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14 Events to Attend This July in Ann Arbor

July is the height of summer and celebration in Ann Arbor. This month often brings exciting happenings like chicken broils, fireworks, car shows and more to the area, and we just can’t get enough of them! 

To help you plan for the bustling month ahead, we’ve rounded up some fun events in the A2 area coming up soon. Read on and be sure to click the link above each entry to RSVP, buy tickets or learn more about each event. Have a great July!

Jump Ahead: 

Arts + Culture

Where: Around Ann Arbor  

When:  All Summer 

ASSF

Photo courtesy of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF)

As the can’t-miss, arts-centered event of the summer, the 2021 Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF) will include world-class entertainment in comedy, cinema, food, jazz, pop and rock, acoustic, spoken word, public radio, and so much more. To help keep you and your family safe, the festival has been altered slightly to include pop-ups and outdoor concerts rather than the usual bash at Top of the Park. To see the full lineup and schedule, click here.

Art in the Park | Plymouth

Where: Downtown Plymouth 

When: July 9-11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Art in the Park is celebrating its 41st year in 2021 by welcoming over 400 artists from around the country! These professionals and hobbyists will be offering paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber, woodwork, glass, photography, folk art and so much more. And all the art comes along with live entertainment and food to create Michigan’s second-largest art fair!

Ann Arbor Art Festival | Ann Arbor

Where: Downtown Ann Arbor 

When: July 15-17, Thurs & Fri, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. & Sat, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 

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Hosted in conjunction with the State Street Art FairAnn Arbor Summer Art Fair and Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair, the Ann Arbor Art Fair has grown into quite the event. All around town during the third week of July, you’ll find stage performances, street performers and street painting, an art activity zone, a youth art fair, and even more.

When: July 19-23 

This exciting, musical theatre summer camp is for children grades 1-3! During this four-day course, your child will learn about everything that goes into musical theatre to prepare a show. Actors will hone their acting, singing and choreography skills as well as explore their musical and theatrical interests. Click here for all the information and to register.

Community Celebrations

Live at the Legion | Ypsilanti

Where: American Legion Post 282

When: July 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Last year, the annual Ypsilanti Independence Day parade went virtual, allowing local neighborhoods to get in on the fun through decorations and online fun. They’ve decided to cancel the event again this year, opting instead for a smaller celebration at American Legion Post 282. You can join in the fun on July 4th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. which will include firetrucks, free hot dogs, snacks, a local theater production, stage combat, fire dancers and so much more!

Where: Online 

When: July 4 

Camaro Superfest is the nation’s largest, longest-running all-Camaro car show. This year, the event is going virtual, featuring videos and photos of cars entering the competition. If you’re interested in entering, all you need to do is submit a photo of you with your Camaro to their website before July 4thClick here for more information on entering and to view current submissions!

Hot Air Jubilee | Jackson 

When: July 22-25 

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In 1983, a group of hot air balloon enthusiasts who lived in and around Jackson came up with the dream of a family-friendly event for the Jackson Community. That’s when the Hot Air Jubilee was born. Since then, the Jubilee has grown to an event that thousands of people attend every summer! Every year, 25-30 balloons come in from around the country to participate in the friendly rivalry of the contests. Click here for all the information and to see previews of all the balloons you’ll see in 2021! 

Sports

Kapnick Firecracker 5K | Ann Arbor

Where: Briarwood Circle 

When: July 4, 9 a.m. 

On the morning of July 4th, racers will take off from Briarwood Circle and enjoy a 5K race for the whole family! The main race is a 3.1-mile course, but this epic event also offers a one-mile, noncompetitive distance, a special kids’ run and the optional add-on event, Ray’s Red Hots Hot Dog Eating Contest! For more details and online registration, click here.

Tree Farm Relay | Novi

Where: Novi Tree Farm 

When: July 24, 7 a.m. 

Novi Tree Relay

Graphic courtesy of the Motor City Mountain Biking Association

If you’re new to endurance cycling, the Tree Farm Relay at Novi Tree Farm is the perfect place to start! This four-person team relay features lots of hills, passing zones and fun. The whole event is put on by the Motor City Mountain Biking Association and will be held rain or shine. Click here for all the information.

Battle of Waterloo | Grass Lake

When: July 31, 7:30 a.m. 

One of the coolest triathlon events in the country, Battle of Waterloo features 10 different legs totaling 42 miles throughout the beautiful Waterloo Recreation Area. Participants in the full distance will bike paved roads, run dirt lanes, climb steep trails and swim across three lakes. Or you can opt for Half the Battle, which includes six legs and 18 miles. For all the details and registration information, click here.

Food + Drink

When: Thursdays, 5-8 p.m. 

Lucha Puerco is a small taco pop-up and hot sauce company, working to eventually find a permanent (possibly mobile) home to serve food and sauces on a weekly basis. Until then, they are offering pop-ups at local businesses! This month, they’ll be at Cultivate in Ypsilanti on Thursdays, where you can order a variety of fresh, smoked Al Pastor tacos on fresh tortillas with elote, frijoles, charros and aguas frescas freeze pops. Each order comes with a sampling of their sauces—which are also available for purchase. 

Peach Truck Tour | Ann Arbor

When: July 3 & 31, Times Vary 

The Peach Truck is coming to Ann Arbor! If you aren’t sure what the Peach Truck is, it’s a Nashville-based mobile peach stand bringing hand-picked, just-off-the-tree peaches across the country. This year, you can pick up a few boxes of peaches, bags of pecans and other goodies at their stands at Zingerman’s Roadhouse and Briarwood Mall on July 3rd and 31st. Because their items tend to go very quickly, we recommend preordering online and picking them up. Click here to place your order!

Where: Kluck’s Drive-In 

When: July 7, 5-7 p.m. 

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On the first Wednesday of every month this summer, Ratchets & Wrenches (a local community cruiser club) hosts a “cruise-in” at Kluck’s Drive-in! Stop by to enjoy some great food and to see some gorgeous, classic cars. 

Where: Alumni Field 

When: July 17, 4-8 p.m. 

Each year on the third Thursday of July in Manchester, the largest chicken broil of its kind comes to town! Benefiting local public schools, community parks, libraries and civic causes, your $11-12 ticket includes a dinner of chicken, locally famous coleslaw, a roll with butter, potato chips, radishes and a beverage, and more. For event updates, click here

Have a great July! 

How are you planning on spending this month? Let us know in the comments below!

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