After what felt like a never-ending winter, the sun is shining and the temperatures are rising! Ann Arbor during the spring and summer can be a little quieter but there is never a shortage of fun activities and events going on. If you’re planning to be in town for a few more months, here are just a few ideas to add to your to-do list:
Ann Arbor Art Fair
This yearly event draws in close to half a million attendees over the course of three days. Spanning 30 city blocks in downtown Ann Arbor are a variety of different artists, vendors, food trucks, and special deals at local businesses. This is a special event that cannot be missed! This year it is Thursday, July 20th through Saturday, July 22nd beginning at 10am and going until the evening each day. For full details, visit the Ann Arbor Art Fair website
Ann Arbor Summer Festival
If you enjoy live music then this is the event for you! This four-week event in June offers over 200 concerts, art exhibitions, kid activities, film screenings and spectacles. A majority of these events are free to the public but they do offer complimentary and low-cost tickets to students. Top of the Park is their outdoor program that is typically held in Ingalls Mall. Descriptions of the events they host are listed here and you can find the calendar and ticket information on the website.
Ann Arbor Farmers Market
Indulge all of your senses, by soaking in the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of the local farmers market this summer! Located in Kerrytown, this market offers fresh produce, farm products, prepared foods, artisan items, and drinks from 120 local vendors. It is open every Saturday year round from 8am-3pm (during the spring and summer it will open at 7am) and beginning in May, it is also open on Wednesdays, 7am-3pm.
Argo Park & Gallup Park Canoe Livery
Floating down the Huron River is a great way to spend a summer day. Beginning on April 22nd you can rent canoes and kayaks at both Argo Park and Gallup Park. Gallup Park also offers 3 & 4 person Paddle Boats and Argo Park offers tubes for floating down the Argo Cascades. Just don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses! Check out rates on the City of Ann Arbor website
Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum
Both of these local attractions are a must for nature lovers. The Botanical Gardens are northeast of central campus located at 1800 N. Dixboro Rd where you will find a conservatory, gift shop, meeting spaces, display gardens, and many trails. The Arb, as it’s known locally, is within walking distance of campus at 1610 Washington Hts right next to the Michigan Medicine hospital complex. With many nature trails, a famous peony garden, and a prairie area that is great for picnics, this is a popular spot nearby campus when the weather is nice. Both are free and open seven days a week.
Eat on State & Main Street
During the summer months the roads in downtown Ann Arbor are closed to traffic, to create a pedestrianized area and accommodate outdoor dining. There are many good options for food and drink within walking distance of campus that can appeal to a wide variety of tastes. Here are a few great restaurants that you should add to your list