The 14 Essential Ann Arbor Area Events to Attend September 2018
Though September brings the end of summer, it also brings us a long weekend to celebrate Labor Day, the beginning of Wolverine football season, and beloved fall harvest celebrations. In the Ann Arbor area, our communities are saluting the summer and welcoming the fall with cultural celebrations, great annual happenings, huge return performances, tours, fundraisers and more.
This year, join the fun at our region’s biggest September events. Will you attend a concert, a festival or Oktoberfest? Let us know in the comments below!
For events and ideas for celebrating Labor Day weekend in Ann Arbor, check out How to Celebrate Labor Day Weekend 2018 in Ann Arbor.
Jump ahead:
Arts + Culture | Community Celebrations | Sports | Food + Drink
Arts + Culture
Kerrytown BookFest | Ann Arbor
September 9, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Ann Arbor Farmers Market
For the 16th year, Kerrytown BookFest is coming to one of Ann Arbor’s most beloved downtown areas. Celebrating books, authors, printers, publishers, sellers and readers, the event highlights the Ann Arbor area’s rich heritage in the book and printing arts by showcasing local individuals, businesses and organizations.
Saline Antiques & Vintage Market | Saline
September 9, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Washtenaw Farm Council Fairgrounds
Since beginning just a few years ago, Saline Antiques & Vintage Market has become one the area’s favorite places to shop real antiques. Every show features collectibles, jewelry, home goods and more.
Ann Arbor Russian Festival | Dexter
September 15 – 16 | St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church
The 6th Annual Ann Arbor Russian Festival will include Russian dance, music and song ensembles, an infused vodka tasting for guests over 21, authentic foods, and so much more. Bring the whole family down to Dexter to celebrate Russian culture!
Orphan Car Show | Ypsilanti
September 16 | Riverside Park
The term orphan car describes a vehicle built by a manufacturer that has discontinued business entirely, and because Ypsi has such an important history in cars and orphan cars, it’s the perfect place for this unique car event. The 2018 show celebrates the 20th year of the Orphan Car Show!
Old West Side Homes Tour | Ann Arbor
September 23, 12 – 5 p.m. | St Paul Lutheran Church
The 45th Annual Old West Side Homes Tour celebrates Ann Arbor’s historic Old West Side whose architecture, streetscape, history and environment are especially characteristic of 19th-century, midwestern America. You can find $10 advance tickets at Nicola’s Books, The Jefferson Market, Downtown Home & Garden, Argus Farm Stop and Washtenaw Dairy, or you can purchase tickets the day of the event at St Paul Lutheran Church for $12. For more details, check out the website.
Philadelphia Orchestra | Ann Arbor
September 27, 7:30 p.m. | Hill Auditorium
The Philadelphia Orchestra first performed in Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium in 1913, was the orchestra-in-residence for the Ann Arbor May Festival for nearly 50 years, and last played in town in 1994. Now, they’re returning to Hill Auditorium for the first time in 24 years! This event is part of Series:You so you can enjoy it and four other events when you subscribe to get your tickets.
Community Celebrations
Saline Community Fair | Ann Arbor
August 28 – September 3 | Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds
Rounding out the summer, Saline Community Fair provides days of fun for local families. Events include tractor pulls, a car and tractor show, the USA Auto Cross Enduro Derby, carnival rides, fair foods, and more!
Wiard’s Orchards and Country Fair | Ypsilanti
September 8 – October 28 | Wiard’s Cider Mill and Apple Orchard
Operating for more than 180 years, Wiard’s Cider Mill and Apple Orchard offers u-pick apples, a u-pick pumpkin patch, delicious cider, a corn maze and haunted thrill park, mini golf, hayrides, and more during the fall. Throughout the month of September, you can enjoy Wiard’s Country Fair on Saturdays and Sundays beginning September 8th. For full details, check out the website.
Harvest Festival | Ann Arbor
September 16, 2 – 5 p.m. | Sutherland-Wilson Farm
The 10th Annual Harvest Festival at Sutherland-Wilson Farm is welcoming the fall harvest season with a performance by the Saline Fiddlers, face painting, carriage photos, lawn games, a pumpkin patch, house tours and self-guided building tours, a petting farm, and so much more. All of this is included in general admission which ranges from free for children under 2-years-old to $5 for adults.
Webster Fall Festival | Dexter
September 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Webster United Church of Christ
Hosted by the Webster United Church of Christ and the Webster Township Historical Society, this fall festival has something for everybody: hayrides, live music, an auction, a petting zoo, a children’s carnival, historical buildings, baked goods and preserves for sale, demonstrations like wool spinning and blacksmithing — and the famous pig roast!
Oktoberfest | Saline
September 28 – 29 | Downtown Saline
This fall celebration brings the spirit of Germany to downtown Saline. In celebration of the community’s sister city relationship with Lindenberg, Germany, you can enjoy traditional and modern music, a festive bier garten, a corn hole tournament, wiener dog races and so much more.
Sports
University of Michigan Football | Ann Arbor
September 1 – December 1 | Various locations
Wolverine football returns on the first day of September! Though their first game of the season is at Notre Dame, they’ll be playing in The Big House on September 8th, 15th and 22nd. For the full schedule, click here. And, if you’re looking for local places to watch away games, check out The 13 Best Sports Bars in the Ann Arbor Area.
RunTough for ChadTough | Saline
September 29, 8:30 – 11 a.m. | Saline High School
Benefitting The ChadTough Foundation, a local nonprofit in Saline, this running event is celebrating its fifth year with a family-friendly 5K and a one-mile fun run. Whether you want to virtually run to support the cause or you want to run the route yourself, you can register online here.
Food + Drink
Chefs in the Garden Fundraiser | Ypsilanti
September 16 and September 30, 5 – 8 p.m. | Growing Hope Urban Farm
Hosted by and benefitting Growing Hope Urban Farm, the Chefs in the Garden series brings together local charity, local food and urban farm education. The three-part dinner series will feature well known, local culinary talent at each event occurring on September 16th, September 30th and October 14th. For more information and tickets, click here.
