After decades of tumultuous struggle, the United Nations commemorated March 8 as International Women’s Day in 1975.
At the same time, the California Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women created a Women’s History Week celebration in 1978. The organizers chose the week of March 8 to promote International Women’s Day. Soon after, women’s groups and historians, led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women’s History Alliance), lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the Week of March 8 National Women’s History Week. Seven years later, Congress renamed it National Women’s History Month.
To learn more about women’s history and contributions, check out our list of upcoming events throughout March in and around Oakland County.
Verify registration, hours and locations before attending. Updated 3/4/2026
Bloomfield Hills/ Clawson
March 19: Ladies Day Out tour with Custom Holidays
Commerce Twp.
March 26: Women’s History Month at Rolling Hills Retirement Community
Ferndale
March 8: International Women’s Day at the Catfe Lounge
March 13: Movie Night: A League of Their Own at the Ferndale Area District Library
Novi
March 11: NHC Event: A Purse of Her Own
Pontiac
March 8: International Women’s Day Bunny & Cat Workshop at Epiphany Studios
March 8: Women Entrepreneurs Bazaar at Centro Multicultural La Familia
Rochester Hills
March 19: “The Courage to Right a Woman’s Wrongs” by Ana Caro at the Varner Studio Theatre at Oakland University
Royal Oak
March 12: Community Book Club (“The Wind Knows My Name” by Isabel Allende) at the Royal Oak Public Library
Southfield
March 5: Early Detroit: Black Women Who Changed History at the Southfield Public Library
March 22: Womens Month Bouquets and Brunch: Pamper Party
Troy
March 18-25: Next Chapter: Women’s History Month at the Troy Public Library
Metro Detroit
March: Women’s History Month at the Henry Ford Museum and Ford Rouge Factory Tour
March 5: 2026 International Women’s Day with the Detroit Regional Chamber
March 18: “All Things Equal – The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” at the Fisher Theatre
March 19: Celebrating Women in Jazz for Women’s History Month at Cliff Bell’s
Virtual
March 19: Fireside Chats with Oakland County Parks Historian Carol Bacak-Egbo: A Governess, A Farmeress and a Doctor from Alabama: Forgotten Stories of Oakland County Women
Women’s history should be recognized and celebrated year-round. Let us know about events in or around the Oakland County area by emailing socialmedia@oakgov.com or leaving a comment below.
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