City Guide
Annual Events
Ann Arbor Art Fairs. Ann Arbor's gigantic art festival actually is four separate fairs that draw more than 1,000 artists and nearly half a million visitors over 4 days. The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original (994-5260, artfair.org), surrounds Burton Tower. The State Street Area Art Fair (663-6511, 2statestreetartfair.com) is in the shopping districts around State. The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair (662-3382, theguild.org/art_fair_summer.html) has a downtown section on Main and Liberty and a campus section on S. State. Ann Arbor's South University Art Fair (663-5300, a2southu.com) occupies most of South University and adjoining East University and Church. Along with the fairs are free concerts and a huge variety of food and drink vendors. All fairs are held July 20-23, 2011.
African American Downtown Festival. 686-8807. Crafts, merchandise, food, petting zoo, kids' activities, at N. Fourth Ave. and Ann St. Musical entertainment includes jazz, R&B, and pop. June 6, 2009; June 5, 2010 (tentative). clpfestival@gmail.com, www.communityleaningpost.com
Ann Arbor Film Festival, Michigan Theater. 995-5356. One of the oldest film festivals in the world. Six days of art-made and experimental independent films. Forty programs including panels, workshops, multimedia installations, and parties. Winning films screened Sun. evening. Mar. 22-27, 2011. info@aafilmfest.org, aafilmfest.org
Ann Arbor Folk Festival, Hill Auditorium. 761-1800. Two concerts of roots and acoustic music to benefit The Ark. Features well-known acts along with singer-songwriters and roots musicians on the rise. Jan. 28 & 29, 2011. feedback@theark.org, theark.org
Ann Arbor Summer Festival. 994-5999. Tickets: 764-2538. Ticketed performances of music, dance, comedy, and theater by national and international artists at various campus and downtown venues. Also, Top of the Park, a nightly series of free outdoor concerts, movies, and family activities at Ingalls Mall on North University. Includes a kids' activity zone. June 17-July 10, 2011. annarborsummerfestival.org
Apples & Honey, At the Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow. 971-0990. Family event celebrates the fall Jewish holidays. Shofar blowing, crafts, inflatable bouncers for children, games, face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more. Gifts and Judaica for sale. Israeli food, kosher baked goods, and lunch available. Aug. 29, 2010 jcc@jccfed.org, jccannarbor.org
The Ark's Storytelling Festival, 316 S. Main. 761-1800. International, national, and regional storytellers present programs. Sat. 7:30 p.m. (aimed at adults), and Sun. 1 p.m. (aimed at kids). Feb. 19 & 20, 2011. feedback@theark.org, theark.org
Con Jai Nai (in English: "It's not a convention"). U-M Modern Language Bldg., 812 E. Washington. 4 screening rooms of Japanese animation, 10 a.m.-midnight. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Sponsored by Animania, the U-M Japanese Film Society. 2010 date TBA. animania@umich.edu, umichanime.com
Dance for Mother Earth Powwow. At Saline Middle School. 7190 N. Maple, Saline. 565-8670. Native American singers and dancers, artists, drummers, and vendors from much of North America. Everyone welcome. 2010 event date April 10-11. powwow_committee@yahoo.com, www.umich.edu/~powwow
Dancing in the Streets, 769-1052. Dance downtown to a variety of live music. Parade, miniconcerts, and children's activities. Sponsored by AACTMAD, the Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance. Sept. 5, 2010. hellmann@umich.edu, aactmad.org
Dawn Dance Weekend. Clague Middle School, 2616 Nixon. 677-0212. A nonstop weekend of folk dancing to live music, plus workshops on music, dancing, and calling. Feb. 25-27, 2011. hellmann@umich.edu, aacmad.org/ddw
Downtown Block Parties. Hot rods and classic cars on display, live music, dining in the streets. Steels and Wheels. Aug. 2, 2010; 2011 date TBA. Downtown. aug2blockparty@mainstreetannarbor.org. Hot Drums, Cool Cars. Aug. 9, 2010; 2011 date TBA. Downtown. aug9blockparty@mainstreetannarbor.org
Earth Day Festival, Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Building, 4800 E. Huron River Dr. 794-6000 ext. 43118. Educational displays, live music, hands-on activities, face painting, live animal presentations, clean energy expo, and family-oriented environmental entertainment including storytelling and sing-alongs. Includes the All Species Parade, with participants in costumes representing plants and animals. April 23, 2011. nstone@a2gov.org, a2earthday.org
Edgefest. 769-2999. One of North America's premier alternative music festivals, featuring jazz and experimental music at Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave. and other locations. Sept. 29-Oct.2, 2010. kch@kerrytown.com, kerrytownconcerthouse.com
FestiFools. 763-7550. A downtown spectacle of larger-than-life puppetry and pageantry which everyone is invited to help create and operate. Also, musical entertainment. Apr. 3, 2011. startproject@umich.edu, festifools.org
Green Fair.794-6161, ext. 41602. Exhibits on environmental groups, products, and issues. Clean energy expo, alternative fuel vehicles, live music, activities for children, and art exhibits. June 17, 2011. cschopieray@a2gov.org, a2gov.org/green
Home Grown Festival. 619-0429. Local food celebration at Farmers Market. Activities include tomato taste-off, kids activities, music, and information booths. Sept. 11, 2010. eatlocal@homegrownfestival.org, homegrownfestival.org
Huron River Day, Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller. 794-6240. River exhibits, discounted canoe and kayak rentals, 1-mile and 5K runs, a 5K walk, live music, food vendor, and a children's activity tent. July 10, 2011. csaam@a2gov.org, a2gov.org/HRD
Jewish Book Festival, Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow. 971-0990. Adult and children's authors speak in the evenings (except Fri.) and at noontime "Lunch and Learn" events. Books for sale. Nov. 3-15, 2010. mimiweisberg@jccfed.org, jccannarbor.org
Jewish Film Festival, Michigan Theater. Sponsored by the Jewish Community Center. May 15-19, 2011. mimiweisberg@jccfed.org, jccannarbor.org
Juneteenth, Wheeler Park. 761-9084. Observance of the announcement of the end of slavery in Texas and the Southwest on June 19, 1865. Includes performances by local musicians, games, health and nonprofit information, food vendors and concessions, and a children's area. Sponsored by Ann Arbor NAACP. June 20, 2011. wvhamp@comcast.net, n444@sbcglobal.net, hvcn.org/info/a2naacp
Kerrytown BookFest. Ann Arbor Farmers Market. 669-0451. Exhibits, artisans, and demonstrators of book arts from papermaking to publishing to calligraphy, plus speakers, readings, children's activities, panel discussions, and more. Sept. 12, 2010; Sept. 11, 2011. bookfest@kerrytownbookfest.org, kerrytownbookfest.org
M-agination Films. Free annual spring screening of UM student-made films at the Michigan Theater. umuac.org/m-aginationfilms/
Michigan A Cappella Festival (MACFest), Rackham Auditorium. 763-1107. A showcase for all 15 of the U-M's a cappella groups. Nov. 13, 2010. umacappella@umich.edu, umich.edu/~umsing
Minifest. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave. 769-2999. Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival presents concerts featuring internationally known artists and new chamber ensembles. June 2011 dates TBA. kch@kerrytown.com, kerrytownconcerthouse.com
OutFest, 995-9867. Block party at the Ann Arbor Farmers' Market celebrates diversity of gender identy and sexual orientation. Everyone welcome. 2011 date TBA. barrym@wrap-up.org, wrap-up.org
Rolling Sculpture Car Show, 668-7112. More than 400 antique, classic, and concept cars on display downtown. July 8, 2011. maura@mainstreetannarbor.org, mainstreetannarbor.org
Shakespeare in the Arboretum. 647-7600. University students and local actors in an alfresco production of a Shakespeare play that moves through various settings in the Arb. 2011 dates TBA. mbgna.umich.edu
Taste of Ann Arbor. 668-7112. Bite-sized samples from local restaurants and cafes, live music, and children's activities. Downtown. June 5, 2011. maura@mainstreetannarbor.org, mainstreetannarbor.org
Townie Street Party. Community fundraiser and kick-off event for the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original. Live music, food and drinks, and free art activities. Also, kids' art fair. July 18, 2011. towniestreetparty.com
Wine, Women, and Song. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave. 769-2999. Local, notable singer-actresses perform songs from musical theater to light opera, including some original numbers. Wine included in admission. Jan. 28-30, 2011. kch@kerrytown.com, kerrytownconcerthouse.com
Ya'ssoo Greek Festival. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church. 332-8200. Three-day celebration features live music by local bands and homemade Greek food and pastries. June 3-5 2011. annarborgreekfestival.org
