Reinhart: The 11 Essential APRIL Ann Arbor Area Events

Good news, Ann Arbor. Spring is officially here! To welcome the new season, our community is hosting Earth Day celebrations, seasonal expositions and some of our favorite annual events (looking at you, FoolMoon!).

We rounded up the essential events happening throughout the Ann Arbor area this month, so you can celebrate Easter, Earth Day and more. Enjoy!

ARTS + CULTURE

Michigan State University Science Festival | Various locations

Michigan State University is hosting a science festival during the month of April with events on campus in East Lansing and all around the state. Here in the Ann Arbor area, you can join in the educational fun at events at Sherzer Observatory on the Eastern Michigan University campus, at Yankee Air Museum, and even in Detroit. To see the full schedule of events, click here.

Cabaret 2019: An Evening to Remember | Ann Arbor

April 13, 6:30 p.m. | North Campus Research Complex, Building 18

On Saturday, April 13th, the UMS Ambassadors, UMS Board Chair and UMS Cabaret founder Sarah Nicoli are celebrating with an evening of food, fun and show tunes provided by University of Michigan musical theater students and alumni. The best part is all proceeds support UMS K-12 Education programming! For tickets, click here.

Spring Fiber Expo | Ann Arbor

April 13 – 14, various times Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds

Once during the spring and again during the fall, the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds are filled with fiber products of all kinds. Come by to shop, learn and meet makers of wool, linen and cotton crafts, see real alpacas and more! Children 12 years and under are admitted for free, while adults pay just $4 cash for one day or $6 for two.

COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS

FOOLmoon | Ann Arbor

April 5, 7 – 10 p.m. | Ann Arbor Farmers Market in Kerrytown

Photo courtesy of Ryan Stanton via WonderFool Productions

Considered one of the community’s favorite annual events, FoolMoon is the nighttime kick-off event to a very foolish weekend hosted by Wonderfool Productions. This year, the celebration is taking place in Kerrytown at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market, but it will still have all the dancing, laughing and luminaries we’ve come to love. Other attractions include interactive installations, laser shows, live performances, DJs and a beer tent. You can even make your own luminary at several workshops in advance. For details, follow the Wonderfool Productions team on Facebook here.

FestiFools | Ann Arbor

April 7, 4 – 5 p.m. Downtown Ann Arbor

FestiFools is Wonderfool Productions’ daytime event of foolishness and art. The enormous public art spectacular showcases creations made by members of the community and U-M students. You can make your own puppet or come down to Main Street to watch the procession of colorful, bizarre, human-powered paper-mâché creations for an entire hour of fun!

SpringFest | Saline

April 20, 11:30 a.m. – 1:40 p.m. | Saline Recreation Center

Saline Recreation’s SpringFest is a family-friendly event packed with spring and Easter-themed fun. During the event, you can join in the egg hunt with your own basket, have lunch with Mr. Bunny, meander the Hippity Hop Trail, and dive in the leisure pool for the Egg Dive. For full event details, check out the event on Facebook here.

Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival | Ann Arbor

April 28, 12 – 4 p.m. | Leslie Science & Nature Center

The Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival is an annual celebration hosted by the Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival Planning Committee, a coalition of local environmental nonprofits and agencies, and the Leslie Science & Nature Center. At this free, family-friendly event, guests can enjoy displays from 40 local organizations, live animal demonstrations, hands-on activities, live entertainment and much more.

SPORTS

Earth Day 5K | Ann Arbor

April 13, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Lillie Park South

Pittsfield Township is celebrating Earth Day with their first ever Earth Day 5K. Open to all ages and skill levels, the course will wind through Lille Park, and you can register here.

Dawn Farm Ride for Recovery | Ypsilanti

April 28, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Dawn Farm

This family-oriented fitness event is an annual fundraiser for Dawn Farm. Community members at any fitness level are invited to register for one of four bike rides: a 10K, a 25-mile, a 40-mile and a 58-mile. There will also be a Farm Fun 5K Run/Walk, and a celebratory lunch will be provided after the races. Family members not participating are asked to register for the $5 lunch only option so there is enough food for everyone. You can register for all the options online here.

Zingerman's Ann Arbor

FOOD + DRINK

HopCat Ann Arbor Beer Dinner | Ann Arbor

April 23, 7 – 10 p.m. | HopCat

HopCat Ann Arbor is teaming up with California’s Lagunitas Brewing Co. for an epic beer pairing dinner this April. The event will feature five beers and four courses made with locally sourced ingredients in the HopCat kitchen.

Two James Spirit Dinner at rel-ish | Ann Arbor

April 26, 7 – 10 p.m. | rel-ish

The local restaurant inside The Kensington Hotel, rel-ish, is celebrating on April 26th with a specially paired, five-course dinner. Two James Spirits is the first licensed distillery in the city of Detroit since Prohibition, and their contributions to the event include artisanal gin, vodka, whiskey, rum and absinthe. For full menu details and tickets, click here.

HAPPY APRIL!

Want to submit your next event for our monthly guide? Send us an email at ReinhartPR@booj.com.

Tags from the story
Written By
More from Terry Jacoby

Behind the Curtain at The Purple Rose: Guy Sanville & Jeff Daniels continue on the “road” of artistic inspiration

When trying to describe the world-premiere of Jeff Daniels’ “Roadsigns,” Purple Rose...
Read More