• Observer Editor

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

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    Every Sat. & Sun. and Nov. 6 & 20. On Sat. & Sun., staffers show some native Michigan animals, including a cougar, black rat snake, and opossum at 1 & 4 p.m.; and a wild turkey 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

    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 Nov. 1, game playtesting with Michigame Design Lab (2 p.m.), during which players are invited to try out new board & 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

    Native American Dance and Cultural Program: Ann Arbor District Library

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    Champion powwow dancer Reg Pettibone, a full-blooded Ho-Chunk Native American, performs a family-friendly program of traditional native dances, songs, and stories, and presents a hands-on display of artifacts. 1–2:30 p.m., AADL Downtown. Free. (734) 327–4200.

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    Drop-in Knitting: Spun

    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.

  • Observer Editor

    U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater

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    Every Fri.–Sun. Three different audiovisual planetarium shows suitable for all ages. Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs? (noon) looks at cosmic collisions across the solar system including the 6-mile-wide asteroid that hit the earth 66 million years ago; 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. $9 at the gift shop. Limited capacity. (734) 764–0480, ummnh.org.

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    Tour: Kempf House Museum

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    Guided tours of this restored 19th-century Greek Revival home, named for the family of German American musicians who occupied it circa 1900. 1–4 p.m., 312 S. Division. Free, donations accepted. (734) 994–4898, kempfhousemuseum.org. 

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    “Anishinaabe Relief Printing”: Ann Arbor District Library

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    All invited to learn how to carve a block, then use it to make a relief print. Presented by Jamie John, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians. 1–4 p.m., AADL Downtown, Secret Lab. Free. (734) 327–4200

  • Community Listing
    Free

    Open House: Gretchen's House Foundation

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    5741 Jackson Road., Ann Arbor

    Gretchen’s House Foundation

    Join us for our Volunteer Open House on Sunday, November 1! Drop in anytime between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to meet our team, learn about our mission, and see how you can get involved with the Gretchen’s House Foundation.

    Date: November 1, 2026
    Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Location: 5741 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor, MI
    Sign up at: https://www.ghfdn.org/volunteer

    We’d love to see you there! Invite a friend who may want to volunteer!

    Gretchen’s House Foundation Thrift Store

    https://www.ghfdn.org/volunteer

    Free
  • Free
    Observer Editor

    “Public Art Walking Tour”: U-M Museum of Art (UMMA)

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    UMMA curator Ekaterina Shipyatsky leads a 1.5-mile walking tour of art installations around main campus, and shares some of the stories behind the art. The tour includes the newly installed (near Palmer Field) Agrifolia Majoris by Nancy Rubins. Rain or shine, so dress for the weather. 2–3 p.m., outside UMMA’s main entrance, 525 S. State. Free. umma.umich.edu/events. (734) 764–0351.

  • Observer Editor

    “Fall Birding”: Waterloo Natural History Association

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    Michigan naturalist and Haehnle Sanctuary Chairman Steve Jerant goes over binocular and birdwatching basics before leading a hike through the woods to look for birds. Bring binoculars if you have them; a few pairs available to borrow. 2–3:30 p.m., Eddy Discovery Center, 17030 Bush, Chelsea. $2 (families, $5); preregistration required by emailing [email protected] with name, phone number, and number attending. $15 Michigan recreation passport ($20 at the gate) required. 

  • Observer Editor

    “Bastard”: Purple Rose Theatre Company

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    Every Wed.–Sun., Sept. 24–Dec. 20. Rhiannon Ragland directs retired Detroit newscaster and playwright Devin Scillian’s family comedy-drama about a conflict between brothers—an aging country rocker and a buttoned-down finance guy—after their mother’s death. Adult language and subject matter. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sun.), & 3 p.m. (Sat. & Wed.). 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

    Apollo’s Troupe Theatre

    Apollo’s Troupe Theatre
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    Oct. 18, 22, & 24, Nov. 1, 5, & 7. Rochester-based veteran poet Frederick Glaysher performs stage adaptations of his epic poems, Into the Ruins of Modernity (Oct. 18 & Nov. 1) and The Parliament of Poets (Oct. 22 & 24, Nov. 5 & 7), each a combination of poetry reading, protest play, and performance art that emphasizes the transformative nature of art and its power to fight fascism & oligarchy, and celebrates human capacities for cooperation and peace. Not suitable for children. 2 p.m. (Sun.) & 7 p.m. (Thurs. & Sat.), Cahoots, 206 E. Huron St. $15–$30 (students, $12–$20; seniors, $15–$25) at buytickets.at/apollostroupe or (if available) at the door. Group rates available. (947) 203–0085.

  • Observer Editor

    “America 250”: Ann Arbor Concert Band & Ann Arbor Civic Chorus

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    Artistic directors David Leach and Karen TenBrink lead Ann Arbor’s community band and chorus in a program celebrating the complex beauty of the American journey. Selections include John Williams’ “Liberty Fanfare” and “The Cowboys Overture,” Morton Gould’s “American Salute,” Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” and “The Promise of Living,” Omar Thomas’s “A Mother of the Revolution,” John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” and more. Guest conductors include U-M director of bands Jason Fettig and Bowling Green State University director of bands Matthew Dockendorf. With narration by Carl Grapentine and Todd Nichols. 2 p.m. Hill Auditorium. Tickets $15 (seniors & students, $10; kids under age 14, free) in advance at mutotix.umich.edu & (if available) at the door. (734) 764–2538, aaband.org.

  • Observer Editor

    “King Lear”: Robin’s Goodfellows

    “King Lear”: Robin’s Goodfellows
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    Oct. 30–Nov. 1. This new U-M student Shakespeare company performs the bard’s tormenting yet sublime story of an aging king who decides to divide his kingdom among his 3 daughters. It’s one of Western literature’s most wrenching studies of arrogance, willful pride, and filial relationships. 2 p.m. (Sun.) & 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. $10–$16.50 in advance at muto.umich.edu & at the door. instagram.com/robinsgoodfellows.

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    Exhibition: Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club

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    Performances by the club’s synchronized skating team, the Hockettes. 2:45–3:35 p.m., Ann Arbor Ice Cube, 2121 Oak Valley. Free. (734) 213–6768, annarborfsc.org.

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    Yarn, Fabric, & Notions Swap: Ann Arbor District Library

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    All invited to pick up excess yarn, fabric, or sewing notions the AADL has collected. Donations accepted at all AADL locations through Oct. 25. 3–4 p.m., AADL Downtown, lower level program rm. Free. (734) 327–4200.