Oakland County community calendar Jan. 11 and beyond – The Oakland Press

Community activities

• Royal Oak Public Library and Ferndale Area District Library to host Preschool & Early Learning Fair, 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 13, at Royal Oak Farmer’s Market, 316 E. Eleven Mile Rd., Royal Oak, fadl.org/youth, ropl.mi.org.

• Zenning Your Space-Kokedama wellness workshop is 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, at Wint Nature Center, 9501 Sashabaw Road, Independence Twp. Craft a kokedama (a Japanese moss ball plant) and discover ways to weave natural elements into your environment for relaxation, balance and better air quality, suited for ages 8+, $10/person, preregistration is required; call 248-858-0916, or visit www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks.

Expos

• The Troy Public Library will host a Preschool Expo, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 22, at the Troy Community Center and is seeking organizations to participate. The free event is an opportunity for organizations that provide services to children ages birth to 5 years old in the Troy area, troypl.org for more information or call 248.524.3538.

• The HBA and the Construction Association of Michigan (CAM) to present the Great Lakes Design and Construction EXPO 2026 for residential and commercial designers, contractors, suppliers and service providers, Feb. 3, at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace (formerly Suburban Collection Showplace), 46100 Grand River Ave. in Novi. For registration and ticket information, visit https://miconstructionexpo.com.

Festivals/Shows

• Ultimate Fishing Show is Jan. 8–11, Vibe Credit Union Showplace, formerly Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi, www.vibeshowplace.com, general admission is $12, ($5 for ages 6-14) parking is $10.

• Detroit Auto Show is Jan. 14-25, Huntington Place, Detroit, https://detroitautoshow.com, ticket prices vary. Charity Preview featuring Robin Thicke is Jan. 16, ticket prices vary.

• Fire & Ice Festival is Jan. 16-17, (5-9 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday). Activities are centered around East Third Street and Water Street, downtown Rochester. Activities include ice carving competition from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Snowzilla Jr.’s winter slide, Frosty the world’s tallest bounce house, a synthetic skating rink, food truck vendors, a warming tent with beer and wine to purchase, fireworks show at 8 p.m. Saturday, www.downtownrochestermi.com, free to attend.

• The Novi Home Show is Jan. 16-18, Vibe Credit Union Showplace, formerly Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi, www.vibeshowplace.com, general admission is $12, ($5 for ages 6-14) parking is $10.

Health/safety activities

• The American Red Cross is in need of blood donations. Those who give now through Jan. 25 will be automatically entered to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in February in Santa Clara, California. Donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are especially needed. To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl, or use the Red Cross Blood Donor app or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

• The Farmington Hills Fire Department and the City of Farmington Hills Emergency Preparedness Commission are offering an American Heart Association Heartsaver class to train members of the public in CPR, AED and Stop the Bleed tourniquet skills, 5:30-10 p.m., Jan 22, at Fire Station #4 located at 28711 Drake Road, ages 12+, children under 18-years-old must register with a parent or guardian. Registration fees are $10 for Farmington Hills and Farmington residents, and $20 for non-residents. An additional $20 fee for the American Heart Association Certificate of Training. Participants must be physically capable of kneeling on the floor and performing continuous chest compressions using their arms and hands. Register by Jan. 15, by email to FDevents@FHgov.com.

• National Radon Action Month is January. Radon test kits for homes are available at no cost to Oakland County residents at Health Division offices: North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph, Building 34E, Pontiac or South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield. ore than five test kits, 800-848-5533, epa.gov/radon, oakgov.com/health. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed, Jan. 19). Contact the office ahead of time if you want more than five test kits, 800-848-5533, epa.gov/radon, oakgov.com/health.

Library activities

• Rochester Hills Public Library and the Stoney Creek Daughters of the American Revolution announce the American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit will be on display Jan. 11-17, on the 2nd floor of the library, 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester, www.rhpl.org. The exhibit is a collaborative project of the American Battlefield Trust and the Daughters of the American Revolution featuring display panels and interactive digital kiosks. The DAR will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Jan. 11.

• Ferndale Library Community Engagement Session is 6 p.m. Jan. 12, at Ferndale High School Media Center, 881 Pinecrest Drive, Ferndale. The staff of the Ferndale Area District Library invites residents to take part in a collaborative evening designed to help shape the library’s future, complimentary refreshments, no registration needed, fadl.org.

• David Greer, retired professor of History at Rochester Christian University, will give a talk on the history of the American Revolutionary War, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. at Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester.  Admission is free, and registration is available at rhpl.org/calendar.

• “Envisioning a Just Future-Lessons from the Civil Rights Era” is 3-5 p.m. Jan. 17, Milford Public Library, 330 Family Drive, Milford. Professor Emerita and author June Manning Thomas will lead a discussion on racial and social justice, drawing on her experiences during desegregation and the Civil Rights Movement, www.milfordlibrary.info.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day charitable activities

• Warm Your Heart Food Drive is Jan. 12-19, at the Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester, donate cans of soup to Neighborhood House’s Warm Your Heart drive.www.rhpl.org.

• Martin Luther King Jr. “A Day On, Not A Day Off” is 9 -11:30 a.m., Jan. 19, at  at Clawson High School, 101 John M Ave, Clawson., in partnership with the cities and school districts of Berkley, Clawson, and Royal Oak, https://romi.gov/mlk. The community is invited to gather at 9 a.m. and make signs for the Freedom Walk at 9:30 a.m. Following the walk, the public is invited to participate in service projects, including blanket-making for those in the hospital, sorting donations for local organizations, and creating greeting cards. Donations of non-perishable food, toiletries, new children’s books and clothing are being collected, or donations can be made at Amazon, www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2QRCFD82LN24U?ref_=wl_share.

• MLK Day Celebration is Monday, Jan. 19, at the Auburn Hills Community Center, 3350 E Seyburn Drive, Auburn Hills. The community-wide celebration features a light breakfast at 8:30 a.m., presentation at 9 a.m. and a community service project at 10 a.m., assembling fleece tie blankets which are donated to Grace Centers of Hope. Blanket kits are available to pick up before the day of the event, to assemble and return. Also donations of new and gently used winter coats of all sizes are being collected at the community center through the month of January, www.facebook.com/CityofAuburnHills.

• The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force, in partnership with Forgotten Harvest Food Bank, to host a food distribution drive, 2-4 p.m. Jan. 16, at the Southfield Parks & Recreation parking lot. Families in need may drive through the circular drive and follow posted directions to receive a free food box. Food boxes will be available to the first 125 households. For information, call the MLK Task Force hotline at (248) 924-9655 or visit www.mlktaskforcemi.org.

• Area residents are encouraged to donate chili ingredients to support local families. Donations may be dropped at collection sites throughout Milford and Highland. Volunteers will assemble meals on MLK Day, 5-8 p.m. Jan. 19, at The Warehouse at River’s Edge, 125 S Main St. #700, Milford. For information, visit www.HVMLK.org.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day events happening in Oakland County

Parks/Outdoor activities

• City of Auburn Hills Winter Solstice Lantern Walk: 6-9 p.m. Jan. 23, (previously scheduled for Dec. 19) Hawk Woods Park and Campground, 3799 Bald Mountain Rd, Auburn Hills, family event to check out the night sky with a local astronomy group, create a winter craft by a campfire, and walk an illuminated woodland trail, www.facebook.com/CityofAuburnHills, (248) 370-9353.

• Winter Park is open Fridays-Sundays, through March 1, at Bowers Farm, 1219 E Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills. Timed tubing tickets must be purchased in advance at www.schoolfarm.org/winter-activities, $17+, lights during evening hours. Activities include viewing farm animals, hay tower, bonfires, shopping at Farm Kitchen and Farm Store for local products, free admission to the park.

• The “Cold is Cool” Ski & Ride Passport program app is $30, and allows 4th and 5th-grade students to ski for free, up to three times at more than 25 participating Michigan ski areas through the 2025/2026 season, when accompanied by a paying adult. Local participating ski areas include Mt. Holly Ski Area in Holly and Mt. Brighton in Brighton. The cost of the app (to download on a cell phone) is $30 per child, which covers operational expenses, all lift tickets are donated by the ski areas. Register at the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association website, www.goskimichigan.com.

• The Rink at Royal Oak, ice skating at Centennial Commons in downtown Royal Oak, weather permitting, www.therinkatroyaloak.com.

• The Rink at Stine Community Park is open daily through the season, 241 Town Center, at the corner of Town Center and Civic Center Drive at the City of Troy Civic Center Campus, free admission, skate rentals are $3 residents, $5 non-residents, https://rec.troymi.gov/parks___facilities/the_rink/index.php, weather permitting.

• Riley Park Ice Rink in downtown Farmington open through February, 23600 Liberty St., Farmington, www.downtownfarmington.org, open daily, weather permitting, free admission, bring skates, https://farmgov.com/Community/Parks-and-Recreation/Riley-Park-Ice-Rink.

• Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers free admission. General park entry fees and vehicle permits have been eliminated for all parks operated by Oakland County Parks, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks.

• Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, metroparks.com. Park entrance fees apply. Annual vehicle passes are $40 for residents or $45 for non-residents. Senior citizen pricing on annual passes are available in-person at toll booths or park offices with ID as proof of age.

• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.

Support resources

• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions, United Way, https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help.

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.

• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 – call or text 800-231-1127.

• Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 and then press 1 to connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.

Submit community events online at https://bit.ly/40a2iAm.