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Events in May 2026
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May 24, 2026
“The Little Mermaid Jr.”: Professional Youth Theatre of Michigan
Observer Editor
May 22–25 & 29–31. Megan Wright-Jones directs local young actors grades 2–12 in a 60-minute version of the 2007 stage musical based on the 1989 animated Disney film and the original fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice in exchange for love. Music and lyrics by Doug Wright, Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Glenn Slater. 6 & 8 p.m. (today), & various times (May 23–25 & 29–31), Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi. Tickets $20–$30 in advance only at pytmi.square.site/home.
Ann Arbor Group Runs: Fleet Feet
Observer Editor
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. Dozer Coffee (8 a.m. Sun. & 7 a.m. Tues.), 112 Jackson Plz. and Fleet Feet (7 p.m. Wed.), 123 E. Liberty. Free. (734) 929–9022 (Sun. & Tues.) & (734) 769–5016 (Wed.). fleetfeetsemichigan.com.
“Flower Day”: Ann Arbor Farmers Market/Sunday Artisan Market
Elemental Ecstatic Dance
Observer Editor
Every Sun. Dancers of all ages and abilities invited for free-form dancing to a variety of recorded music, from EDM to classical and ambient to world music. On May 17, guest teacher Lucine Eusani leads a 5Rhythms dance session designed to promote a meditative state through dance. Wear loose clothes; barefoot or stocking feet. 10:45 a.m.–1 p.m. A2 Yoga, 2030 Commerce. $20 (age 11 and under, free) cash or Venmo (@andjru) at the door only. tinyurl.com/ecstatic-dance-a2.
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Museum of Natural History
Observer Editor
Every Tues.–Sun. All age 6 & up invited into the museum’s labs to use scientific tools and museum specimens to answer questions and solve problems. The newest program examines how Michigan animals get along with each other—or don’t. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org.
Dan Rice Memorial Regatta: U-M Sailing Club
Observer Editor
All invited to watch races of a variety of craft under 20 feet between club members and any others who want to enter (free) in their own sailboats. 11 a.m., Baseline Lake, 8010 Strawberry Lake Rd., left from Mast off North Territorial. Free. Preregistration required to race at michigansailingclub.org.
H.A.C. Ultimate
Observer Editor
Every Sun. All invited to a relaxed pickup game of this spirited team sport played with a flying disc. Note: Overly competitive players are politely asked to leave. 11:15 a.m., Fuller Park, just west of the pool & parking lot (or occasionally across the street). Free. (734) 846–9418, [email protected].
“Creature Encounters & Adult Open Hours”: The Creature Conservancy
Observer Editor
Fri. May 1 & 15 and every Sat. & Sun. During the Friday Adult Open Hours (age 18+ only), conservancy staffers show off some rescued animals, including a wolf hybrid, a reticulated python, a black vulture, and an axolotl at 7:30 p.m. On Sat. and Sun., conservancy staffers show off the first three animals 1 & 4 p.m., and an animal keeper shows the axolotl at 2 & 3 p.m. All tickets include a chance to see the conservancy’s other animals. 7–9 p.m. (Fri.) & Noon–5 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), 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.
“Dyeing the Rainbow”: Ann Arbor District Library
“Let’s Be Friends: Genealogy”: Ann Arbor District Library
Critter House Open Hours: Leslie Science & Nature Center
Group Runs: A2 Runners
Observer Editor
Every Sun., Mon., & Wed. Runners of all abilities invited to join a beginner or advanced 3- to 5-mile group run, followed by socializing at a downtown coffee shop. Noon (Sun.) & 6:30 p.m. (Wed. & Mon.), meet at the Kerrytown clock tower. Preregistration requested at meetup.com/a2runners. Free. [email protected].
Open Board Games: Sylvan Factory
Observer Editor
Every Sun. All invited to play one of a wide variety of board games in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Instruction provided. Also, on May 3, game playtesting with Michigame Design Lab (2 p.m.), during which players are invited to try out new board and card games from local designers Bruce Bielawa & Joe Hopkins and provide feedback. Noon–6 p.m., 2459 W. Stadium. Free. sylvanfactory.com.
Open House & Pho Fundraiser: Refugee Garden Initiatives
Community Listing
Join Refugee Garden Initiatives (RGI) on May 24 for our Open House & Pho Fundraiser.
Step into the garden, hear the story behind RGI, and see how refugees in our community are rebuilding through food, culture, and connection.
Enjoy a warm bowl of pho—a dish rooted in comfort, memory, and home—while supporting refugee-led programs that create real pathways to healing and belonging.
This is more than an event.
It’s a chance to be part of something meaningful.
U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater
Observer Editor
Every Fri.–Sun. Three different audiovisual planetarium shows suitable for all ages. Sea Monsters (noon) follows an intrepid Dolichorhynchops osborni (an extinct species of marine reptile) as she travels through the most dangerous oceans in history; The Sky Tonight (1 & 3 p.m.) explores the current night sky, with tips on how to find the cardinal directions, constellations, and planets on your own; and T. Rex (2 p.m.) describes the iconic dinosaur’s scientific and cinematic history (includes scenes of dinosaur violence). Noon, 1, 2, & 3 p.m., 1105 North University. $8 at the gift shop. Limited capacity. (734) 764–0480, ummnh.org.
All-Ages Mario Kart Tournament: Ann Arbor District Library
Wonder Walk: Get to know our neighbors: Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Community Listing
Get to know our neighbors. It's always good to meet your neighbors and build community! Insects like bees and wasps are great neighbors, too! Learn about some of the most amazing, social insects and how we can support our insect neighbors that are critical to our shared ecosystem. Join doctoral candidate Joey Caldwell to learn about social insect behavior, amazing research, and take a bug-walk to see who our neighbors are at Matthaei!
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Matthaei Botanical Gardens is hosting free guided nature walks on select Wednesdays and Sundays. These walks are FREE, no registration is required. Wonder Walks are designed for all ages to inspire curiosity and learning from each other through activities that model curiosity and honor nature. If we have a sizeable mixed-age group, we may separate into two sets to offer the same content at different levels of engagement.
Sunday walks begin at 1:00 pm. We recommend gathering inside the lobby of Matthaei Botanical Gardens about 10 minutes before the start.
1800 N Dixboro Rd ,Ann Arbor, MI. Free. https://mbgna.umich.edu/event/wonder-walk-get-know-our-neighbors“Murder on the Links”: Purple Rose Theatre Company
Observer Editor
Every Wed.–Sun., Apr. 2–May 31. David Bendena directs Steven Dietz’s 2023 farce, based on an Agatha Christie whodunit, in which eccentric Belgian detective Hercule Poirot’s newest client is discovered, dead, on a French golf course. A cast of 6 actors embody a plethora of suspects in this high-energy, comic adaptation. Adult language and subject matter. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), 3 p.m. (Thurs., Sat., & Wed.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.). PRT, 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $31.50–$52.50 in advance at purplerosetheatre.org and (734) 433–7673, & (if available) at the door. Discounts available.
“Sticker Scenes”: Ann Arbor District Library
“The Last Wide Open”: Theatre Nova
Observer Editor
Every Fri.–Sun., May 22–June 14. Diane Hill directs the Michigan premiere of Audrey Cefaly’s “love song in three movements,” a multiverse musical about the romance between a weary waitress and an immigrant dishwasher/musician playing out in several different parallel universes. The time-bending plot asks: what if love is less about destiny and more about timing? 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 3 p.m. (Sat., except May 23), and 2 p.m. (Sun.). Theatre Nova, 410 W. Huron St. Tickets $30 (age 65 and older, $25; students with ID, $15 at the door) in advance at theatrenova.org/season11 & (if available) at the door. (734) 635–8450.
Dharma Disc Golfers: Jewel Heart Buddhist Center
Observer Editor
All invited to play 9 or 18 holes. Discs available for those who don’t have them. Weather permitting; ground may be muddy. 2–4 p.m., Mary Beth Doyle Park, 3500 Birch Hollow. Free. [email protected]. jewelheart.org.
Sunday Drop-in Tour: U-M Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Observer Editor
Every Sun. Docent-led tours exploring Death and Ritual in Ancient Egypt” (May 3), “Women in the Ancient World: A Mother’s Day Tour” (May 10), a look at smaller artifacts in “Hidden in Plain Sight” (May 17), an exploration of how some artifacts were created in “I Wonder How They Did That?” (May 24), and “Images of Women in the Ancient World” (May 31). 2–3 p.m., 434 S. State. Free. (734) 764–9304.
“Much Ado About Nothing”: Brevity Shakespeare
Observer Editor
May 22–24 & 29–31. This local acting company performs a 90-minute abridged production of Shakespeare’s high-spirited, sharp-tongued comedy about 2 pairs of young lovers. One couple, both disdainful of love, are tricked into acknowledging each other, while the other couple’s love is nearly ruined by deception and suspicion. The play is best known for its charged sexual banter and for the penetrating wit and dark cast of its humor. 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 2:30 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), Ypsilanti Performance Space, 218 N. Adams, Ypsi. Tickets $15 (students & seniors, $10). Limited capacity; reservations recommended at brevityshakespeare.org.
Horse Show: Spur of the Moment Club
Observer Editor
A judged amateur riding event featuring kids and adults riding English, western, and halter styles. Concessions. 8:30 a.m. until about 4 p.m., Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor–Saline Rd., Saline. Free admission. [email protected], spurhorseshows.org.
“Legally Blonde”: Fathom Entertainment
Observer Editor
(734) 973–8424 (Cinemark), (734) 316–5500 (Emagine). Tickets $12.50 (except as noted) in advance at fathomentertainment.com/events and at the door. Cinemark (4100 Carpenter, Ypsi) & Emagine (1335 E. Michigan Ave., Saline).
May 24 & 27: “Legally Blonde” (Robert Luketic, 2001). Comedy about a sorority girl who attempts to win back her boyfriend by attending Harvard Law School, and in the process triumphs as a successful lawyer. Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair. 4:15 p.m. (Sun.) & 7 p.m. (Wed.). Ann Arbor 20 only.
Phil Ogilvie's Rhythm Kings: Zal Gaz Grotto
Community Listing
10-piece big band led by Chris Smith, specializing in hot jazz of the 1920s and 30s. Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Duke Ellington and other jazz legends are prominent in their repertoire. Great for listening or dancing.
Zal Gaz Grotto - 2070 W. Stadium Blvd ,Ann Arbor. Free (tipjar for the band). [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/porkjazz 734-663-1202.