The 17 Essential Ann Arbor Area Events to Attend August 2019
The culmination of summer fun in Southeast Michigan, August brings some of the season’s most highly anticipated festivals, races and events. Taking place in communities throughout the region, you can enjoy live music, tractor pulls, parades, craft fairs, a challenging triathlon and even a United States Air Force air show!
Peruse our top picks for August below and mark your calendars so you don’t miss a second of the action.
JUMP AHEAD:
Arts + Culture | Community Celebrations | Sports | Food + Drink
Arts + Culture
Arts + Culture
Milan Bluegrass Festival | Milan
July 31 – August 3 | KC Campground Milan
Featuring both well-known bluegrass bands and up-and-coming acts, Milan Bluegrass is a can’t-miss music festival in Southeast Michigan. The 2019 event features five different bands each day and a special guest on Saturday! For the full concert experience, we recommend camping on-site with KC Campground.
Sonic Lunch | Ann Arbor
June 6 – August 29, 11:30 a.m. | Downtown at the corner of Liberty and Division
Since 2008, Sonic Lunch has been bringing free, outdoor concerts to the streets of downtown Ann Arbor every summer. Suitable for all ages, the 2019 concert series kicked off in June, has two July concerts on the schedule, and continues through August for a total of 11 shows. All shows begin at 11:30 a.m. and you can see the full lineup here.
The Ton-Up | Ypsilanti
August 11, 12 – 7 p.m. | Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery
The Ton-Up is a motorcycle and music festival, are they’re returning to Ypsilanti for the tenth year this August! Serving to promote and educate the public about the art, science and history of the motorcycle, motorcycle safety, and awesome music, this one-day event will bring vintage and custom motorcycles, scooters and mopeds to ABC in addition to local music and tons of fun. To learn more, check out the Facebook event here.
Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival | Dexter
August 12 – 17 | Monument Park
En plein air is the act of painting outdoors, and the Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival invites artists and community members to do just that! Over the course of four days, local and visiting artists will paint in and around Dexter. Then, non-painters can view and purchase artwork at the two-day exhibit and art sale in the Tent Gallery in Monument Park. To stay up-to-date on this year’s happenings, follow the team on Facebook here.
Ann Arbor Blues Festival | Ann Arbor
August 16 – 18 | Washtenaw Farm Council Fairgrounds
In August 1969, several thousand blues lovers gathered in a small field in Ann Arbor for the first ever Ann Arbor Blues Festival where they sang and danced along with blues legends that included B.B. King. This August, it all comes back to the Washtenaw Farm Council Fairgrounds for an all-ages music event you don’t want to miss. Buy your tickets in advance here.
DIYpsi | Ypsilanti
August 24 – 25 | Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery
An indie art fair like none other, DIYpsi is a handmade art fair that takes place in Ypsilanti once each summer and winter. Alongside incredible homemade foods and drinks, you’ll find unique handcrafted gifts that are sold by and in support of local, Ypsilanti artists. This year’s summer event features more than 90 vendors at ABC Microbrewery!
Community Celebrations
Ann Arbor Pride | Ann Arbor
August 3 – 4 | Kerrytown
Originally called OUTFest, Ann Arbor Pride has been showcasing equality and LGBTQ support for decades. Throughout Kerrytown this August, you can enjoy entertainment, community, vendors, fun and, most importantly, pride. In celebration of their 25th anniversary, the team is expanding the event with more mainstage entertainment, a pride picnic, a kids’ zone and a beer and wine garden. As always, proceeds from the event benefit the Jim Toy Community Center.
Thunder Over Michigan Air Show | Ypsilanti
August 3 – 4 | Willow Run Airport
At Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, this family event brings the United States Air Force Thunderbirds to Southeast Michigan. The air show will feature presentations from the F16 Demo Team and the Screamin’ Sasquatch as well so buy your tickets here and don’t miss it. Kids 15 years and younger are admitted for free!
Dexter Daze | Dexter
August 9 – 10 | Various locations
For nearly 50 years, Dexter Daze has been providing an occasion for our communities’ families to come together and celebrate with artisans and crafters, local businesses and free entertainment. You can join the fun in Dexter this August!
Saline’s Summerfest | Saline
August 9 – 10 | Downtown Saline
Returning to the streets of Downtown Saline this month, Saline’s Summerfest is a hometown celebration like none other. In 2019, the event promises even more activities, attractions and amusements, but with all the local flare we’ve come to love.
Michigan Firehouse Museum Fire Muster | Ypsilanti
August 17, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Riverside Park
The annual Fire Muster is a fun, free event for the entire community! The Michigan Firehouse Museum brings their trucks of all types to the park and they also provide a bucket brigade demonstration, hand pumper demonstrations, special activities for the kids, fire safety information and much more. For event updates, RSVP to the event on Facebook here.
Chelsea Community Fair | Chelsea
August 20 – 24 | Chelsea Community Fairgrounds
One of our favorite community events in the region, the Chelsea Community Fair includes a rodeo, multiple tractor pulls, livestock competitions and auctions, demolition derbies, a local merchant tent, and more. For all the details, click here.
YpsiFest | Ypsilanti
August 23 – 25 | Riverside Park
In 2019, the Ypsilanti Heritage, Arts, and Entertainment Festival will be bigger and better than ever before. Over the course of three days, you can enjoy live trivia in the entertainment tent, daily helicopter rides, a kids’ area with bounce houses, pony rides and games, a classic car show, the Rubber Ducky Race, a BBQ competition and more. For all the details, click here.
Saline Community Fair | Saline
August 28 – September 1 | Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds
Every year, the Saline Community Fair brings together the community to celebrate Saline’s favorite activities, local vendors and organizations. This year’s event will feature tractor pulls, carnival rides, racing and derbies, rodeo presentations, livestock and animal competitions and so much more. To see the full schedule, click here.
Sports
Ann Arbor Triathlon | Dexter
August 3, 7:30 a.m. | Pinckney Recreation Area
The Ann Arbor Triathlon is the culmination of all your training, all your running, all your biking and all your swimming. Beginning at Halfmoon Lake in Pinckney State Recreation Area, you’ll swim the waters of Halfmoon, bike the country roads of the surrounding rural area, then run the 5-mile Poto Trail course to complete the challenge. If you’re ready, register online here.
Swim to the Moon | Dexter
August 18, 9 a.m. | Pinckney Recreation Area
Celebrating 10 years in 2019, Swim to the Moon is an extraordinary open-water swimming adventure through the picturesque Hiland Chain of Lakes near Hell, Michigan. Participants can choose between distances including the half-mile, the 1.2-mile, the 5K or 10K. For full details and online registration, click here.
Food + Drink
German Park Picnic | Ann Arbor
August 31, 4 p.m. | German Park
The German Park Recreation Club hosts three picnics every summer and this month’s event is set for August 31st from 4 – 11 p.m. For an admission price of just $5 per person, you can enjoy German culture, food, beer and more! Feel free to bring the whole family but no one under 21 years of age will be admitted without a parent or guardian. And, children 12 and under are admitted for free!
