UPDATE: As of 1:46 p.m. on 7/16/26, the Art Fair organizers have not announced any changes to the schedule due to the wildfire smoke and hazardous air quality. The Ann Arbor Police posted, “Headed out to the first day of the Ann Arbor Art Fair? Consider wearing a properly fitted N95 mask to significantly reduce your exposure to wildfire smoke particles.” Fair goers can sign up for Nixel alerts by texting A2ARTFAIR (all caps) to 888777.
UPDATE: At 3 p.m. they posted that artists may opt to adjust hours to close as early as 3 p.m. on Thurday, and re-open at noon on Friday. Artists may choose to remain open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. as scheduled.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair is this week, and if you’re planning to make the trek to A2, there are a few things worth knowing beforehand. Temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-90s, many streets are closed, and parking will be tough to find. The City of Ann Arbor has put together resources to help visitors plan ahead and stay safe.
Sign up for emergency alerts: Text A2ARTFAIR to 888777 to receive emergency text alerts. Alerts will only go out for safety-related emergencies during the fair dates.
Coping with hot temperatures: With another heat wave in the forecast, take precautions to keep cool and hydrated. Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. You can refill throughout the day at free water refill stations, which are shown on the map below and on the Art Fair website.
Leave pets at home, as hot pavement and the heat are dangerous to animals, too. Misting and first aid stations will also be available.
Plan for road closures: Current construction and road closures are listed at a2gov.org/engineering/traffic/road-and-lane-closures.
Consider the Bus/Shuttle: You can avoid downtown parking by taking a shuttle from Huron High School or Briarwood Mall.
If you’d like to avoid driving to Ann Arbor from Chelsea, you can hop on the Wave Bus, take it to Zeeb Rd Meijer stop, and transfer to The Ride to the Art Fair. If you plan to stay late, a better option is to park at Meijer, then take The Ride bus, since the Wave schedule does not extend into the evening on weekdays.
Learn More:
See the art fair map for where to find amenities, including restrooms.
Learn more about the Ann Arbor Art Fair at www.theannarborartfair.com/, and follow the City of Ann Arbor on social media for updates.
Editor’s note: The Chelsea Post typically doesn’t post information on Ann Arbor events, but with the heat, construction, and parking challenges, we wanted to make sure our Chelsea area friends and neighbors have the resources they need to be safe and comfortable.
