wednesdays
Wed, Jul 1 · 11:00am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Fisher Early Learning & Family Center Playgroup
Wed, Jul 1 · 10:00am Northwest Education Services, 1050 Silver Dr., Traverse City, MI 49684 - Free
Youth Plein Air Month
Wed, Jul 1 · 9:00am Glen Arbor Arts Center - Free
Beginners Storyplay
Thu, Jul 2 · 9:15am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Teen Dungeons & Dragons
Thu, Jul 2 · 1:00pm Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
U.S. Coast Guard Open Ramp
Fri, Jul 3 · 5:30pm USCG Air Station Traverse City, 1799 N. Long Lake Rd Civic Cello Club (TC Philharmonic)
Tue, Jul 7 · 5:45pm Traverse City Philharmonic Center, 1724 S Garfield Ave- Free
Playgroup at The Curiosity Place
Wed, Jul 8 · 9:30am The Curiosity Place at Grand Traverse Mall (Great Lakes Children's Museum) - Free
Kids Cherry Town Fun Night
Wed, Jul 8 · 4:00pm F & M Park at Railroad & Washington Streets - Free
Great Lakes Children's Museum Playgroup
Wed, Jul 8 · 10:00am Great Lakes Children's Museum, 3200 W South Airport Rd Suite 420, Traverse City, MI 49684 - Free
Kids Sand Sculpture Contest
Thu, Jul 9 · 9:00am West End Beach, Traverse City - Free
Dino Builder workshop & Parade
Thu, Jul 9 · 11:00am Glen Lake Library 10115 W. Front Street Empire, MI 49630 Master the Pasta-Bilities (For Adult & Child Age 6+)
Sat, Jul 11 · 1:00pm Oleson Center 1881 College Dr Traverse City, MI 49686Nature Explorers Summer Day Camp
Mon, Jul 13 · 10:00am 6962 Burr Street, Benzonia MI 49616- Free
Storytime
Mon, Jul 13 · 11:00am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Field Day and Water Games
Tue, Jul 14 · 11:00am Kalkaska Senior Center - Free
Clubhouse: Craft and Play
Tue, Jul 14 · 10:00am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Storytime and Craft-Wednesdays
Wed, Jul 15 · 11:00am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Fisher Early Learning & Family Center Playgroup
Wed, Jul 15 · 10:00am Northwest Education Services, 1050 Silver Dr., Traverse City, MI 49684 - Free
Beginners Storyplay
Thu, Jul 16 · 9:15am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Teen Dungeons & Dragons
Thu, Jul 16 · 1:00pm Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Storytime
Mon, Jul 20 · 11:00am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Clubhouse: Craft and Play
Tue, Jul 21 · 10:00am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI - Free
Kalkaska County Library Playgroup & Story Time
Wed, Jul 22 · 10:00am Kalkaska County Library, 247 S Cedar St, Kalkaska, MI 49646 - Free
Great Lakes Children's Museum Playgroup
Wed, Jul 22 · 10:00am Great Lakes Children's Museum, 3200 W South Airport Rd Suite 420, Traverse City, MI 49684 - Free
Storytime and Craft-Wednesdays
Wed, Jul 22 · 11:00am Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI
Related guides
We update this directory regularly as new classes and events are announced.