Thrills & Delights: Ann Arbor’s Carnivals 2026

The Milan Fair is one of the first Washtenaw County fairs each year an offers a full fair experience.

Opening day Thursday includes a parade at 6p. Friday’s fair day concludes with fireworks over the lake. Pull up a blanket or chairs on Wabash St for a great view. Saturday starts with a magic show at 11a.

Milan Fair Schedule:

Celebrate with the Hamburg Fun Fest. Head for the carnival rides, but stick around for some of their other activities. 2026 is their 20th year! This year the event is Wednesday-Saturday (no Sunday)

Buy your carnival wristbands now! On sale until Tuesday, June 16,

Saturday they will be attempting to break the world record of gathering of those dressed as Superman. Wear a superman shirt and red cape to join their record attempt.

• Rumble in the Ring Showdown – wrestling (added fee)
• BMX Stunt Show
• Family Fun Ride on Saturday at noon
• Classic & Custom Car Show on Saturday
• Jonathon LaChance with Unbelievable Comedy & Magic!
• Cornhole Tournament
• Reptile Zoo
• Free Superhero Putt Putt
• Strolling Characters
• Youth Archery
• Fireworks & Laser Light Show Friday & Saturday
• And More.

Check our calendar listing for each day for more details

Hamburg Family Fun Fest Schedule

Canton LibertyFest is a 3 day carnival. 2026 is the 33rd Canton LibertyFest. For 2026, fireworks will no longer be part of the festival. They have also moved the start time of the festival earlier and close the festival earlier each night.

The first 2 hours of the carnival each day (10a-noon) are Sensory Sensitive! There will be no flashing lights or music. They will also have a Rest & Relax Tent

Carnival ride wristbands can be bought on-site for $35 for a Thursday or $40 for Friday or Saturday – cash only on site. You can buy a $30 single day ticket valid any day online in advance with a $2.75 fee. A 3 day Mega Ride* Wristband can be purchased online in advance for $100 (plus $6.75 fee). The multi-day pass cannot be bought on site. Buy your wristband now. Advanced online sales end on Thursday, June 18 at 9a.

(Note, do the math on the Mega Bands – 3 individual days come out cheaper than a single Mega Band)

The Thrill Zone portion of the Midway will be fenced to improve safety and crowd management. Only guests with wristbands, tickets, or accompanying a minor will be allowed in.

In addition to the carnival, they have a marketplace, live entertainment, and more. Join the Liberty Fest Car & Truck Show on Saturday from 10a-4p.

Food is available from various vendors and food trucks.

Saturday starts with the Liberty Run and a pancake breakfast.

Canton LibertyFest Schedule

The Ann Arbor Jaycees Carnival is an Ann Arbor tradition. It is held each June in the Pioneer High School parking lot. The Carnival includes rides, games, and food. For my daughter, the highlight of the Carnival is the rides. She has loved rides from the first time I took her to the Jaycees Carnival at 1.5 years old.

Tickets

Skerbeck returns as the ride operator for the 2026 Ann Arbor Jaycees Carnival. There is a minimum purchase to enter the carnival. You have to spend $10/person. In person, the event is cash only at the gate. In addition to ride wristands and tickets, they typically also allow the purchase of midway bucks to use for food and activity booths. Credit cards and PayPal can be used to purchase wristbands before noon on June 25th.

Ann Arbor Jaycees Carnival Schedule

Michigan Challenge Balloonfest is holding their 41st annual event in 2026. The event features hot air balloons that you can see on the ground, as they fly in, or during the Balloon Glow on Saturday night. The Festival also includes a full carnival, market place shopping, and live entertainment. Plus fireworks on Friday night.

Thursday is only the Carnival rides. Friday-Sunday is the full event with the balloons, entertainment, and more.

Check out our review from the 2019 Michigan Challenge Balloonfest. We attended on Saturday to watch the Balloon Glow.

On Friday-Sunday, there is an admission fee of $5/day or $10/weekend. The weekend admission wristband is only available Friday and is valid Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Carnival rides are an additional cost with a $30/day wristband or tickets for $1.25/each or $20/20 tickets.

Schedule your carnival visit to see the 6p balloon launch on Friday or Saturday and watch the Fireworks on Friday or the Balloon Glow at dusk on Saturday. There is also a balloon launch/fly-in from 6-9a on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Make time to take in the Arts Festival & Open Market, Entertainment, and the Family Fun Tent. There is also a Classic Car Show on Saturday.

The Manchester Fair is in it’s 81st year in 2026!

Full 2026 details like ride tickets are not out as of May 15.

Event Highlights include:

• Tuesday – Parade, Crowning of Fair Queen
• Wednesday – Insane Wrestling Revolution
• Thursday – Demolition Derby
• Friday – FREE Admission Day! Lawn Mower Derby
• Saturday – Touch A Truck, Kids Activities, Lost Nations Rodeo

Anderson Midways provided the rides last year. As of May 15, we didn’t see any ride details.

Head to the Chelsea Community Fair for a fun time at the carnival rides or visiting the animal exhibition barns.

The 2026 schedule is not out yet beyond the dates, but we will update closer to the fair.

The Saline Fair is an annual event that brings together agricultural displays, activities and a carnival. Beyond the rides, take a walk through the barns to see the animals from baby birds to large cows. Check out the buildings for collections. Check out some of the grandstand shows like tractor pulls, Ag Olympics, auto cross derby, and more.

This year, the fair starts on Wednesday which is Saline Schools Day. The full fair runs through Sunday with just rides and an antique tractor cement slab pull on Labor Day Monday.

Children’s Day is Thursday! I loved taking my daughter while the big kids were at school. We always had a great time. There’s a touch a truck, lots of kid-friendly activities, and more. When we attended just the little kid rides opened early and were available for a discounted wristband. But, we do not see that listed for 2026.

Saline Fair Schedule

Big Rock Amusements is bringing a new carnival to Briarwood Mall. The Briarwood Summer Carnival will be held over two weekends in June.

In 2024, Dexter hosted a June carnival as part of their Bicentennial Celebration! The American Legion and Knights of Columbus have partnered to bring the carnival back in 2025! The carnival also moves to the American Legion/Knights of Columbus grounds on Dexter-Chelsea Rd.

The Dexter Summer Carnival will be using Fair Pass – a digital ticketing system from Wade Shows. You can buy in the app and use on a phone or load to a card at the fair.

Parking will be available in the Broad St city lots with accessible parking in front of the Knights of Columbus Hall.

The Saline Community Carnival seems to have been a one year event. The Saline Rec Center hosted the Saline Community Carnival in their south parking lot in 2024. The event is not include in their 2025 summer brochure. Last year’s ride operator was Skerbeck which also does not list it in their 2025 events.

Skerbeck is the ride operator for the Saline Community Carnival. Wristbands are $25/person in advance.

Parking is available in the north RecCenter lot, the north Tefft Park ballfields lots, and the DAVCO parking lot south of the Rec Center. There is no parking along Woodland Drive.

Saline Community Carnival Schedule