Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz festival
phone: (734)747-9955
website
This September festival offers an impressive schedule of musicians. There are many food vendors and a tent with activities and entertainment for kids. Outdoor concerts held in Gallup Park; indoor concerts held in the Michigan Theater and Bird of Paradise. For ticket information, call (248) 645-6666.
North American International Auto Show
phone: (248)643-0250
website
One of the biggest auto shows in the country is held in the COBO Convention Center in Detroit every January. Public showing is restricted to 2/3 days (usually including a weekend). Weekends are usually extremely crowded. You should be prepared to spend a lot of time searching for parking spaces and buying tickets. But it is a real treat for people interested in cars.
Ann Arbor Film Festival
phone: (734)995-5356
website
This annual event, usually held in March, is one of the oldest and most prestigious 16-millimeter film festival in North America. It consists of six nights of the newest experimental, avant-garde and independent short films (screened in the Michigan Theater). Winning films are screened on Sunday evening.
Ann Arbor Summer Festival
phone: (734)647-2278
website
Usually held in June and July, the festival consists of two sets of events. Charged events at the "U-M Power Center" feature three weeks of concerts by pop, country and jazz artists. The events sometimes include gymnastic troupes, symphony orchestras or plays. The "Top of the Park" events are held on the roof of the Fletcher Street parking structure. These offer free music and movies (projected on the wall of the parking lot). With food stalls and all, this has become a unique ritual for many Ann Arbor families.
Ann Arbor Art Fairs
Ann Arbor's gigantic annual art festival actually consists of four separate fairs. Together they occupy the majority of downtown, drawing more than 1,000 artists and close to half a million visitors to downtown and the campus area over four days (Wednesday through Saturday). Free concerts are in abundance, and a huge variety of food and drink vendors are on hand. The fairs begin on the third Wednesday of July.
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair - (734)994-5260
Art Fair Village - (734)663-5300
State Street Area Art Fair - (734)663-6511
Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair - (734)994-5260