Community Event
Pride Yoga
Family Fun
Young Athletes Showcase
FREE sports-sampler event for kids ages 3-7!
Come together in friendship and inclusion to have fun learning early sports skills!
This awesome Special Olympics event is FREE, but registration is required.
Attendees are welcome to stay after and purchase lunch from Owen’s Able Table and enjoy a picnic on the grounds at The War Memorial.
REGISTER
Mental Health Series
Grief Work
Choose compassion for yourself and have courage to seek help. Together, we will learn how to develop resilience and to be intentional in our grief, so we can grow in our wisdom and connection to ourselves and others.
EMAIL TO REGISTER
Family Fun
Pop-Up Pickleball: Family Style
The War Memorial is partnering with The Family Center and Parking Lot Pickleball to host a free, family-friendly picnic and pickleball event! Learn pickleball basics and enjoy the beautiful lakefront setting with your family and your own dinner or snacks at Intro to Pickleball: Family Style.
Have you wanted to learn pickleball, but feel a little intimidated getting out on the court? Our pickleball pros will lead two 20-minute workshops on the back lawn of The War Memorial. After the sessions, the courts will be available for open play, giving you an opportunity to test out your new skills. We’ll welcome summer with more outdoor games and an incredible interactive drum set up for families to enjoy all evening long.
Bring a blanket – or borrow our folding chairs – and stake out the perfect picnic spot to enjoy dinner al fresco. While we welcome you bringing in your own food, alcohol is not permitted by Michigan State law. The War Memorial’s Cash Bar will be open, with small snacks available for purchase.
5:30pm – Back lawn opens for families to gather, BYOP(icnic) and refreshments available for purchase
6:00-6:30pm – Learn to Play Pickleball (Session #1)
6:30-7:00pm – Open Play on Pickleball courts
7:00-7:30pm – Learn to Play Pickleball (Session #2)
7:30-8:00pm – Open Play on Pickleball courts
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Family Fun
Teddy Bear Picnic
Celebrate National Teddy Bear Picnic Day With Us!
Bring your favorite teddy bear or stuffed friend and join us for a fun-filled hour of singing, dancing, and more! Toddlers and their parent/caregiver will have a great time playing together on the lawn overlooking the lake during this structured class led by Danielle Mitchelson.
A snack will be provided. Please bring water and a towel or blanket to sit on. Don’t forget your stuffie!
Recommended age is 18 mos+. Siblings are welcome. In case of bad weather, we will move inside.
Danielle Mitchelson is The Family Center’s Preschool Playtime teacher and the former Director of Preschool for Birmingham Public Schools.
Please indicate if you are signing up for the 10am or 11am class when you register.
EMAIL TO REGISTER
Family Fun
Picnic & Play By the Lake
Pack your picnic basket and join us on the beautiful back lawn of The War Memorial for Picnic & Play by the Lake — a free, family-friendly gathering designed to turn an ordinary morning into a memory-making adventure.
Families are invited to enjoy two carefree hours by the lake from 10:30am–12:30pm. Bring your own picnic blanket, your favorite snacks, and your favorite people. We’ll bring the fun!
Expect plenty of yard games and hands-on activities for kids and families to enjoy together — think classic lawn favorites, space to run, and that unbeatable summer feeling that only happens when sunshine meets shoreline. Come and go as you please – whether you stay for a quick visit or settle in for the full two hours, this is your invitation to step outside, connect, and play.
There’s no better place to spend a summer morning than The War Memorial – we’ll see you on the lawn!
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Community Event
Community Joiner Fair featuring Priya Parker
In conversation with Ann Delisi from WDET
Building on last year’s incredible inaugural event, our Community Joiner Fair returns on October 7th, providing a welcoming space to connect with local clubs, nonprofits, and civic organizations. Whether you’re passionate about a hobby, a cause, or simply meeting new people, you’ll find opportunities to get involved and make a difference.
2026 Activities include:
- Joiner Fair from 5:30-8pm
- Keynote Address from 6-7pm (separate registration required due to capacity limitations)
- Special screening of the film that inspired it all – the acclaimed documentary Join Or Die.
We hope these events will inspire attendees to get involved and build connections throughout the community.
Presented in partnership with The War Memorial and the Grosse Pointe Public Library.
