Events for August 21, 2026
“Olson Park Gravel Ride”: Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society
Every Fri. Slow/moderate-paced 18-mile gravel road ride with a rest stop at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. See aabts.org for weather cancelations or delays. 9 a.m. sharp, meet at Olson Park, 1515 Dhu Varren. Free. (412) 302–9960.
“Nature Lab”: U-M Museum of Natural History
Every Tues.–Sun. All age 6 & up invited into the museum’s labs to use scientific tools and museum specimens. The newest program lets participants try out simulated snake senses to experience the world as if they were a snake. No live snakes. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org.
Foodie Fridays: Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation
Every Friday. Local food truck rally. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. (or until sold out), County Farm Park, 2230 Platt.
Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops
Every Sat., Fri., & Wed. All invited to play one of 200 songs, with melodies transcribed in numbers, on the 17-bell chime’s numbered keys. Ambitious players can add chords. Kids welcome. 10:30–11 a.m. (Sat.) & noon–12:30 p.m. (Wed. & Fri.). Free. [email protected].
“Recipe Swap”: Spice and Tea Merchants of Ann Arbor
Every Friday. All invited to bring one copy of a favorite recipe and take home one that someone else has brought. Noon-3 p.m., 407 N. Fifth. spicemerchants.biz.
Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club
Every Tues., Thurs., & Fri. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge (Tues. & Fri.) and a 499er game (Thurs.) for players with no more than 499 ACBL master points. 1–4 p.m. (arrive by 12:45 p.m.), 1830 Washtenaw Ave. $9 per person. If you plan to come without a partner, email [email protected].
81st Manchester Community Fair
Aug. 18–22. Midway rides (Wed.–Sat.), carnival games, concessions, livestock shows, live music, beer tent, and more. Special events include an opening parade (Aug. 18, 6:30 p.m.), classic & antique tractor pulls (Aug. 19, noon & 4 p.m.), pro wrestling by Insane Wrestling Revolution (Aug. 19, 7 p.m.), a Bump and Run Demolition Derby (Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m.), a cornhole competition (Aug. 21, 6 p.m.), and bull riding & rodeo (Aug. 22, 7 p.m.). For complete schedule, see manchesterfair.org. 5–10 p.m. (Tues.), 10 a.m.–10 p.m. (Wed., Thurs., & Sat.), & 3–10 p.m. (Fri.), Alumni Memorial Field, Vernon & Wolverine, Manchester. Admission: Tues., $5; Wed., Thurs., & Sat., $10 (Sat. before noon, $5); Fri., free. Kids age 5 & under, free. (734) 260–1019, [email protected].
A2 Summer Streets Music Series: Main Street Area Association
Every Thurs.–Sun., June 4–Sept. 28. Local musicians TBA perform at several locations along Main downtown. Rain cancels. 4 p.m. Thurs.–Sun., S. Main between E. Washington & W. William. For the complete lineup, go to mainstreetannarbor.org/a2-summer-streets. Free.
“Fix-It Friday”: Maker Works
All invited to bring anything that needs fixing—chairs, sweaters, radios, whatever. Maker Works members and staff on hand help with repairs. Handy people invited to assist. Repairs not guaranteed. Also, toy adaptations to make off-the-shelf toys more accessible for people with disabilities. 4–6 p.m., 3765 Plaza. Free. Preregistration required at maker-works.com/fixitfriday. (734) 222–4911.
“Teen & Young Adult Outdoor Skills: Fire Building”: Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation
Teens and young adults invited to learn how to build a fire and cook fries over it. Materials provided. Dress for the weather. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Inclement weather cancels. 5–6:30 p.m., Island Park Shelter A, 1420 Island Dr. Free, preregistration required at tinyurl.com/a2parksrec or (734) 794–6250. [email protected].
Eric Moore & The Fugitives
A new country side project by veteran local singer-songwriter and fingerstyle guitarist Moore.
Shiny Shiny Black
Award-winning alt-folk band from Indiana. 5:30–6:30 p.m. Free.
“Summer Game Skate”: Ann Arbor District Library
All invited to a free open ice skating session to celebrate the end of this year’s AADL Summer Game. Skate rentals, free. 6–8 p.m., Yost Ice Arena, 1116 S. State. Free. (734) 327–4200.
Gregory Stovetop
Veteran Chelsea singer-songwriter, a self-styled “riff rock space cowboy” whose influences range from Elvis and Johnny Cash to Soundgarden and The Replacements.
D&D Adventurers League: Sylvan Factory
Every Fri. All invited to play the current official campaign of the popular Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game, using 5th-edition rules. Kids under 13 must have adult accompaniment. 6–10 p.m., 2459 W. Stadium. $10. Space limited, preregistration strongly recommended. (734) 929–5877, sylvanfactory.com.
“The Big Cheese”: Michigan Theater
Film screenings every day. Tickets $11.75 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 & older, and U.S. veterans, $9.75; Marquee Arts members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. For updated schedule, see marquee-arts.org/calendar.
Aug. 21: “The Big Cheese” (Sara Joe Wolansky, 2025). Documentary about an underdog team of U.S. cheesemongers preparing to compete at the French Mondial du Fromage, the “Olympics of Cheese.” Followed by a wine and cheese reception in the lobby with Zingerman’s Deli. 6:30 p.m.
Magic: The Gathering (MTG): Sylvan Factory
Every Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play both casual and tournament forms of the collectible card game MTG.
Wed. & Sat. (5 p.m.): “Commander.” A drop-in session of the most popular form of the game. Free.
Wed. (6 p.m.): “Pauper.” A fun and fast format for all skill levels, three rounds. $5.
Wed. (6:30 p.m.): “Standard.” Three rounds, with competitive tournament rules, prizes of store credit. $10.
Fri. (6:30 p.m.): “Friday Night Draft.” Cost and format vary.
Various times, 2459 W. Stadium. (734) 929–5877, sylvanfactory.com.
“Euchre Change a Life!”
Aug. 7 & 21. Five-game euchre tournament. Sign up with a partner, or get paired with one by the organizers. Prizes. Food and beverages available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Haitian children via Haitian Christian Outreach. 6:30–9 p.m., HOMES Campus, 112 Jackson Plz. $15 (HOMES members, $10). [email protected], tinyurl.com/a2euchrechange.
Music in the Park: Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce
See 14 Friday. Tonight: Midnight Special, a Pinckney-based Texas blues trio. 6:30–9 p.m.
Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Bums
Swinging jazz standards and driving R&B by this acclaimed ensemble led by Lucky, better known in Ann Arbor as Steve Wethy, the frontman and pianist for the Blue Front Persuaders, a neo-jump blues quintet that was one of the great local bands of the early 80s. Wethy moved to San Francisco many years ago, but his local shows continue to draw big crowds.
John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz Concert Series
See 7 Friday. Tonight: an ensemble led by Ypsilanti jazz guitar virtuoso, and Summer Jazz Series founder, John E. Lawrence. 7 p.m.
40 Stitches Later
Lansing Americana alt-country quartet.
Masculine Lethargy
Performances by local male singer-songwriters TBA.
Root Cause Analysis
Duo of local folk & Americana singer-songwriters Jill Baker & Lynne Frederickson.
“Creature Encounters & Adult Open Hours”: The Creature Conservancy
Every Sat. & Sun. and Fri. Aug. 7 & 21. On Sat. and Sun., conservancy staffers present and give insights into some animals with superpowers, including an African crested porcupine, a three-banded armadillo, and a frilled dragon at 1 & 4 p.m., and an animal keeper shows a Gila monster at 2 & 3 p.m. During the Friday Adult Open Hours (age 18+ only), conservancy staffers show all four animals at 7:30 p.m. All tickets include a chance to see the conservancy’s other animals. Noon–5 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.) & 7–9 p.m. (Fri.), 4950 Ann Arbor–Saline Rd. $15 (kids ages 2–12, $13; under age 2, free) cash or credit at the door only. (734) 929–9324, thecreatureconservancy.org.
Pontiac Trail Blazers
Local bluegrass quartet known for its beautiful vocal harmonies and instrumental prowess. Tonight they are joined by fiddler Grant Flick. 7–10 p.m. $10.
La Tanya Hall Quartet
Ensemble led by this jazz vocalist renowned for her ability to breathe new life into the Great American Songbook.
Jimmy Pardo: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
Aug. 21 & 22. A frequent guest on late-night TV, this West Coast comic is known for his engaging personality, expressive face, improv skills, playfully challenging and sparring with his audience, and hilarious railings on all things moronic, including himself. Pardo’s shows often sell out. Opening act TBA. 7:15 p.m., 212 S. Fourth Ave. $25 at aacomedy.com & (if available) at the door. Special engagement; no passes, discounts or coupons accepted. (734) 996–9080.
“Southern Rapture”: PTD Productions
Aug. 13–16 & 19–22. Karrie Waarala directs local actors in Cleveland playwright Eric Coble’s 2009 dark satire exploring art, commerce, and censorship. The plot, based on a 1996 staging of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America in Charlotte, North Carolina, follows a theater company in a major Southern city as it puts on a controversial play featuring foul language, homosexual themes, and 7 minutes of full frontal male nudity. Leading up to the premiere, the city’s mayor brings legal action, locals threaten to burn the theater down, and the terrified actors exchange cans of pepper spray as opening night gifts. “The broad laugh-out-loud humor narrows slowly toward a poignant ending, making a fantasy into a reality,” writes one Charlotte Observer reviewer. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun. & Wed.), Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi. Tickets $20 (students & seniors, $15) in advance at ptdproductions.com & at the door. (734) 483–7345.
The Mighty Swells
Grateful Dead tribute band.
“Emma’s Wedding(s)”: Purple Rose Theatre Company
Every Wed.–Sun., June 25–Aug. 30. (See review) Kate Thomsen directs longtime Purple Rose resident playwright Carey Crim’s comedy-drama about a group of old friends gathered to celebrate their friend Emma’s fourth wedding. Together, they revisit their memories of each of her previous three weddings to “the one.” Adult language and subject matter. 3 p.m. (Wed., Thurs., & Sat.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.). 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $31.50–$52.50 in advance at purplerosetheatre.org, (734) 433–7673, & (if available) at the door. Discounts available.
“Gutenberg! The Musical!”: Penny Seats Theatre
Aug. 7–22. Emily Wilson-Tobin directs local actors in Anthony King and Scott Brown’s 2-man musical about a pair of aspiring playwrights who perform all the parts in a run-through for potential backers of their new, hilariously ill-advised project—a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johannes Gutenberg. Adult themes. 8 p.m. (Thurs., Fri., & Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Cahoots, 206 E. Huron St. Tickets $28 (seniors, $25 & students, $20) in advance at pennyseats.org & (if available) at the door.
Friday Night Improv: Hear.Say Brewing + Theater
Every Fri. Performance by 11 Non-Blondes, a house team of experienced improvisers. 8–9:30 p.m., 2350 W. Liberty. $15 in advance at heardotsay.com/events & $18 (if available) at the door.
D. Vaughn the Illest
Detroit hip-hop rapper. Openers: fellow Detroit-area hip-hop acts Mo Grease, Dre Dav, and Teddy Fux and The Fux Boys.
Heavy K & the Freaks
70s classic rock and dance music by this veteran local septet fronted by vocalist Kevin Whitehead.
Damn Tall Buildings
NYC-based Americana trio whose sound mixes elements of blues, bluegrass, vintage swing, and old-time roots music. Americana Highways calls their 2025 album, The Universe is Hungry, “one of the best, well-crafted albums of the year. Pristine, proficient instrumentation & just about every composition is fluent & fun, performed with finesse & sufficiently countrified. Their vocal enthusiasm is an easy sell.” $29.
“Off Campus Dance Party.”
All ages. DJ dance party inspired by the popular college romance TV show Off-Campus. Costumes encouraged. $22.
Jay Frydenlund
Chirp singer-guitarist who plays rock ’n’ roll, blues, and folk covers and originals.
“Telescope Observing”: U-M Detroit Observatory
Every Fri., except Aug. 14. All invited to drop in to use the observatory’s 1857 Fitz telescope and other modern instruments. Exhibits are also open regardless of viewing conditions. Last visitors admitted 30 minutes prior to closing. 9–11 p.m., 1398 E. Ann at Observatory. Free, no registration required. (734) 763–2230, detroitobservatory.umich.edu.
Off Campus Dance Party: party iconic.
Inspired by the romance, chaos, and late-night college energy of the hit sports-romance universe Off Campus is the ultimate dance party for the girls who fell for hockey players, house parties and messy love stories. We’ll be spinning the soundtrack and pop fan favorites, the kind of songs that belong at a Briar U hockey party. Plus, visuals from the series playing on screen all night for the full Off Campus experience. 🏒
Riverside Swings: Riverside Arts Center
Every Fri. Swing dancing to recorded music. No partner or experience required. Wear comfortable low-grip/tread shoes. Preceded at 7 & 8 p.m. by hour-long lessons. Followed by a “late-night blues-&-fusion” dance. The 1st Friday of each month is free, and the 3rd Friday includes a Charleston lesson. 9–11 p.m., 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi. $5 (students, $4). riversidearts.org/riverside-swings.
The City Lines
Local self-styled “Springsteen backed by Jimmy Eat World” power-pop trio fronted by singer-songwriter (and Ann Arbor firefighter) Pat Deneau. Openers: the Detroit rock ’n’ roll band Good Man’s Brother and Head Full of Ghosts, an Ypsi alt-rock trio led by singer-songwriter and guitarist James Henes.
Habitat Jazz Collective
Jazz originals and standards by a local ensemble led by singer-bassist Rob Crozier.
“I Know What You Did Last Summer”: Michigan Theater
Film screenings every day. Tickets $11.75 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 & older, and U.S. veterans, $9.75; Marquee Arts members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. For updated schedule, see marquee-arts.org/calendar.
Aug. 21: “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (Jim Gillespie, 1997). Slasher film about 4 teenage friends stalked by a hook-wielding killer one year after covering up a car accident in which they think they killed a man. 9:30 p.m.
“Comedy Gauntlet”: Hear.Say Brewing + Theater
Ninety-second sets by 16 area stand-up comics, advancing tournament-style until a winner is decided. 9:30–10:45 p.m., 2350 W. Liberty. $10 by Aug. 19, or $15 after at heardotsay.com/events & $18 (if available) at the door.