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Events in January 2026
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January 20, 2026
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“Ann Arbor Restaurant Week”: Ann Arbor Main Street Area Association
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Jan. 18-23. Participating restaurants offer prix-fixe menus at affordable prices. Various times. Downtown Ann Arbor. annarborrestaurantweek.com.
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Ann Arbor Group Runs: Fleet Feet
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Every Sun., Tues., & Wed. Runners of all abilities invited to join a run of 3–5 miles along varying routes from different locations. Rain or shine. 8 a.m. (Sun.) & 7 a.m. (Tues.), Dozer Coffee, 112 Jackson Plz.; and 7 p.m. (Wed.), Fleet Feet, 123 E. Liberty. Free. (734) 929–9022 (Sun. & Tues.) & (734) 769–5016 (Wed.). fleetfeetsemichigan.com.
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“Investigate Labs”: U-M Museum of Natural History
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Every Tues.–Sun., except Jan. 1. All age 6 & up invited into the museum’s Nature Lab and Micro Worlds Lab to use scientific tools and museum specimens to answer questions and solve problems. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., U-M MNH, 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org.
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“Introductory Woodcarving: Skill Building with Fish”: Ann Arbor District Library
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Jan. 13 & 20 (different times). Adults & teens invited to learn woodcarving basics, then carve a small fish to take home. 5:30–7:30 p.m. (Jan. 13) & 1–3 p.m. (Jan. 20), AADL Downtown Secret Lab. Free. (734) 327–4200.
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Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club
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Every Tues., Thurs., & Fri., except Jan. 2. 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. or so (arrive by 12:45 p.m.), City Club, 1830 Washtenaw. $9 per person. If you plan to come without a partner, email [email protected].
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Ann Arbor Area Scrabble Club
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Every Tues. All invited to play the classic word game, using the 5th-edition Scrabble dictionary. Bring your own set, if you like. 4–7 p.m., Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsi. Free. meetup.com/ann-arbor-scrabble-meetup.
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“Deportation Nation”: U-M Ford School of Public Policy MLK Day Symposium
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Pulitzer Prize– and Peabody Award–winning journalist Caitlin Dickerson, staff writer at The Atlantic, and U-M Wallace House Center director Lynette Clemetson discuss how the American immigration system works and the complex U.S. history with immigrants, which includes race-based fear directed toward virtually every group of immigrants to the U.S. Audience Q&A. 4:30–6 p.m. Rackham Amphitheatre, 4th fl. Free. Preregistration requested at fordschool.umich.edu/events. Also available via livestream. [email protected].
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“I’m Still Here”: State Theatre
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Film screenings every Wed.–Sun. Tickets $10.50 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 and older, & U.S. veterans, $8.50; Marquee Arts members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. (734) 668–8397. For updated schedule, see marquee-arts.org/calendar.
Jan. 20: “I’m Still Here” (Walter Salles, 2024). Moving biographical drama about Eunice Paiva, a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband, dissident Rubens Paiva, during the military dictatorship in Brazil. FREE. Portuguese, subtitles. 5:30 p.m.
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Food as Resistance: A Panel of Michigan Changemaker Chefs (Food Literacy for All): Food Literacy for All
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Talk description: The third annual “Food as Resistance” event will kick off the 2026 Food Literacy for All course. Food has been entwined with resistance movements, from lunch counter sit-ins and the Black Panther Breakfast Program of the US Civil Rights Movement to current organizing around sustainability and equitable food access for all. Join us for a Chef-led conversation on the role of food in movement building. A collaboration between Food Literacy for All and Michigan Dining, the participating Michigan Dining chefs develop and personally serve small dishes that are significant to each chef’s culture and experience – and are connected to the themes of resistance and community care. Reception with small plates begins at 6PM and the program begins at 6:30PM. All are welcome to attend! If attending in person, please RSVP in advance: https://forms.gle/hTynvknTiVm5vgpCA
Panelists:
Josmine Evans (Owner of the pop-up Indigo Culinary Co. and co-owner of Detroit-based garden The Joy Project);
Amanda Saab (Chef, activist, program director at Detroit Food Academy, and former contestant on MasterChef);
Jermond Booze (Detroit chef, Culinary Programming Lead at Detroit Food Academy, and co-creator of Vinyl Tastings)
Panel Facilitator:
Chef Phil Jones (Chef and Community Food Specialist at the Detroit Food Policy Council)
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Group Runs: Ann Arbor Running Company (AARC)
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Every Thurs., Sat., Mon., & Tues. (different AARC locations). Runners of all abilities invited to join a 5K mapped route (Thurs. & Mon.), either a beginner or advanced group run (Sat.), or an interval-based training run (Tues.). 6 p.m. (Thurs.), AARC Colonnade, 901 W. Eisenhower; 7 a.m. (Sat.) & 6 p.m. (Tues.), AARC Downtown, 209 S. Ashley; and 6 p.m. (Mon.), Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsi. Free. annarborrunningcompany.com.
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Sewing Lab: Ann Arbor District Library
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Jan. 5 & 20. All invited to get basic sewing help with their unfinished projects or learn how to use the AADL sewing machines. Bring your own sewing machine, if you wish. No experience necessary. Also, local sewing instructor Rae Hoekstra discusses seam finishing (Jan. 5) and local crafter Amber Adams-Fall demonstrates bias binding (Jan. 20). 6–7:30 p.m., AADL Downtown, Secret Lab. Free. (734) 327–4200.
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“Tour de Dirt”: Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society
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Every Tues. 20- to 35-mile ride along Chelsea-area dirt roads. See aabts.org for weather cancellations or delays. 6:15 p.m., meet at Aberdeen Bike, 1101 Main, Chelsea. Free. For each week’s route, email [email protected].
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Magic: The Gathering: Sylvan Factory
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Every Mon.–Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play both casual and tournament forms of the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering (MTG).
Mon. (6:30 p.m.): “Just Another Modern Monday.” Three rounds using powerful cards, for experienced players, with prizes. $10.
Tues. (6:30 p.m.): “MTG Pauper.” A fun and fast format for all skill levels, three rounds. $5.
Wed. & Sat. (5 p.m.): “Casual Commander Night.” A drop-in session of the most popular form of the game. Free.
Wed. (6:30 p.m.): “MTG Standard Showdown.” Three rounds, with competitive tournament rules, prizes of store credit. $10.
Fri. (6:30 p.m.): “Friday Night Magic.” Cost and format vary.
Various times, Sylvan Factory, 2459 W. Stadium. Various costs. (734) 929–5877, sylvanfactory.com.
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“Romeo + Juliet”: Michigan Theater
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Film screenings every day. Tickets $10.50 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 and older, & U.S. veterans, $8.50; Marquee Arts members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. For updated schedule, see marquee-arts.org/calendar.
Jan. 20: “Romeo + Juliet” (Baz Luhrmann, 1996). Inventive take on Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy that retains Shakespeare’s language but sets it in a modern milieu, with guns, the mafia, and TV news. Shot in Mexico City, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. 7 p.m.
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Ann Arbor Camera Club
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Jan. 6 & 20. Club members share their projected digital slides (Jan. 6) and prints (Jan. 20) on various topics, including this month’s assignment, “Humorous.” Also, members introduce themselves and share photos (Jan. 6), and local photographer and educator Peter Hoffman gives a presentation titled “Reality is Enough: The Importance of Documentary Photography in the Age of AI.” (Jan. 20). Guests asked to arrive 15 minutes early. 7–9 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 1501 W. Liberty. Free. [email protected], annarborcameraclub.org.
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Astronomy on Tap
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All invited to this monthly program that includes space-themed trivia and games as well as short presentations by local astronomers. 7 p.m., Grizzly Peak, 120 W. Washington. Free; food and drink for sale. bit.ly/aotannarbor.
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French Canadian Music Session: Ann Arbor Community for Traditional Music and Dance.
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All musicians invited to bring acoustic instruments to trade tunes and play the dance music of French Canada: jigs, reels, waltzes, and so-called “crooked” tunes from Quebec, Acadia, and the Métis traditions. Knowledge of French not required. Note new temporary location. 7–9 p.m., First Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. Free. aactmad.org/french-canadian-session, [email protected].
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Huron Valley Harmonizers Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society
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Every Tues. except Jan. 27. Singers of all genders invited to join this rehearsal. 7–8:45 p.m., Interfaith Center, 704 Airport Blvd., ste. 1. Free to visitors (annual dues for those who join). (734) 796–7467, [email protected], tinyurl.com/hvharmonizers.
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Polka Jam Session: American Legion Hall
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All accordion players and other musicians invited to play polkas and waltzes and other ethnic and old-time music. 7–9 p.m., American Legion Hall, 44 Wabash St. (south off Main St.), Milan. Free.
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Tuesday English Country Dance: Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance
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Every Tues. Historical and traditional English dancing to live music. All dances taught and prompted; no complicated steps, and no partner or experience needed. Bring clean, flat, nonslip shoes and your own water bottle. First-timers asked to arrive at 6:45 p.m. 7–9:30 p.m., Concourse Hall, 4531 Concourse. Suggested donation: $8–$12 (students, $4; kids age 13 & under with caregiver, free). (734) 665–7704, aactmad.org/english-country.
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U-M Men’s Basketball
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Game vs. USC. The U-M also plays home games this month vs. Wisconsin (Jan. 10, 1 or 2 p.m., sold out), Indiana (Jan. 20, 7 p.m.), Ohio State (Jan. 23, 8 p.m., sold out), & Nebraska (Jan. 27, 7 p.m.). 7 p.m., Crisler Center. Tickets from $33 in advance at mgoblue.com. (734) 764–0247.
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The Moth StorySlam: U-M Michigan Public
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Open mic storytelling competition sponsored by The Moth, the NYC-based nonprofit storytelling organization. Ten storytellers are selected at random from among those who sign up to tell a 3- to 5-minute story on the theme: “Thin Ice.” Stories are judged by 3 people recruited from the audience. Winners compete in a semiannual GrandSlam. Seating limited; arrive early. 7:30–9 p.m. (doors open and sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m.), the Blind Pig, 208 S. First St. Tickets $15 general admission in advance only at themoth.org beginning 3 weeks before event. [email protected].
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“Comedy Gauntlet”: Hear.Say Brewing + Theater
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Every Tues. Ninety-second sets by each of 16 area stand-up comics, advancing tournament-style until a winner is decided. Followed at 9 p.m. by “Say What?” Comedy Open Mic hosted by local comics Ned Rice and Jeff Teed. All 18 & up invited to sign up for 6-minute sets. 8 p.m., HSBT, 2350 W. Liberty. $15 in advance at crowdwork.com/e/comedy-gauntlet, $18 (if available) at the door. 9 p.m. show, free. [email protected].
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Crafty Hour: Bløm Mead + Cider
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Every Tues. All invited to bring and work on their non-messy crafting projects (knitting, collage, etc.). 8–10 p.m., Bløm, 100 S. Fourth Ave. Free, but purchase of food & drink encouraged. $1 off all 12-oz. pours. (734) 548–9729.
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