Ann Arbor Art Fairs. Ann Arbor’s gigantic art festival actually is four separate fairs that draw more than 1,000 artists and close to half a million visitors to downtown and the campus area over four days. Free concerts and a huge variety of food and drink vendors. Also, a Townie Street Party the Monday before the fairs. The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original (994–5260, www.artfair.org), surrounds Burton Tower. The State Street Area Art Fair (663–6511, www.a2statestreetartfair.com) is in the shopping districts around State Street, while the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair (662–3382, www.theguild.org/art_fair_summer.html) has a downtown section on Main and Liberty and a campus section on S. State. Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair (663–5300, www.a2southu.com) occupies South University and parts of East University and Church sts. July 15–18, 2009.

Ann Arbor Book Festival, 500 S. Main, AA 48104. 369–3366. Author talks and signings, writing workshops, spelling bees, poetry slams, book art displays, children’s activities, and thousands of books for sale, at various downtown locations. May 14–17, 2009. aabf@aabookfestival.org, Wroben3357@aol.com; www.aabookfestival.org

Ann Arbor Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, Eastern Michigan University's Convocation Center. 763–9044, 647-6999. Native American singers and dancers, artists, drummers, and vendors from much of North America. Everyone welcome. Apr. 4 & 5, 2009. powwow_committee@yahoo.com, www.umich.edu/~powwow

Ann Arbor Family Days. 995–7281. A weekend of hands-on art activities, discovery projects, live animals, an instrument "petting zoo," and live music and dance performances in and around downtown and the U-M Central Campus. 2009 dates TBA. www.annarbor.org/familydays

Ann Arbor Film Festival, Michigan Theater. 995– 5356. One of the oldest film festivals in North America. Six nights of experimental, avant-garde, and independent short films in traditional and digital formats. Also, screenings and discussions with guest filmmakers. Winning films are screened Sun. evening. Mar. 24–29, 2009. info@aafilmfest.org, www.aafilmfest.org

Ann Arbor Folk Festival. 761–1800. Two concerts of roots and acoustic music in the U-M’s Hill Auditorium benefit The Ark. Features well-known acts along with singer-songwriters on the rise. Jan. 30 & 31, 2009. feedback@theark.org, www.theark.org

Ann Arbor Summer Festival. 994–5999. Tickets: 764-2538. Ticketed performances of theater, dance, comedy, and music by national and international artists at the Power Center and Hill Auditorium. Also, local and regional performing artists at Top of the Park, a nightly series of free concerts and movies. Special programs during the festival include KidZone, Grassrootz Stage, and Global Parties. June 12–July 5, 2009. www.annarborsummerfestival.org

Apples & Honey, 2935 Birch Hollow. 971–0990. Family event celebrates the fall Jewish holidays. Shofar blowing, crafts, inflatable bouncers for children, games, face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more. Gifts and Judaica items for sale. Israeli food, kosher baked goods, and lunch available. Sept. 21, 2008. jcc@jccfed.org, www.jccannarbor.org

The Ark’s Storytelling Festival, 316 S. Main. 761–1800. International, national, and regional storytellers present programs geared toward adults Sat. 7:30 p.m., and kids Sun. 1 p.m. Mar. 7 & 8, 2009. feedback@theark.org, www.theark.org

CabaretFest, 415 N. Fourth Ave. (Kerrytown Concert House). 769–2999. A series of concerts with national and regional cabaret artists. 2009 date TBA. kch@kerrytown.com, www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Dancing in the Streets, 769–1052. Dance to many kinds of live music. Parade, miniconcerts, and children's activities. Sponsored by AACTMAD, the Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance. Aug. 31, 2008; Sept. 6, 2009. hellmann@umich.edu, www.aactmad.org

Dawn Dance Weekend. 677–0212, (248) 255–2713. A nonstop weekend of folk dancing to live music, plus workshops on music, dancing, and calling. Clague Middle School, 2616 Nixon. Feb. 27-Mar. 1, 2009. hellmann@umich.edu, www.aactmad.org/sa/ddw/ddw_home.html

Downtown African American Festival, P.O. Box 7674, AA 48107. 686–7848. Crafts, merchandise, and food at N. Fourth Ave. and Ann St. Musical entertainment includes jazz, R&B, and pop. Sponsored by Community Leaning Post, Inc. June 6, 2009. clpfestival@gmail.com, www.communityleaningpost1.org/events.html

Downtown Block Party, P.O. Box 7596, AA 48107. 668–7112. Race cars and rock music on Main and Liberty. Aug. 11, 2008; Aug. 11, 2009. info@mainstreetannarbor.org, www.mainstreetannarbor.org

Earth Day Festival. 997–1553. Educational displays, hands-on activities, live animal presentations, and family-oriented environmental entertainment, including storytelling and sing-alongs, all at Leslie Science and Nature Center. More than 50 exhibits by environmental nonprofits. Includes the All Species Parade, with participants in costumes representing plants or animals. April 26, 2009. francie@lesliesnc.org, www.lesliesnc.org

EdgeFest, 415 N. Fourth Ave. (Kerrytown Concert House). 769–2999. One of North America’s premier alternative music festivals; features jazz and creative music at different locations. Oct. 15-18, 2008. kch@kerrytown.com, www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com

FestiFools. 763–7550. A spectacle of larger than life puppetry and pageantry on Main St., which are all are invited to help create and operate, plus musical entertainment. Apr. 5, 2009. festifools@umich.edu, www.festifools.org

Green Fair. 994–2766. Showcases environmental groups, products, and issues with exhibits and festivities downtown. Live music, live birds of prey presentations, youth games, and art exhibits. June 12, 2009. cschopieray@a2gov.org, www.a2gov.org/green

Huron River Day. 662–9319. At Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller. River exhibits, discounted canoe and kayak rentals, one-mile and 5K runs, a 5K walk, live music, and a children’s activity tent. July 12, 2009. www.a2gov.org/HRD

Jewish Book Festival, Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow. 971–0990. Adult and children’s authors speak in the evenings (except Friday) and at several noontime “Lunch and Learn” events. Also, books for sale. Nov. 5-19, 2008. jcc@jccfed.org, www.jccannarbor.org

Juneteenth, P.O. Box 3399, AA 48106. 761–9084. Observance, at Wheeler Park, of the announcement of the end of slavery in Texas and the Southwest on June 19, 1865. Includes music, poetry, storytelling, performances, plus games, a children's area, health and nonprofit information, concessions, and arts and crafts sales. June 20, 2009. E-mail: normamccuiston@aol.com

Kerrytown BookFest, 410 N. Fourth Ave., AA 48104. 669–0451. At the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market, exhibits, artisans, and demonstrators of book arts from papermaking to publishing to calligraphy, plus speakers, readings, children’s activities, panel discussions, and more. Sept. 7, 2008. bookfest@kerrytownbookfest.org, www.kerrytownbookfest.org

Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival, The Jewish Community Center screens about 20 films at the Michigan Theater. May 3–7, 2009. jcc@jccfed.org, www.jccannarbor.org

Michigan A Cappella Festival, in Rackham Auditorium. 763-1107. A showcase for all 14 of the U-M’s a cappella groups. Nov. 1, 2008. umacappella@umich.edu, www.umich.edu/~umsing

MiniFest, 415 N. Fourth Ave. (Kerrytown Concert House). 769–2999. Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival presents concerts featuring internationally known artists and new chamber ensembles. June 2009 date TBA. kch@kerrytown.com, www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com

OutFest, 995–9867. Block party at the Ann Arbor Farmers' Market celebrates diversity of sexuality and gender. Everyone welcome. Sept. 13, 2008; 2009 date TBA. barrym@wrap-up.org, www.wrap-up.org

Rolling Sculpture Car Show, P.O. Box 7596, AA 48107. 668–7112. More than 400 antique, classic, and concept cars on display at this eclectic downtown party. July 10, 2009. info@mainstreetannarbor.org, www.mainstreetannarbor.org

Shakespeare in the Arboretum. 647–7600. University students and local actors in an alfresco production of a Shakespeare play that moves through various settings in the Arb. June 4–7, 11–14, and 17–21, 2009. www.mbgna.umich.edu

Taste of Ann Arbor and the Rest of the World, P.O. Box 7596, AA 48107. 668–7112. Bite-sized samples from local restaurants and cafes. Music and dance on three downtown stages, plus children’s activities. June 7, 2009. info@mainstreetannarbor.org, www.mainstreetannarbor.org

Wine, Women, and Song, Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave. 769–2999. Ten of the area’s notable singer/actresses create and perform songs from contemporary musical theater to light opera, including solo and ensemble production numbers. Jan. 30 & 31 and Feb. 1, 2009. kch@kerrytown.com, www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Ya'ssoo Greek Festival. 332–8200. At Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church. Two-day celebration features live musical entertainment by bands TBA and homemade Greek food and pastries. June 5 & 6, 2009. www.stnickaa.org (under "projects," click on Ya'ssoo Greek Festival)