Start filling up your calendar for 2025 with these exciting January events in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. From live musicals in Dexter to the Ypsilanti Bourbon Fest — there’s plenty to see and do in the new year. If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to stay active, go ahead and register for the Time Travel Half Marathon in Ann Arbor!

Arts + Culture

Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons | Ann Arbor

1432 Washtenaw Avenue
January 10th

Candlelight concerts are thoughtfully designed to bring to life the magic behind the music with a multi-sensory experience set in awe-inspiring locations. Discover the music of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons at Ann Arbor’s First Presbyterian Church under the gentle ambient glow of candlelight. The duration of the concert is approximately 60 minutes, with doors opening 45 minutes prior to the start time. Late entry is not permitted. The age requirement for the concert is 8 years and older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The tentative program features fan-favorite songs such as Radioactive, Bad Liar, Believer, and more by Imagine Dragons, and chart-topping hits like Clocks, Something Just Like This, Fix You, The Scientist, Viva la Vida, and Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay. Tickets range from $26 to $56, depending on which zone you choose seats in.

Annie Live | Dexter

7714 Ann Arbor Street
Through January 12th

This beloved Tony Award-winning musical is coming to Dexter! Follow the plucky orphan Annie as she captures the heart of billionaire Oliver Warbucks and embarks on a captivating journey to find her true family. The performance features memorable songs such as “Tomorrow” and “It’s a Hard Knock Life.” This heartwarming classic is fun for audiences of all ages. Secure your seats for one of January’s shows, with dates scheduled for Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. There is a maximum number of 10 tickets per order. Tickets are priced starting at $60.50 for main stage seating, with discounts for youth, military active duty, and seniors ages 62 and above. The Encore Musical Theatre Company will be presenting the performance on the Maas Stage. The company is Southeast Michigan’s premier professional musical theatre! Additional info on this beloved performance can be found here.

Sasha Velour in The Big Reveal Live Show! | Ann Arbor

603 East Liberty Street
January 17th

Sasha Velour serves up 90 minutes of dramatic, thought-provoking, and earth-shaking reveals in The Big Reveal Live Show at the Michigan Theater! Through theatrical stage tricks and emotional revelations that catch the audience off-guard, Velour delivers surprise after surprise. A true chameleon when it comes to form and style, the show’s musical selections range from Stevie Wonder to Britney Spears, and from Steven Sondheim to Deep Purple.  Sasha’s performances take on different forms over the course of the evening, from classic drag, to storytelling, video experimentation, and more. Don’t miss this exciting evening, inspired in part by Velour’s recent best-selling book (which will be on sale in the lobby)! “The Big Reveal Live Show” runs for one act with no intermission. The show is suitable for all ages. 

Art Lights the Night: A New Year Lantern Festival | Ann Arbor

1831 Traver Road
January 24th

At Art Lights the Night, you can experience the warmth of the Ann Arbor community while you enjoy the enchanting beauty of the multitude of lit lanterns. Entry is free for the public at this lantern festival at the Leslie Science & Nature Center, so invite your family, friends, and neighbors along for the adventure! There is free parking at the venue as well. Before their lantern-lit stroll through the forest, visitors can enjoy family-friendly fun like face painting and s’mores making from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. There will also be delicious food options like pizza and warm beverages available! The lantern walk will be held from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and everyone will gather to light lanterns, make wishes, and walk through the beautifully illuminated forest path. The woods truly come alive with the magical glow of this unique experience. What better way to usher in the new year!

Gershwin Centennial Concert | Ann Arbor

603 East Liberty Street
January 26th

Marquee Arts will present the Gershwin Centennial Concert at 4:00PM at the Michigan Theater, featuring Concerto in F for solo piano and orchestra, performed by pianist Tzu-Yin Huang. The piece was originally commissioned in 1925 by the legendary conductor and director, Walter Damrosch. The concert will also feature a selection of musical theatre songs and orchestral performances by the talented faculty and students of the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Based on last year’s success of the Gershwin Centennial Concert, this celebration of George Gershwin’s music is sure to be another popular performance. You can purchase your tickets now with prices ranging from $8 plus fees for students, and $25 to $50 for regular priced tickets.

Community Celebrations

Dexter Ice Fest | Dexter

8031 Main Street
January 18th

The 2024 Dexter Ice Fest will be hosted in downtown Dexter’s Monument Park. Attendees can enjoy over 80 incredible ice sculptures and will have the opportunity to watch live ice carving demos in action. This year, the fest will introduce a Coco Crawl, with local restaurants and shops offering special deals and sales all day long. The Ice Fest is scheduled from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There is no admission fee, so spread the word to your friends and neighbors, and just show up ready to have a good time!

48th Ann Arbor Folk Fest | Ann Arbor

825 North University Avenue
January 24th & 25th

Ann Arbor’s Folk Festival will be held at Hill Auditorium over two days in January. Presented by The Ark and Bank of Ann Arbor, the event is the largest annual fundraising effort for The Ark, which is Ann Arbor’s home for folk, roots, and acoustic music. The fest will feature a blend of renowned and up-and-coming performers to keep audience members on their toes and hopefully discover new talent that they’re excited to support. On Friday, January 24th, catch performers such as Waxahatchee, Josh Ritter, Adeem the Artist, and Afro Dominicano starting at 7:00 PM. Saturday’s lineup continues the good vibes and tunes with Toad the Wet Sprocket, Bruce Cockburn, Joy Clark, Willi Carlisle, and The Milk Carton Kids. Regular tickets are priced from $47.50 (upper balcony seating) to $70 (mezzanine, lower balcony seating and the main floor), and Gold Circle options start at $120 ($50 of which is tax-deductible) and include main floor seating.

IsshoCon 2025 | Ypsilanti

1275 South Huron Street
January 24th-26th

IsshoCon Sakura Edition is coming to Ypsilanti in the new year. This is the second year for this event and attendees will be happy to see it move to a bigger location to accommodate more visitors! IsshoCon is a black and queer-owned anime convention put on by the owners of Otaku Detroit. The convention will feature an array of artists, vendors, panels, and more that are designed to engage audiences and help to form a community with like-minded individuals. Badges are priced at $30 on Friday, $35 on Saturday, and $25 on Sunday. If you plan to attend the convention across all three days, go ahead and snag a weekend pass badge for $50. Door prices will increase to $60, so buy online to save! If you want to opt for the VIP experience, you’ll be given priority access, IsshoCon swag, and an exclusive VIP badge. There are also special room rates available until December 26th, if you’d like to stay overnight. But hurry, the room blocks are not guaranteed until booked.

Sports

Time Travel Half Marathon | Ann Arbor

TBD
January 11th

Get ready for a rip-roaring good time at the Time Travel Half Marathon. Secure your spot by registering today and snag a super soft tee and an awesome 3.5″ finisher medal once you cross that finish line! Whether you consider yourself a seasoned runner or you just like to jog casually, there’s something for everyone at this event: If you don’t feel up to the full course, there are 5K and 10K options as well. And there is even a 1-mile, untimed course that includes a custom bib, a tee shirt, and a challenge pin. Kiddos can run in the Kid’s Dash — which is untimed and reserved for children ages 10 and under. Registration to the dash includes a mini bib, a youth-sized t-shirt, and a kid’s dash pin. The location for the race is TBD, so keep tabs on the event page as the date approaches.

Washington Huskies at Michigan Wolverines Men’s Basketball | Ann Arbor

Crisler Center
333 East Stadium Boulevard
January 12th

Cheer on the Wolverines as they face off against the Washington Huskies this January at the Crisler Center. The game starts at 2:00 PM and tickets are on sale starting at just $20! Whether you’re an avid college basketball fan or you just want to experience the energy at this sporting event — this is a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon with thousands of Michigan fans! Enjoy concessions and cold beverages at the center while you watch Dusty May’s team defend their home court.

Food + Drink

Dexter Winter Farmers Market | Dexter

7643 Huron River Drive
January 4th & 18th

Support local vendors during the cold winter season at Dexter’s Winter Farmers Market. Shop fresh produce, eggs, cheese, meats, and more. You can also find arts and crafts, bread and baked goods, jewelry, and unique handmade items at the market. Invite the whole family to peruse the offering while you enjoy tunes from local musicians and participate in exciting vendor drawings. The market is held at the Huron River Methodist Church and runs from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM — make plans to arrive in the morning so you can shop from the best selection!

Ypsilanti Bourbon Fest | Ypsilanti

110 West Cross Street
January 18th

Get your tickets today for the fourth annual Ypsilanti Bourbon Fest! The festival is an indoor event located at the Michigan Firehouse Museum and is separated into two sessions, with the first scheduled from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM and the second from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM. There will be over 100 whiskeys onsite, as well as handcrafted cocktails, store picks, and a VIP section. Most of the options will be bourbon, of course, though there will be a handful of non-bourbon options like beer and wine. There will also be food trucks, live music from Cash O’Reilly, and multiple vendors to shop from. Tickets include entry to the festival, a souvenir tasting glass, and tasting tickets. Each liquor pour is half an ounce, with most pours costing one tasting ticket. General admission is priced at $55 until January 12th, $60 the week of the event, and $65 on the day of the festival. Designated drivers can snag a $10 ticket that includes coffee and water!

Happy January!

We hope that your new year starts on the right foot and that you get a chance to check out these fun area events to take advantage of everything that the Ann Arbor area has to offer.