Annual Family Friendly Ann Arbor Events – Year at a Glance
The Ann Arbor area hosts a number of great events every year. While these events have always been on our calendar, we’ve gathered dates for each event and our reviews from past years all in one place.
If you are planning a visit to Ann Arbor, these dates can help you plan the best time to visit. Or, if you’re local it can help you decide when you want to be home or away.
Ann Arbor January Events
January kicks off with Restaurant Week. We love exploring new restaurants and some old favorites during Restaurant Week. Beyond Ann Arbor, the Detroit Auto Show is also in January through 2019.
- Ann Arbor Restaurant Week (Winter)
- 2019 Dates – January 13-18
- Preview – Winter 2019
- Martin Luther King Jr Day Events – January 21
Saline Winterfest was previously held in January, but is not on the 2019 calendar.
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Ann Arbor February Events
2018 was not a great year for the February events since they both fell on a very snowy weekend. Hopefully the weather will be better for these events in 2019.
- Ice Carving Festival
- 2019 Date: February 9
Ann Arbor March Events
Easter events move between March and April. Starting in 2018, spring break moved to the last week of March.
- Shamrocks & Shenanigans
- 2019 Date – March 10
- Dance for Mother Earth Pow Wow
- 2019 Date – March 30 & 31
Ann Arbor April Events
Top April events include FestiFools and the Michigan Spring Game. Of course there is also the Earth Day Festival.
- Easter Events
- Jaycees/Pittsfield Spring Eggstravaganza – Not held in 2019
- 2018 Date – March 31 (note cancelled due to field conditions)
- LSNC Spring Eggstravaganza
- 2018 Date – April 20
- Jaycees/Pittsfield Spring Eggstravaganza – Not held in 2019
- FoolMoon & Festifools
- 2019 Date – Friday, April 5 & Sunday, April 7
- 2019 Preview – Make Your Plans for FoolMoon and FestiFools
- Review – FestiFools 2015 Review
- Brick Bash – 2019 moved to April after being snowed out in February of 2018
- 2019 Date – April 6 & 7
- Brick Bash 2017 Review
- Brick Bash 2014 Review
- Lego Brick Bash 2012 Report
- Big House 5K: Trail to the Victors
- 2019 Date – Sunday, April 7
- Michigan Spring Game
- 2019 Date – April 13, 2018
- Review – Michigan Spring Game 2010
- Earth Day Festival
- 2019 Date – April 28
- Review – 2017 Earth Day Festival Report
- Twinkie Run
- 2018 Date – April 22 (typically held April 1 but moved due to Easter)
Ann Arbor May Events
For 2018, Huron River Day moves from July to May. Of course, we always make time for Free Comic Book Day.
- Free Comic Book Day
- 2019 Date – May 4
- 2016 at Fun 4 All
- 2015 at Vault of Midnight
- Passport2Pittsfield
- 2019 Date – May 5
- Burns Park Run
- 2019 Date – May 5
- Water Hill Music Fest – Continued
- The original organizers decided not to continue the festival, but a smaller event has been organized for 2019 by a Water Hill business owner.
- 2019 Date – May 5
- Touch a Truck – No Longer Being Held
- 2018 Date – May 12
- Kids to Park Day
- 2019 Date – May 18
- Picnic Pops
- 2019 Date – May 18
- Huron River Day
- 2019 Date – May 19
- Milan Fair
Ann Arbor June Events
Summer is the best time in Ann Arbor! There are so many great events. We loves sampling local food at Taste of Ann Arbor. Hanging out at Top of the Park and the Jaycees Carnival. Also, note that the Hudson Mills fireworks are typically in June and not July.
- Milan Fair
- African American Downtown Festival
- 2019 Date – June 1
- Dexter-Ann Arbor Race & Taste of Ann Arbor
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- 2019 Date – June 2
- 2014 Taste of Ann Arbor Review
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- Sonic Lunch
- 2019 Dates -Thursdays from June 6-August 29 – No concerts on July 4th or July 18th (Art Fair)
- Ann Arbor Tech Trek
- 2019 Date – June 7
- Ya’ssoo Greek Festival of Ann Arbor
- 2019 Dates – June 7-9
- LIVE on Washington
- 2019 Date – June 8
- Ann Arbor Airport Pancake Breakfast
- 2019 Date – June 9
- 2013 Review
- 2011 Review
- 2010 Review
- Ann Arbor Restaurant Week (Summer)
- 2019 Dates – June 9-14
- Mayor’s Green Fair
- 2019 Date – June 14
- Ann Arbor Summer Festival (Top of the Park)
- 2019 Dates – June 14-July 7
- Movie Lineup
- Kids Guide
- A2 Civic Band Concerts
- 2019 Dates – Wednesdays from June 19–July 24
- 2014 Concert Review
- Ann Arbor Jaycees Carnival
- Hudson Mills Fireworks
- Not currently on 2019 calendar
- 2018 Date – June 30
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Ann Arbor July Events
July is a great month with the 4th of July parade, Saline Celtic Festival, Rolling Sculpture Car Show, and of course Ann Arbor Art Fair.
- Sonic Lunch
- 2019 Dates -Thursdays from June 6-August 29 – No concerts on July 4th or July 18th (Art Fair)
- A2 Civic Band Concerts
- 2019 Dates – Wednesdays from June 19–July 24
- 2014 Concert Review
- Ann Arbor Summer Festival (Top of the Park)
- 2019 Dates – June 14-July 7
- Movie Lineup
- Kids Guide
- 4th of July Parades – Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti
- 2019 Date – Ann Arbor on July 4th, Ypsilanti not announced yet, but typically July 4th unless it is a Sunday
- Ann Arbor Jaycees Fourth of July Parade Tips
- Saline Celtic Festival
- 2019 Dates – July 12 & 13
- 5 Tips for Saline Celtic Festival
- Review – 2014 review
- Rolling Sculpture Car Show
- 2019 Date – July 12
- 2014 – Fun Night at Rolling Sculpture Car Show
- 2010 Rolling Sculpture Car Show
- Townie Street Party
- 2019 Date – July 15
- 2013 Review
- Ann Arbor Art Fair
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- 2019 Date July 18-21
- Ann Arbor Art Fair with Kids Guide
- 2017 Ann Arbor Art Fair Review
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- 4H Youth Show
- 2019 Dates – July 21-26
- 2017 Report
Ann Arbor August Events
Our two favorite August events are the AADL LEGO Contest and the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival.
- Sonic Lunch
- 2019 Dates -Thursdays from June 6-August 29 – No concerts on July 4th or July 18th (Art Fair)
- Saline Summerfest
- 2019 Date – August 10
- Firetruck Muster
- 2019 Date – August 17
- AADL LEGO Contest
- 2018 Date – August 9 – 2019 Date not announced
- 2018 Date – August 9 – 2019 Date not announced
- Ypsilanti Heritage Festival
- 2019 Dates – August 23-25
- 2013 Review
- Dexter Daze
- 2019 Dates – August 9-10
- Saline Fair
- 2019 Dates – August 28-September 1
- Great Day at the Saline Fair (2010)
Ann Arbor September Events
With UM football season, there are a few less events on September weekends. Of course, a UM game can be a great experience for a family.
- Dancing in the Streets
- 2018 Dates – September 2
- Monarch Migration Festival
- 2018 Dates – September 16
- Saline Oktoberfest
- 2018 Date – September 28
Ann Arbor October Events
Ann Arbor loves Halloween! Our two favorite Halloween events are the Halloween Treat Parade and the UM Museum of Natural History Family Halloween Party.
- Halloween Events
- Halloween Costume Swap
- 2018 Date – Sunday, October 21
- Ypsi Glow
- 2018 Date – Friday, October 26
- YpsiGLOW Wrap-Up
- UMMNH Family Halloween Party
- 2018 Date – Not being held due to museum closure. Hopefully it will return in 2019
- 2011 Family Halloween Party
- Trick or Treat on the River
- 2018 Date – Sunday, October 14
- Main Street Treat Parade
- 2018 Dates – October 31
- Halloween Costume Swap
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Ann Arbor November Events
- Ann Arbor Turkey Trot
- 2018 Date – November 22
- Kerrytown Tree Lighting
- 2018 Date – TBA – typically the Sunday after Thanksgiving which would be November 25
Ann Arbor December Events
- KindleFest
- 2018 Dates – Friday, November 30
- Saline Christmas Parade
- 2018 Dates – Saturday, December 1
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Your Favorite Ann Arbor Events
Which of these events are your favorite annual Ann Arbor events? Our favorites include Taste of Ann Arbor, Top of the Park, Saline Celtic Festival, Rolling Sculpture Car Show, and the 4th of July parade.
Did we miss your favorite event? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.
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