With the arrival of April, Ann Arbor finally gets to see beautiful springy and summery days that mark the end of winter and the beginning of festival season. And according to this month’s event lineup, we’re certainly excited about it. Events in art, sports, food and fun get the whole community outside to create, celebrate and shop local.
Be sure to mark these events on your calendar so you don’t miss markets, festivals, fundraisers and, most importantly, FestiFools! Happy April!
 
 

Arts + Culture

 

Spring Fiber Expo | Ann Arbor

April 14 + 15, various times | Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds

Once during the spring and once during the fall, the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds are filled with fiber products of all kinds. Come by to shop, learn and meet makers of wool, linen and cotton crafts, real alpacas and more! Children 10 years and under are admitted for free, while adults pay just $4 for one day or $6 for two.
 

Ann Arbor Antiques Market | Ann Arbor  

April 21 + 22, various times | Saline Antiques Market
Established in 1968, this historic antique market has been fueling our love of home decor and vintage finds for decades. Admission is $6 with free parking and kids are admitted for free! Come by in April to peruse antiques, jewelry, paintings, mid-century and Industrial design, folk art, repurposed furniture and more.
 

Ypsilanti Comic Con | Ypsilanti

April 21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | St Matthew’s United Methodist
This fun, family-friendly event costs just $3 per person and will feature custom crafts, products, collectibles, comic books and appearances by comic authors, creators and even the Detroit Ghostbusters!
 
 

Community Celebrations

 

FoolMoon | Ann Arbor

April 6, sunset – 12 a.m. | Downtown Ann Arbor

Photo courtesy of Ryan Stanton via WonderFool Productions

One of the community’s favorite annual events, FoolMoon is the nighttime kick-off event to our very foolish weekend. In celebration of the coming spring, we’ll dance, laugh and party amongst lights, interactive installations, laser shows, live dance performances, and DJs. Adults, don’t miss the beer tent sponsored by Grizzly Peak!
 

FestiFools | Ann Arbor

April 8, 4 – 5 p.m. | Downtown Ann Arbor
FestiFools is the daytime event of foolishness and art. The enormous public art spectacular showcases creations made by members of the community and U of M students. Come down to watch the procession of colorful, bizarre, human-powered papier-mâché puppets for an entire hour of neighborhood fun!
 

Spring Downtown Divas at Dusk | Tecumseh

April 19, 5 – 9 p.m. | Downtown Tecumseh
This bi-annual shopping event invites all divas of the community to join the fun downtown. Shops, galleries and restaurants will open their doors and offer special promotions, refreshments and more. Keep an eye out for selfie stations with Bruno Mars, Adam Levine, George Clooney and Prince Harry! In addition to the revelry, you can bring donations to benefit local women in need at the Catherine Cobb Domestic Violence Center.
 

47th Annual Earth Day Festival | Ann Arbor

April 22, 12 – 4 p.m. | Leslie Science & Nature Center
Coordinated by the Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival Planning Committee in partnership with local environmental nonprofits and agencies, this free Earth Day Festival is a celebration of our beautiful, sustainable community. Bring your animal costumes for the All Species Parade then stick around to see displays from 40 local environmental, nonprofit and governmental organizations, watch live animal demonstrations, participate in hands-on activities, enjoy live entertainment, eat foods from local vendors and so much more!
 

Annual Fairy Festival | Jackson

April 28 + 29, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Jackson School of the Arts
This magical, two-day event results in one of the region’s most magical weekends of the year! Admission is free and includes arts and crafts, local vendors, the Cupcake Cafe, a fairy garden contest, tea with Miss Jackson Crossroads, stories in the fairy forest, carriage rides, performances by the Fairy Festival Players and more. You and your family will get the chance to explore the fairy kingdom and the dark mountain, meet a knight and join Captain Hook on his ship!
 
 

Sports

 

Pitch Hit & Run | Ypsilanti

April 28, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Ball Field #1 at Montibeller Park

This athletic competition is in honor of the return of baseball season! Join the fun and compete in the Baseball Division or Softball Division to have the opportunity to advance through four levels: Locals, Sectionals, Team Championships and the National Finals scheduled during MLB All-Star Week in July. Each segment of the contest will test your ability to throw a strike, your ability to hit from a stationary batting tee and, finally, your speed! Registration is free and there are 95 spots so be sure to register online in advance.
 

9th Annual Ride for Recovery | Ypsilanti

April 29, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. | 6633 Stony Creek Rd
This family-oriented fitness event is an annual fundraiser for local organization Dawn Farm. Community members at any fitness level are invited to register for one of four bike rides: a 5K/10K, a 25-mile, a 40-mile and a 58-mile. A celebratory lunch will be provided after the race and family members not participating are asked to register for the $5 Lunch Only option so there is enough food for everyone. RSVP on Facebook for event updates and register online here.
 
 

Food + Drink

 

Wine & Cheese Pairing – Michigan Edition | Ann Arbor  

April 13, 6 – 8 p.m. | Zingerman’s Creamery

Photo courtesy of Emma Boonstra via Zingerman’s Creamery

This April edition of the Zingerman’s Creamery Wine & Cheese Pairing is staying close to home. In celebration of Michigan Wine Month, you’ll learn and taste an impressive lineup of local Michigan wines paired with artisan cheeses, bread and additional accompaniments from the Cream Top Shop. Reserve a seat today before this event sells out!
 

Mug Club Homebrew Competition | Ann Arbor

April 23, 4 – 7 p.m. | Grizzly Peak Brewing Company
Whether you’re participating or simply spectating, every beer-lover is invited to this fun event at Grizzly Peak! Open until April 16, Mug Club members can enter a homebrewed beer that follows competition guidelines (found here) and the winner will be announced April 23 in the taproom! First place gets to work with the Grizzly Peak Head Brewer to create a special rotating tap.
 
 

Happy April!