Observer Editor

“Swim to the Moon”: Epic Races

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5K, 10K, 1.2-mile, and half-mile open water races. Awards, medals for finishers, T-shirts, & more. Proceeds benefit North Star Reach, a camp for kids with life-threatening medical conditions. Races begin from 6:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. (registration opens at 5:45 a.m.) Halfmoon Lake beach, 8725 Hankerd, Gregory. $180–$225 in advance at swimtothemoon.net; prices increase on race weekend. Michigan Recreation Passport (daily, $12 at the gate) required for each vehicle. (734) 585–7101.

Free
Observer Editor

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. Dozer Coffee (8 a.m. Sun. & 7 a.m. Tues.), 112 Jackson Plz., (734) 929–9022 & Fleet Feet (7 p.m. Wed.), 123 E. Liberty, (734) 769–5016. Free. fleetfeetsemichigan.com.

Free
Observer Editor

Dressage Shows: Waterloo Hunt Club

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July 31Aug. 2 & Aug. 1316. Equine competition combining artistry and technical abilities highlighted by graceful freestyle routines set to music. No pets. Concessions. 8 a.m.5 p.m., 11500 Glenn at Katz (west off Mount Hope Rd. from I-94 exit 150), Grass Lake. Free. [email protected].

Observer Editor

Elemental Ecstatic Dance

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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. Wear loose clothes, barefoot or stocking feet. 10:45 a.m.–1 p.m. A2 Yoga, 2030 Commerce. $20 (age 11 & under, free) cash or Venmo (@andjru) at the door only. tinyurl.com/ecstatic-dance-a2.

Free
Observer Editor

“Nature Lab”: U-M Museum of Natural History

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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.

Observer Editor

35th Birthday Celebration: Sunday Artisan Market

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50+ local artisans, live music, food trucks, and more to celebrate 35 years of the Sunday Artisan Market, a juried market where artists and craftspeople show their work every Sunday, from April through the Sunday before Christmas. Work includes paintings, prints, ceramics, jewelry, woodcraft, drawings, candles, fabric & textile products, soap & personal care goods, repurposed items, and more. 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Kerrytown Farmers Market pavilion. Free admission. (734) 913-9622 (voicemail only), [email protected], sundayartisanmarket.org.

Free
Observer Editor

H.A.C. Ultimate

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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].

Free
Observer Editor

Stage Combat Demonstration: Ann Arbor District Library

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Members of the Michigan stage combat troupe Theatrica Gladiatoria demonstrate choreographed sword fighting, martial arts, and other stunts. Noon–1 p.m., AADL Downtown. Free. (734) 327–4200.

Observer Editor

Charity Soccer Match: Elliott Deedler ECMO Scholar Fund

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All invited to cheer on Pioneer High students as they play a friendly exhibition match to benefit patients at U-M’s pediatric critical care program. ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) is an advanced life-support machine that saved now 15-year-old Pioneer High soccer player Deedler’s life. Noon, Pioneer High School Hollway Field, 601 W. Stadium at Main. $5 cash at the gate.

Free
Observer Editor

“The Iron Crafter”: Ann Arbor District Library

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All-ages team-based crafting competition. Each team will have one hour to design and build a craft project using common tools and secret craft supplies that are revealed at the time of the event. Prizes for top finishers. Noon–3 p.m., AADL Downtown, lower level program rm. Free. (734) 327–4200.  

Observer Editor

“Creature Encounters & Adult Open Hours”: The Creature Conservancy

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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.

Free
Observer Editor

Open Board Games: Sylvan Factory

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Every Sun. All invited to play one of a wide variety of board games in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Instruction provided. Also, on Aug. 2, 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.

Free
Observer Editor

“Megafauna Mystery”: U-M Museum of Natural History Discovery Demos

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Every Sat. & Sun. Hands-on 20-minute family-oriented demo for kids age 5 & up that uses museum specimens to explore paleontology and what can be learned from giant bones and fossils. 12:30 & 2:30 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org. 

Free
Observer Editor

Drop-in Knitting: Spun

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Every Sun.–Thurs. (different times). All invited to work on their knitting, crochet, weaving, and embroidery projects. 1–3 p.m. (Sun.) & 6–8 p.m. (Mon.–Thurs.), 401 N. Fourth Ave. Free. (734) 780–7867. 

Free
Observer Editor

Sundays at Cobblestone: Cobblestone Farm Museum

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All invited to tour the house and farm, as well as to join docents and board members in inventorying & cataloging items and cleaning the museum. 1–3 p.m., 2718 Packard. Free. cobblestonefarm.org.

Free
Observer Editor

“Walking with Whales Tour”: U-M Museum of Natural History

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Every Sun. Thirty-minute tour that uses the museum’s specimens to tell the story of prehistoric whales and dolphins, who had 4 limbs and walked on land. 1:30 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. Limited capacity. Sign up at the welcome desk. (734) 764–0478. 

Observer Editor

“Woodstock”: Michigan Theater

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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. 16: “Woodstock” (Michael Wadleigh, 1970). Documentary about the legendary 1969 music festival. 1:30 p.m.

Observer Editor

“Emma’s Wedding(s)”: Purple Rose Theatre Company

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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.

Observer Editor

“Gutenberg! The Musical!”: Penny Seats Theatre

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Aug. 722. 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 projecta 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.

Observer Editor

“Southern Rapture”: PTD Productions

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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.

Observer Editor

Michigan Playwrights Festival: Theatre Nova

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See 13 Thursday. Today: Joël Henning Doty’s Dispersion, about a woman in a coma who hears her children’s true feelings about family secrets, communicates with her dead husband, and gets lessons from a funny, wise nurse, or, maybe, an angel? 2 p.m.

Donation
Free
Observer Editor

“Midsummer Greenway Delight Nature Walk”: Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy

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All invited to join a naturalist to celebrate SMLC’s 28th anniversary by taking a 1.5-mile walk through LeFurge Nature Preserve’s 325 acres of diverse terrain, including rolling hills, wetlands, meadow, and woods. Dress for the weather. No pets. Refreshments and socializing start at 1:15 p.m. 2–3:45 p.m., park and meet at Conservancy Farm, 8383 Vreeland, Superior Twp. Free, donations welcome. (734) 482–5957, [email protected].

Free
Observer Editor

Invited Artists’ Talk: WSG Gallery

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Talk by and discussion with several of the nine artists featured in the gallery’s Summer Invitational 2026 show (July 22–Aug. 29). The show includes work in a variety of media by 15 WSG member artists, along with 9 artists they’ve invited to join the exhibit.  2–4 p.m., WSG Gallery, 111 E. Ann. (734) 929–2621, wsg-art.com.

Free
Free
Observer Editor

Michigame Design Lab Game Playtesting: Bløm Mead + Cider

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All invited to try out new board and card games from local designers and provide feedback. 2–6 p.m., 100 S. Fourth Ave. Free, but purchase of food & drink encouraged. (734) 548–9729, drinkblom.com/events.

Free
Observer Editor

“Megafauna Mystery”: U-M Museum of Natural History Discovery Demos

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Every Sat. & Sun. Hands-on 20-minute family-oriented demo for kids age 5 & up that uses museum specimens to explore paleontology and what can be learned from giant bones and fossils. 12:30 & 2:30 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org. 

Free
Observer Editor

A2 Summer Streets Music Series: Main Street Area Association

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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.

Observer Editor

Ballroom Dance Club at the U-M

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Every Sun. Ballroom dancing to recorded music, including foxtrots, waltzes, cha-chas, rumbas, tangos, swing, and more. No partner necessary. Preceded at 6 p.m. by beginning lessons and practice. 7–9 p.m., Michigan Union Ballroom. $5 ($10 includes lessons). (734) 763–6984.  

Free
Observer Editor

“The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie”: Michigan Theater

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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. 16: “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” (Stephen Hillenburg, 2004). Animated undersea adventure based on the popular Nickelodeon cartoon, about a happy-go-lucky oddball sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. FREE with preregistration at marquee-arts.org/calendar. 11 a.m.