One of America’s largest juried art shows is back during one of the hottest weeks of the year.
Ann Arbor will welcome three separate non-profit art festivals: the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair and the Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair.
Starting this Thursday, visitors can enjoy three days of art exhibitions, live music, hands-on activities for all ages and live demonstrations where you can make your own art. But it’s going to be a hot one; here’s some things to know before you go, and hopefully beat the heat:
When and where
The festival runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 16 and Friday July 17, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday July 18. The festival’s stomping grounds span 30 square blocks throughout Main Street and Downtown. You can click here to download a copy of the festival map to your smartphone.
Bring an open mind (and an empty stomach)
Scattered about the festival will be assorted vendors and food trucks, featuring a consortium of food and drink including some local Ann Arbor favorites. Indoor restaurant locations within the festival boundaries are still open to the public under their posted hours. View the list of participating vendors here.
Shuttle in cooling fashion
Look for air-conditioned motor coaches to shuttle patrons in from offsite parking locations at Huron High School and Briarwood Mall.
Visitors can purchase a shuttle wristband for $9 to hop on cooled buses, which will operate on fixed routes from 9 a.m. to 10-p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. Children ages 5 and under ride for free, according to the website. View parking addresses and route information here.
To accommodate individuals with disabilities or those who require added accessibility, visitors should inquire with National Trails staff at the parking locations. The company will provide school buses and accessible shuttles to those who require assistance.
How to stay cool
The festival will have water stations and misting stations on site. Organizers encouraged patrons to take advantage of the air conditioning inside local businesses on the festival grounds.
The Ann Arbor Public Library Downtown Branch is also a designated cooling center, according to Washtenaw county.
Coming off this week’s heat advisory, the festival encourages to leave your pets at home, or bring paw booties for the hot pavement − and make sure to take lots of water brakes with your furry friends.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What to know as Ann Arbor’s art fairs kick off
Reporting by Harrison Stidolph, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Harrison Stidolph, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
