The 17 Essential Ann Arbor Area Events to Attend September 2019
Though September brings the end of summer, it also brings us a long weekend to celebrate Labor Day, the beginning of 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, beloved annual festivals, 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!
JUMP AHEAD:
Arts + Culture | Community Celebrations | Sports | Food + Drink
Arts + Culture
A Cappella Around Main | Ann Arbor
September 3, 7 – 8:30 p.m. | Downtown Ann Arbor
Photo courtesy of Main Street Area Ann Arbor
Did you know Ann Arbor has more a cappella groups than any other city in the country? Throughout the summer, Main Street Area Association celebrates with an a cappella celebration every first Tuesday. For the last event on September 3rd, you can shop, eat and explore downtown while four different singing groups stroll the sidewalks to serenade the community.
Ann Arbor Russian Festival | Dexter
September 14 – 15, various times | St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church
The 7th 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 15 | 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 2019 show celebrates the 21st year of the Orphan Car Show! Spectator admission is $7 for adults and children under 12 are admitted for free.
Old West Side Homes Tour | Ann Arbor
September 22, 12 – 5 p.m. | Community of Christ Church
The 46th 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 purchase tickets on the day of the event at its headquarters: Community of Christ Church at 520 West Jefferson.
Heritage Market | Milan
September 29, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Hack House
Hosted by Milan Area Historical Society for the second year, the Heritage Market brings local vendors, creative makers and community members to shop and support local in the historic Hack House. For details and updates, check out the Facebook event here.
Community Celebrations
Dancing in the Streets | Ann Arbor
September 1, 1:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Downtown Ann Arbor
An annual tradition hosted by the Ann Arbor Community for Traditional Music and Dance, Dancing in the Streets is a free, family-friendly dance-themed event. The schedule includes demonstrations, interactive activities, tons of lessons, kid-friendly activities and more. To see that schedule, click here.
Festival of the Honey Bee | Ypsilanti
September 6, 5 – 9 p.m. | Downtown Ypsilanti
Held in partnership with First Fridays Ypsilanti, the Festival of the Honey Bee aims to raise awareness and celebrate the honey bee’s impact on our local and global food supply through art and education. Nearly a decade old, this annual tradition includes art, music, educational activities for all ages, vendors, demonstrations and more.
An Evening with Ozone House | Ann Arbor
September 14, 6 p.m. | Domino’s World Resource Center, Lobby F
Ozone House’s 11th annual fall fundraiser, this charitable event includes a silent and a live auction, cocktails and dinner, youth performers, entertainment, a paddle raise and a wine pull. To attend the event, make a donation, and support the work of Ozone House, click here.
Oktoberfest | Saline
September 20 – 21 | 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, Oktoberfest features traditional and modern music, a festive biergarten, a corn hole tournament, wiener dog races and so much more over the course of two full days.
Harvest Festival | Ann Arbor
September 22, 2 – 5 p.m. | Sutherland-Wilson Farm
Hosted by Pittsfield Charter Township, the 11th Annual Harvest Festival is welcoming the fall season with a performance by the Saline Fiddlers, face painting, carriage photos, lawn games, a pumpkin patch, docent-led tours, artisan demonstrations, a petting farm and so much more. All of this is included in general admission, which ranges from free for children 2 years and under to $5 for adults over 16. For more details, click here.
Webster Fall Festival | Dexter
September 28 | Corner of Webster Church & Farrell Roads
Co-hosted by the Webster United Church of Christ and the Webster Township Historical Society, this fall festival has something for everyone: hayrides, live music, an auction, a petting zoo, a children’s carnival, historical buildings, baked goods, demonstrations like rope making and blacksmithing, baseball games played following the rules of 1860, and even more! For the full schedule, click here.
Sports
University of Michigan Football vs. Army | Ann Arbor
September 7, 12 p.m. | Michigan Stadium
Michigan football is back! They’re playing in the Big House against Army West Point on September 7th. To see the full 2019 schedule, click here, and don’t miss their other home game this month on September 28th against Rutgers.
RunTough for ChadTough | Saline
September 28, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Saline High School
Benefitting The ChadTough Foundation—a local nonprofit in Saline—this running event is celebrating its sixth year with a family-friendly 5K and a one-mile fun run. Whether you want to virtually run or you want to run the route yourself, you can register online here.
Glow-in-the-Park 5K | Ypsilanti
September 20, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. | Rolling Hills County Park
Hosted by Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission, this nighttime run invites racers to Rolling Hills County Park after the sun sets. Then, racers can enjoy a lighted, glow-in-the-dark run through the park! To register, click here.
Food + Drink
Route 23 Craft Beer Walk | Milan
September 13, 4 – 10 p.m. | Main Street
An annual event with Milan Main Street, this craft beer celebration brings live music, food truck fare, community fun and eight Michigan breweries to Downtown Milan. When you purchase tickets here, adults can enjoy flights of three craft beers at each venue, and each flight includes a small appetizer, too!
Bike Ypsi’s Taco Tour | Ypsilanti
September 15, 12 – 5 p.m. | Frog Island Park
Bike Ypsi is returning for the 12th year of the Taco Tour! Featuring only locally owned businesses and only traditional tacos, this event invites bicyclists for a 5-mile, 15-mile or 25-mile route through town for tacos and taco-themed treats. Each route includes a different number of tacos, but all include a choco taco at Go! Ice Cream and finish at Cultivate Coffee & Taphouse for liquid refreshment. For mail-in registration details, click here.
Chefs in the Garden | Ypsilanti
September 15, 5 – 8 p.m. | Growing Hope Urban Farm
Hosted by and benefitting Growing Hope, the Chefs in the Garden series brings together local charity, local food and urban farm education. The three-part dinner series features well-known, local culinary talent at each event occurring on September 15th, September 29th and October 13th. The first event on September 15th will bring together Chef Ji Hye Kim of Miss Kim with dessert from Milk + Honey. For tickets, click here. And for details on the September 29th event, click here.
