May 2026
Events at a Glance
“Only in Ann Arbor” Event of the Month
Annual May Day Celebration, traditional English dancing and singing at the crack of dawn in the Arb. (Ann Arbor Morris), May 1
Concert Music
classical, religious, cabaret
Pianist Yuki Mack and Chinese 2-string erhu fiddle player Xiao Dong Wei (Kerrytown Concert House), May 8
Closing concert of its 47th season (Ann Arbor Concert Band), May 9
Vernacular Music
pop, rock, jazz, & traditional
Joan Osborne’s Dylanology, Bob Dylan tribute band (The Ark), May 1 – see Nightspots
The Head and the Heart, indie folk-rock (Michigan Theater), May 3
Walk On Mars, Boston pop-punk (Ziggys), May 3 – see Nightspots
Mdou Moctar, Nigerian singer-songwriter world music (Blind Pig), May 5 – see Nightspots
Iron & Wine, soulful singer-songwriter (Michigan Theater), May 8
Artemis, ensemble of top female jazz players (Blue Llama), May 9 – see Nightspots
Front Porch, Arkansas contemporary bluegrass (North Star Lounge), May 15 – see Nightspots
Sue Foley, Rory Block, & Cindy Cashdollar, American roots music (The Ark), May 16 – see Nightspots
“Picnic Pops” (Pioneer High School Band Association), May 17
Suzy Bogguss, country singer-songwriter (The Ark), May 21 – see Nightspots
George Bedard & the Kingpins, honky-tonk dance tunes (Live), May 29 – see Nightspots
Jo Serrapere, singer-songwriter ballads and blues (North Star Lounge), May 30 – see Nightspots
Theater, Opera, & Dance
“Murder on the Links” 2023 farce based on an Agatha Christie whodunit (Purple Rose Theatre), Apr. 2–May 31
“Rent” the 1996 musical (Encore Musical Theatre Company), Apr. 9–May 3
“The Last Wide Open” a multiverse musical love song (Theatre Nova), May 22–June 14
Comedy, Storytelling, & Performance Art
“Animal Farm: A Fairy Story” George Orwell’s dystopian classic, as told by puppets (Dreamland Theater), Apr. 4, 17, 23, 26, & May 1, 9, & 16
Jackie Flynn, sarcastic veteran comedian/actor (Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase), May 1 & 2.
Dan Mintz, deadpan absurdist comic (Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase), May 15 & 16
Festivals, Fairs, & Shows
2026 Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival (State Theatre), May 3–13
“SnowBuddy Fest” live music and party, May 3
“May Porch Music Fest” live music on front porches around Water Hill, May 3
Halfway to Halloween Expo, horror-themed craft show (Washtenaw Farm Council grounds), May 8 & 9
49th Annual Allbreed Cat Show at Washtenaw Community College (Anthony Wayne Cat Fanciers), May 9
Cinetopia International Film Festival (Marquee Arts), May 13–17
“Annual Taste of Ann Arbor” (Main Street Area Association), May 31
Family & Kids’ Stuff
48th Annual Burns Park Run, annual family run (Burns Park Elementary School PTO), May 3
“Star Wars Day” crafts, games, activities (Ann Arbor District Library), May 3
Annual 5K (Girls on the Run of Southeast Michigan), May 9
Kids Run: 52nd Annual Dexter–Ann Arbor Run (Ann Arbor Track Club), May 30
See our Kids Calendar for most kids events.
Lectures, Readings, & Forums
“Celebrating Jane Goodall” Jim Ottaviani, author of Primates (Humane Society of Huron Valley), May 7
Carley Fortune, bestselling romance writer (Literati Bookstore), May 7
“America at 250 with Special Emphasis on the Proposition that All Men are Created Equal” author Akhil Reed Amar (Ford Presidential Library), May 7
“Wombat Waiting” Newbery Award–winning author Katherine Applegate (Ann Arbor District Library / Literati Bookstore), May 8
Miscellaneous
Spring Transfer Sled Pull, tractor pull (Michigan Tractor Pullers), May 2
“Apple Blossom Bliss” contra dancing weekend (Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance), May 8–10
Annual International Migratory Bird Count (Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance), May 9
Spring Plant Sales (U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens), May 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 30 & 31
“Mother’s Day Time to Teal Run” (Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance Fundraiser), May 10
Annual Huron River Day (Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation), May 16
“46th Annual Walk & Wag & Run” (Huron Valley Humane Society Benefit), May 16
60th Annual Manchester River Raisin Amateur Canoe & Kayak Races (Manchester Community Schools), May 17
Memorial Day Parades in Chelsea, Dexter, Saline, and Glacier Highlands, May 25
52nd Annual Dexter–Ann Arbor Run (Ann Arbor Track Club), May 31