Fall flavors are at Ann Arbor Farmers Market
Tomorrow Saturday, Oct. 5 and on Wednesday, Oct. 9 market will be open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at 315 Detroit St.. Our vendors will have apples, grapes, pears, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potatoes, winter squash, mums, gourds, baby ginger, mushrooms, sweet corn, tomatoes, plums, raspberries, cut flowers, beans, zucchini, leafy greens, onions, garlic, microgreens, herbs, honey, maple syrup, house plants, eggs, pastured meat and poultry, Lake Superior fish, cheese, bread, sweets, pastries, spices, jam, pickles, hot sauce, salsa, olive oil, chocolate, coffee, tea, mead, Polish food, Mediterranean food, prepared food, artisan goods and more! We accept cash, and tokens for credit/debit card, mobile payment, and SNAP/EBT are available at the construction trailer in the parking lot. The market office building is closed for a demolition/renovation project. Service animals only. Accessible restrooms are available. More information at our website.
* Saturday, Oct. 5, Succulent Street Food will be serving breakfast and lunch, 10 a.m.-sold out. Pilar’s Tamales will be serving lunch 11 a.m.-sold out.
* Wednesday, Oct. 9, the final cooking demo of the season will take place at 11 a.m. Community member Paisey Sulimin will lead an authentic Indonesian tempeh-making demonstration with free samples and recipe cards available. This series is funded by a 2024 Food Safety grant from the Michigan Farmers Market Association.
Caring and curious members of the community needed:
Natural Area Preservation volunteer stewardship workdays for World Habitat Day
Use simple hand tools alongside Natural Area Preservation staff to cut down shrubs.
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m.-noon, Miller Nature Area, preregister here.
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1-4 p.m. Kuebler Nature Area, preregister here.
The volunteer season is winding down, but there are still some fall volunteer opportunities with GIVE 365! Check out the GIVE 365 website to see or register for all upcoming events. You can also register in our volunteer database to receive our monthly newsletter and email updates about upcoming opportunities and some of our current projects. All experience levels are welcome. All tools and supplies are provided at events. Just dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes and bring water. Visit the links below for event details and to sign up.
- Love a Park Day at Gallup Butterfly Garden – Friday, Oct. 11
- Join GIVE 365 to garden alongside park adopters, who volunteer through the Adopt-a-Park program. The Gallup Park Butterfly Garden is a unique amenity which is shaped like a butterfly and contains plants that attract butterflies and other pollinators.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to volunteer@a2gov.org with any questions about volunteer opportunities in the parks.
Group events pause in November
Fill out our Group Volunteer Inquiry form if your group is interested in planning a custom volunteer workday with us. We work with groups of 5-25 people, and sometimes larger. There are only so many opportunities left as our group event scheduling concludes in November, and we have limited capacity left for October.
Extend your swim season and try out Mack Indoor Pool this fall
Mack Indoor Pool is now open for the 2024/2025 season. As Ann Arbor’s only indoor public pool, it offers a range of programs suited for all ages and abilities. The six-lane, 25-yard main pool includes a 30-by 42-foot children’s tot pool and a ramp for easy accessibility. With heated water and an indoor setting, Mack Pool provides a comfortable swimming experience no matter the weather.
There are spots open for group swim lessons that begin this weekend and we offer private lessons! This year, staff will host an adult only beginner swim lesson class for adults looking to build comfort and basic skills in the water. Learn to float, swim front crawl and backstroke, tread water and more basic skills. Swim lessons are 60 minutes and the fee is $110, resident; $134, nonresident for eight lessons.
View all the offerings online before you sign up
Whether you are planning a baby shower, birthday party, reception, work retreat or something else, your perfect venue is in Burns Park. The facility is equipped with multiple rooms, ample onsite parking, a kitchen with space for food storage and preparation, air conditioning, balloon frames and inflating tools, LCD projector, tables, chairs, sound system and more. Click here for information about pricing. Located at 1320 Baldwin Ave. (near Burns Park Elementary). Call 734.794.6250. Visit website for pricing.
Croquet in the park
Fridays, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Enjoy this classic and popular outdoor game out in Burns Park. Players use mallets to hit balls through hoops, or wickets, in a specific order. No experience necessary. If you’re looking for an outdoor activity with a relaxed, sociable atmosphere, croquet just might be the game for you! All ages welcome. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Contact 734.794.6250. Free for members; $2 nonmembers.
Lunch & Learn: Aging in place
Wednesday, Oct. 16, noon-1 p.m. Would you like help with planning to age in place? Krista Davies, seniors real estate specialist will join us to discuss how to do that, plus tips on downsizing and, most importantly, creating a Resource Team to help you reach your retirement goals. Light lunch provided. Space is limited. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Contact 734.794.6250 or bpatton@a2gov.org. Free of charge.
Workshop: Hoarding and cluttering – The “stuff” beneath the stuff
Thursday, Oct. 17, 1:30-2:45 p.m. Join Emily Nagaonkar, social work leader in the aging field for this engaging workshop. Hoarding can be a difficult topic to discuss. There are many unanswered questions and misinformation. In this workshop participants will learn the definitions, indicators and risks of these behaviors; harm reduction strategies; and resources to help yourself and loved ones. Space is limited. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Contact 734.794.6250 or bpatton@a2gov.org. Free of charge.
Kempf House Museum: Upcoming Wednesday lectures Admission free, donations appreciated, 312 S. Division St.
Visit the website for details, email or call 734.994.4898
Wednesday, Oct. 9, noon: “That’s Quite a Story: Following the thread of a Family’s Sin, Shame, and Relocation.” A chance comment, “That’s quite a story,” impelled amateur researcher Mary Lane on a decade-plus journey of historic discovery, which eventually led to a historical novel based on the facts of her 4th-great grandmother. The book is Untold Tales of Eighteenth Century Love and War: Martha Root and Elisha Hawley in Colonial New England. Come listen as Lane recounts the high points of her odyssey and engages the audience with suggestions for their own revelations.
Oct. 16, noon: “One man’s passion for trains, both real and model.” Join us to see some of the model railroad collection and photos that Fabian Beltran, lifelong railroad enthusiast and Ann Arbor Railroad Club member, will display. As he did with an enthusiastic audience in 2019, Beltran will capture your attention and spark memories from the past while encouraging discussion of personal experiences with old and new trains and train travel.
Prize pick up for the Visit Every Park Challenge pauses in December – resumes in March
Did you know that you can participate in the Visit Every Park program at your own pace? There’s no set deadline. However, it’s important to note that prizes you’ve already earned can be picked up until Friday, Nov. 29. The program will pause handing out rewards from Dec. 1-March 1. Any prizes you’ve earned this year or into the early months of 2025 will be available when the program resumes in March. The prizes staff give out in 2024 are only guaranteed for this year and there will be different prizes next year. Learn more about the Visit Every Park Challenge here!
Investing in the parks is essential
Ann Arbor’s 160+ parks and natural areas host a variety of amenities and activities for all. With the Ann Arbor park millage, we’re investing $7.8 million annually to keep our community’s favorite places vibrant and connected. From Ann Arbor Farmers Market upgrades to senior center renovations, these investments make sure every visit is memorable. Whether you’re teeing off at Leslie Park Golf Course, browsing fresh produce at the farmers market, or sharpening your skills as a hockey player at Veterans Memorial Ice Arena, the millage helps bring your park adventures to life! Learn more about the investments we’ve made by watching this short video!
The park millage has been supporting the Ann Arbor park system since 2006. In November 2024, Ann Arbor voters will decide whether to renew the 20-year Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Millage, which funds park system repairs and improvements. The current millage expires in 2024, and the new one would cover 2025-2044. See the list of park locations and the status of hundreds and hundreds of park development, maintenance and improvement projects funded through your support of the millage online.
Find your own happy place and visit a park or recreation facility today! #greenspaceshappyplaces
Ghouls and witches wanted: Spend a fun day lending a helping hand
There are still spots open if you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity in October. The Trick or Treat on the River event hosted by GIVE 365 is in need of help passing out treats at stations along the river. Go online to view the shifts and sign up today.
If you want information about participating as a guest and renting a boat, visit the website for all the details
Ann Arbor voters will find the 2025–2044 Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Millage renewal proposal on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot. If passed, the renewed millage would continue funding park system enhancements, repairs and restoration for the next 20 years. The millage renewal proposal remains for 1.10 mills and does not pose an increase; the rate would remain the same as the millage that is expiring this year. Visit parks online for answers to frequently asked questions, to learn about projects and activities funded through the current and past millages and much more. Additional questions — or interest in scheduling a parks and recreation informational presentation for your neighborhood or community organization this summer or fall — can be directed to parks@a2gov.org.
