The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is back, and the entertainment calendar runs deep.
That’s how festival director Amy Nesbitt sums up the roster, highlighted by the “Down by the Riverside” show June 27 at the Power Center for the Performing Arts. It joins the vocal group Blind Boys of Alabama and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from New Orleans.
Co-founded by the University of Michigan, the festival features mainstage shows, free public performances and films, kids activities and more June 12-July 5.
Golden Dragon Acrobats from China returns with fast-paced performances June 20-21 at the Power Center. “Everybody in the audience is just gripping the sides of their seats (and asking) ‘Did they really just do that?’” Nesbitt says.
Free evening Top of the Park performances this year are temporarily relocated to North University Avenue and a portion of South Ingalls Mall on the U-M campus. Performers include Grammy winner Terrance Simien and the Zydeco experience June 30 at the North University Stage, and the United States Army Field Band and Soldier’s Chorus July 5, on the Hill Auditorium Plaza.
Pop singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson performs at the festival mainstage at 8 p.m. June 25 at the Power Center.
New this year is the expansion of the Retreat Series alternative happy hour at 5 p.m. on the Power Center lawn, now taking place all 21 nights. Attendees can experience yoga, capoeira and dance fitness. For showtimes and more information on festival attractions, go to a2sf.org.
