August 23, 2021
18 Events Happening in the Ann Arbor Area to Attend October 2021
October is here and our Ann Arbor communities have fully embraced the fall festivities! This month’s lineup of events include craft shows where you can shop for fall treats and holiday gifts along with music festivals, spooky outdoor movies, harvest festivals and more.
For more fall fun, check out 19 Pumpkin Patches, Apple Orchards and Cider Mills You Can Visit Near Ann Arbor and 12 Outdoor Fall Adventures Near Ann Arbor, Michigan!
Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and the Delta Variant, we recommend checking out the links above each event to make sure no information has changed. We also encourage you to follow current local COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations like wearing a mask when indoors and keeping your distance in order to stay safe this season.
Jump ahead:
Arts + Culture
Half Moon Lake Art Fair | Gregory
Where: Pinckney Recreation Area
When: October 2-3
This juried art fair at the beautiful Pinckney Recreation Area will feature artists in all different media categories including painting, sculpture, metalworking, ceramics, jewelry and more. Spend the weekend shopping for one-of-a-kind hand-made items from award-winning artists and creative small businesses! Proceeds from the fair go towards supporting the Art as Healing Foundation.
Ann Arbor Michigan Pinball Show 2021 | Ann Arbor
Where: Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Museum
When: October 2-3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Since the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Museum is only open for a few weekends a year, you don’t want to miss your chance to explore it this month! On October 2nd and 3rd, guests are welcome to play with more than 475 restored pin machines and games. Proof of vaccination is required to attend. Click here for all the information.
Handcrafters Fall Fair | Northville
Where: Northville Community Center
When: October 8, Friday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
The 2021 Northville Handcrafters Fall Fair is your destination for the finest handmade goodies, specialty foods, décor, jewelry and more! Shop from more than 80 top artists from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
A2 Artoberfest | Ann Arbor
Where: Fourth Avenue & Kerrytown Market
When: October 9 & 10, Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Celebrate the arts this October at Artoberfest in downtown Ann Arbor! Explore the work from more than 140 jury selected fine artists; enjoy live entertainment; snack on great food from local food trucks; and sip craft beer and cider. And admission is completely free!
Westside Art Hop | Ann Arbor
Where: Ann Arbor’s Old West Side
When: October 16-17, Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Westside Art Hop is presented as Michigan’s quirkiest Art Walk. The twice-yearly event showcases high-quality arts and crafts for sale to the public in a festive atmosphere. While exploring the West Side neighborhood, you can peruse artwork, meet the artists, find decor for your home and shop for holiday gifts!
Ann Arbor Antiquarian Book Fair | Ann Arbor
Where: Michigan Union
When: October 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Returning in 2021 for its 45th year, the Ann Arbor Antiquarian Book Fair brings together booksellers and dealers from all across America! Here, you can explore a wide range of old and rare books, Americana, children’s books, autographs, manuscripts, maps, printings, ephemera, photography, fine press material and more. Admission is $5 and proceeds benefit the William L. Clements Library.
YDDA Outdoor Movie Series — Casper | Ypsilanti
Where: Frog Island Park
When: October 28, 7 p.m.
Bring the whole family together for an outdoor showing of Casper this month! Just head to Frog Island Park and enjoy watching the spooky family-friendly flick under the stars. Just don’t forget to bring your own chair, blankets and snacks!
Edgefest | Ann Arbor
When: October 28-31
Edgefest began in 1997 as a single-day event and has grown into a four-day festival that includes collaborations and educational outreach, the Edgefest Parade and so much more. Hosted annually by Kerrytown Concert House, the event is focused on avant-garde jazz and creative new music performed by artists from the United States and around the globe. For ticket information, click here.
Community Celebrations
YpsiGLOW | Ypsilanti
From the same team that brings us FestiFools and FoolMoon every April, ypsiGLOW is a light-filled celebration through downtown Ypsi. This year, the festivities will be going on all month with art-making workshops and activities for all ages and abilities to get you ready to GLOW! Click here for all the information
Fiber Expo | Ann Arbor
When: October 9-10, Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Once during the spring and again during the fall, the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds are filled with fiber products of all kinds. Come by to shop, learn and meet the makers of wool, linen and cotton crafts, see real alpacas and more! Children 12 years and under are admitted for free, while adults pay just $4 cash for one day or $6 for two.
Great Fall Fest at Maybury Farm | Northville
Where: Maybury Farm
When: October 9-10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Maybury Farm
Go out and join the team at Maybury Farm for their 8th annual Great Fall Fundraising Festival! This two-day event allows your family to see and pet animals; listen to live music; play games and participate in various fall activities; watch animal demonstrations; and much more. There will be concessions and food trucks as well as an evening bonfire for roasting s’mores. Tickets are $9 for the festival and farm animals or $12 for the festival, farm and a beehive wagon tour.
Appleumpkin Festival | Tecumseh
Where: Downtown Tecumseh
When: October 9-10
Head to downtown Tecumseh for their 27th annual Appleumpkin Festival! Midway rides, carnival, inflatables, bungee jumps, crafts, putt putt, helicopter rides, monster truck rides—there’s a reason this is one of the area’s favorite fall festivals. There is also an antique street fair and flea market as well as an arts and crafts show. Click here for all the 2021 information.
Halloween on the Farm | Pinckney
Where: S&R Lavender Farm
When: October 31, 3-6 p.m.
This Halloween, head to S&R Lavendar Farm in Pinckney and enjoy an afternoon of carnival games, trick or treating, hayrides, a petting zoo and more! Trick or treat tickets are $10 while chaperone tickets are $5 and hayride tickets are $5 per person.
Sports
5th Annual Domestic Violence 5K Run/Walk | Ypsilanti
Where: Parkridge Park
Join the Women and Men Working for Change (WMWFC) in the 5th annual Domestic Violence 5K Run or Walk! This fun race helps support WMWFC’s mission in empowering and equipping community members with essential tools to promote positive change within the community. Click here to register!
Glow Disc Golf Tournament | Whitmore Lake
When: October 8, 6-11 p.m.
For the sixth year, this after-hours disc golf tournament is returning to Independence Lake County Park! The 18 holes will be lit by glow sticks and $30 registration includes park entry and a player pack.
Out of the Darkness Walk | Dexter
Where: Hudson Mills Metropark
When: October 10, 1-3 p.m.
Organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Out of the Darkness Walk allows you to raise money by walking. Every dollar you raise invests in life-saving research, education, advocacy and support for those impacted by suicide. Click here for more information and to sign up!
Food + Drink
Boylesque Drag Bingo | Ann Arbor
Have fun and support a great cause at Boylesque Drag Bingo at Conor O’Neill’s in Ann Arbor! Play a few rounds of bingo while being entertained by their amazing performers and enjoying great food. All proceeds go to support the Alzheimer’s Association.
Chefs in the Garden | Ypsilanti
Where: Growing Hope Urban Farm
When: October 10, 5-8 p.m.
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 12th, September 26th and October 10th. The last event of the series is scheduled for October 10th with Chef Brandon Johns of Grange Kitchen & Bar with dessert from Sweet Heather Anne. For details and tickets, click here.
Have a great October!
What local events are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments below!
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