ANN ARBOR, Mich. – With the Ann Arbor Art Fair just a month away, organizers are looking to get locals excited with two pre-Art Fair events.
On July 16, townies can dash through downtown with the Dart For Art and then party with the Paint the Town Block pARTy.
Recommended Videos
“The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original, is honored and grateful to have hosted the Townie Party for the past 20 years,” said Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original, Executive Director Angela Kline.
In previous years the annual Townie Party has signaled the start of Ann Arbor Art Fair, but it has been replaced with the larger, collaborative events.
“Thank you to our amazing community for two decades of community and fun. We are excited to announce that this year’s kick off events are now a three fair collaboration, and we look forward to having everyone join us July 16!”
Dart For Art participants can run or walk a one-mile route through parts of downtown Ann Arbor starting at 5 p.m. They can then join activities including mini golf, crafts with the University of Michigan, a “live” instrument petting zoo from the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, a DJ, Conrad the Unicorn and a live radio broadcast.
This year, 10 percent of every Dart For Art registration fee will be put towards Ann Arbor Bicentennial Initiatives.
Runners will end up at the Paint the Town Block pARTy, which will cover Main, Liberty and State streets until 9 p.m.
The party will see local businesses and restaurants will expand their footprints into the streets. There will be live music, a Whoa Silent Disco, hands-on activities, pickleball, street soccer, fowling, video games and interactive art.
Internationally-known townie favorite, David Zinn will do live chalk drawings at 5 p.m. on the corner of Main and Liberty streets and then again at 7 p.m. at the State and Liberty intersection.
“The Ann Arbor Art Fair is an event for the community by the community so we really wanted to involve everyone we could in our kickoff Paint the Town Block pARTy,” said Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair Executive Director Angela Heflin. “We invite local groups and organizations across the city to participate at no cost. They just need to bring the fun, and we’ll take care of the rest.”
Executive directors from the three art fairs that collectively make up Ann Arbor Art Fair will donate and dedicate a sculpture to the city of Ann Arbor for its 200th anniversary during the celebration. The statue -- called “Tree of Life” -- will be installed at the corner of North University Avenue and State Street.