• Observer Editor

    “Annual Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival”

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    Aug. 14 & 15. A 2-day exhibit and sale of works by local and visiting artists who have been painting outdoors throughout Dexter since Aug. 10. Also, art workshops for kids and adults (see paintdexter.com). Today’s special events: “Quick Draw Competition” (9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) among participating artists, an art sale (2–9 p.m.), a meet-the-artists beer & wine reception (2 p.m.), and an awards ceremony (5 p.m.). Also, live music by the Dexter Dulcimers (2 p.m.) and the Depot Town Big Band (7–9 p.m.). 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m. (Fri.) & 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (Sat.), Monument Park, Dexter. Free admission. (734) 580–2229,, [email protected], paintdexter.com.

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    Observer Editor

    Gel Plate Printing: Ann Arbor District Library

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    Adults and teens invited to use AADL paints, textures, and patterns to create one-of-a-kind monoprints. 5–7 p.m., AADL Downtown, Secret Lab. Free. (734) 327–4200.

  • Observer Editor

    “Sensory Splash Time”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation

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    The spray park stays open late tonight exclusively for children with special needs and their families to experience stress-free play time. Concessions open until 7 p.m. 6–8 p.m., Independence Lake County Park Blue Heron Bay Spray Park, 3200 Jennings, Whitmore Lake. $4 (noncounty resident, $5) walk-up or preregistration at washtenaw.org/registerparks (#IL441102), plus $6 (nonresidents, $10) vehicle entry fee. (734) 449–4437, [email protected].

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    Observer Editor

    “Friday Night Geology Hike: Blueberries & Beavers”: Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission

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    WCPARC naturalist Shawn Severance leads a hike to explore the summer forest and the abundance of life that emerges at the complex edge of water and sand created by the meltwaters of the glaciers thousands of years ago. 6–8 p.m., West Lake Nature Preserve, 21520 Waterloo, Chelsea. Free. Preregistration required (#841009) at washtenaw.org/registerparks. [email protected].

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    Observer Editor

    Pride at the Y Dinner Dance: Ann Arbor YMCA

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    All invited to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride with dancing to music spun by a DJ and a buffet dinner. With drag performances, family-friendly arts and crafts, drag bingo, a makeover station, and more. Please, no stiletto heels; the floor is delicate. YMCA membership not required. 69 p.m., YMCA gymnasium, 400 W. Washington. Free, but preregistration recommended by Aug. 7 (seating limited) at annarborymca.org/pride2026.

  • Observer Editor

    D&D Adventurers League: Sylvan Factory

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    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.

  • Observer Editor

    Magic: The Gathering (MTG): Sylvan Factory

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    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.

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    Observer Editor

    “White Bird”: Jewel Heart Buddhist Center

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    1129 Oak Valley Dr. Concessions. Free. (734) 994–3387, jewelheart.org.

    Aug. 14: “White Bird” (Marc Forster, 2024). When a boy is struggling to fit in at his new prep school, he is visited by his grandmother and is changed by her story of her attempts to escape Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Helen Mirren, Gillian Anderson. Discussion follows. 7 p.m.

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    Observer Editor

    Music in the Park: Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce

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    Every Fri., Aug. 14–28. Entertainment in downtown Dexter. Food trucks, dancing. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and relax on the grass. Tonight: Depot Town Big Band plays big band swing. Note the start time is 30 minutes later tonight than other concerts in the series. 7–9 p.m., Monument Park gazebo, downtown Dexter. Free. (734) 325–4030, tinyurl.com/dexter-music2026.

  • Observer Editor

    Zach Peterson: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

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    Aug. 14 & 15. Rising Omaha-based observational comic with a nerdy, off-kilter style delivers his thoughts on everything from vampires to being an uncle to the dangers of $35 hotel rooms. Opening act TBA. 7:15 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 9:45 p.m. (Sat.), 212 S. Fourth Ave. $20 at aacomedy.com & (if available) at the door. (734) 996–9080.

  • 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

    “New Moon Hike”: Leslie Science & Nature Center

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    LSNC staff lead a family-friendly hike through Black Pond Woods to enjoy the nighttime darkness and do some science experiments on the trail. Followed by moon-themed stories & poems around a campfire. 7:30 p.m., 1831 Traver. $5 (under age 2, free). Preregistration required at lesliesnc.org or (734) 997–1553.

  • 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

    Henry Cho: Live Nation

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    This veteran comic from Knoxville (TN) has performed in many movies and TV shows, and at the Grand Ole Opry over 100 times. Known as a “clean” storytelling comedian, Cho has often used his childhood experiences as an Asian American in the South in his comedy. This show, part of his Empty Nest Tour, focuses on his life as an older parent and married man. 8 p.m., Michigan Theater. Tickets $53–$80 in advance at ticketmaster.com & (if available) at the door. (734) 662–0600.

  • Observer Editor

    Michigan Playwrights Festival: Theatre Nova

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    See 13 Thursday. Tonight: Cakewalk, Kenndall Wallace’s drama about a crisis in a 1930s vaudeville family caused by the son, an aspiring writer, making plans to leave for another kind of life. 8 p.m.