Annual Events

Original and quirky are the norm here, and the amazing, uncompromising spirit of Ypsilanti is best captured through events all the events around town. Take ypsiGLOW for example – this is an annual community event generated by Ypsilanti and for Ypsilanti that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. The most impressive costumes ever made, a wild parade, art installations and luminary creations, a dance party lit by video projections and lasers…unexpected, amazing, and very, very Ypsi.

Ypsilanti does things a little bit differently and always has a whole lot of fun when it comes to art programming. Events each year like First Fridays Ypsilanti are put on by the community, for the community. First Fridays is a monthly art and culture walk where art lovers and area visitors alike experience a variety of art forms, discover new artists, and enjoy live music at venues and eat some great food.  

Ypsi Pride, a local celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, unite the people of Ypsilanti and reaffirm the visibility and inclusivity across the community. Local establishments often host Drag Queen Bingo events, burlesque shows, fundraisers for causes important to the LGBTQ+ community.

Summer is the time to dust off your bell-bottoms and get out there to celebrate past favorites and celebrating automotive history, Ypsi-style. Motorcycles more your speed? Ton-Up Motorcycle & Music Festival takes over Corner Brewery each year to showcase old, new, and custom motorcycles for the whole family, all while listening to a great selection of live music!

Ypsilanti’s rich programming doesn’t stop there, most museums host annual events, like the Thunder Over Michigan air show at Yankee Air Museum or the Fire Truck Muster, put on by the Michigan Firehouse Museum!

An Ypsilanti gem, presented by the Michigan Brewers Guild, is the Michigan Summer Beer Festival, which highlights the immense selection of craft beer Michigan has to offer. "Beer Fest" is tremendously popular - it feels like everyone in town comes out - and with good reason. Here you’ll find over 100 breweries and over 1000 different beers to sample. Into refreshing sours? Lighter lagers? Dark and strong? A little bit of everything? They’ve got you covered with selections from all around the state, as well as hyper-local picks from Washtenaw County. Rarely do you find the opportunity to try so many styles of beer in one place.