The 2025 Ann Arbor Summer Festival will feature local and national artists, kid-friendly activities and the return of the after-dark DJ series.
Throughout June, the city of Ann Arbor became the hub for arts, entertainment and family fun with the arrival of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, an event that features over 60 live performances, nightly movies that are appropriate for all ages and events happening throughout the city for the sake of quality fun and arts.
Leading the charge is Mike Michelon, executive director of The Ann Arbor Summer Festival, who calls the festival an opportunity to represent the diverse talent and businesses of Washtenaw County. The festival features two stages for artists to perform, the O&W Grove Stage and the Top of the Park Rackham main stage.
“We try to make sure that we are continually giving new opportunities to people and delivering to the community,” Michelon said. “A big thing with the Summer Festival is that there is this anchoring of each year with the Top of the Park, and then we try to present compelling experiences throughout the year with partners, depending on the opportunity.”
Michelon, who has worked with the festival for the past 12 years, says the festival, which doubles as a fundraiser, averages more than 60,000 attendees per year. He says the festival helps bolster the local economy and highlights artists performing each year, which consists of local and nationally recognized musicians who each take the stage over the event’s 15-day duration.
“The impact on local business, and both the summer festival spending and the audience downtown, is certainly important, as is the whole arts and culture sector in Ann Arbor,” Michelon said. “Our operating budget is about $1.5 million. The fundraising at Top of the Park each season supports the current season, and we are working on the year ahead. The festival is supported by individuals, small businesses and foundations.”
According to Michelon, the festival generates nearly $80,000 when operating on a 21-day schedule. However, he estimates a smaller revenue for the festival as it has operated on a 15-day schedule since 2020, a decrease caused by the impact of COVID-19.
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Historically, the summer festival has been highlighted by its numerous Headline artists, from Grammy award-nominated performers like New Orleans-based band, Tank And The Bangas and Brooklyn-based singer, Madison McFerrin, both of whom headlined the Rackham stage in 2023.
“Our program is led by a guy named JD Carter. What starts off the music at Top of the Park every year is our call for submissions,” Michelon said. “Carter puts together a matrix that makes sure we are representing the diverse range of talent here in Washtenaw County, and weaves in national and international opportunities. We try to serve up offerings for people.”
This year, the festival will, admittedly, remain more band-focused with its performers, with over 30 bands taking the stage. Also, making its return are the after-dark DJ series, where local DJs take center stage following the headlining performance.
These performances include sets by DJs like 3Steez, who frequently hosts events at Necto, and DJ Problematic Black Hottie, who has become one of Michigan’s most prominent names in the DJ world.
“We’re adding the after-dark series back into the lineup, so Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 10 p.m., the action moves to the Grove stage,” Michelon said.
While the music headlines the festival, it features several kid-friendly events, such as the kid zone, which has programs designed for all ages, such as the Build-A-Brain program, which offers hands-on learning about language, or the chalk zone hosted by artist David Zinn, who teaches children how to make their best work across the Summerfest canvas.
In addition to the after-dark series, Michelon says one of the major changes this year will occur every Sunday, with the event starting an hour earlier at 4 p.m., to align better with family schedules.
“We’re continuing to build out and grow our family days,” Michelon said, a great offering of activities, not just the performances, but, you know, hands-on, kind of creative kids activities in the kids’ tent, the annex. I think people will hopefully notice everything. There are tweaks or positive changes that we hope people will discover from food or artists that feel like they’re at the Top of the Park.”
For more information on the Ann Arbor Summer Festival visit their website or attend the first lineup of events and performances which begins on June 13th starting at 5 p.m.
Antonio Cooper is a freelance journalist from Detroit, Michigan. His coverage of music festivals and interviews with local celebrities appeared in The E-Current Magazine, The Detroit Metro Times, XXL Magazine, RichMagDigital, The Ann Arbor Observer, and Pop Magazine.
