by The Ann Arbor Independent Editorial Team

The annual Ann Arbor Art Fair will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city when it returns this year Thursday–Sunday, July 20–23. Check the city’s road and lane closures web page in mid July find out which streets will be closed. Click here to view and download the Art Fair map. Art Fair times are as follows:

Thursday, July 20, 2017 • 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday, July 21, 2017 • 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 22, 2017 • 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, July 23, 2017 • Noon – 6 p.m.

Shuttle Services

Free and convenient parking options are available at three Park & Ride locations.

• Briarwood Mall (Thursday-Sunday)
  • Operated by TheRide
  • Parking free
  • Round-trip $3; one way $1.50
  • K-12 Students with student ID & Fare Deal cardholders,
    one-way $.75
  • Senior/A-Ride, GoldRide cardholders, and
    kids five and younger ride free
  • Shuttle stops: Main Street at William and on State Street near South University
  • Buses return to both parking locations from either shuttle bus stops
  • Thursday – Saturday, 9am – 10pm
  • Sunday – 11am – 7pm
• Pioneer High School (Thursday-Saturday)
  • Operated by TheRide
  • Parking free
  • Round-trip $3; one way $1.50
  • K-12 Students with student ID & Fare Deal cardholders,
    one-way $.75
  • Senior/A-Ride, GoldRide cardholders and
    kids five and younger ride free
  • Shuttle stops: Main Street at William and on State Street near South University
  • Buses return to both parking locations from either shuttle bus stops
  • Thursday – Saturday, 9am – 10pm
• Pioneer High School (Sunday)
  • Operated by Trinity
  • Parking free
  • Round-trip $3
  • Kids five and under ride free
  • Shuttle stops: Main Street at William and on State Street near South University
  • Buses return to both parking locations from either shuttle bus stops
  • Sunday – 11am – 7pm
• Huron High School (Thursday-Sunday)
  • Operated by Trinity
  • Parking Free
  • Round Trip $3
  • Kids five and under ride free
  • Shuttle stops: Fletcher and Washington & South University at Forest
  • Thursday – Saturday, 9am – 10pm
  • Sunday – 11am – 7pm

15 seconds of fame

Also available during the Art Fair will be the CTN video greeting booth. The CTN booth will be located on North University between Thayer and Fletcher, Thursday–Saturday. Art Fair organizers invite Art Fair goers to stop by to be on TV — all recorded segments will replay on CTN Channel 19 (Comcast Cable) and online.

The CTN video greeting booth will also be at the Townie Street Party, the traditional kick off to the Art Fair. The Townie Party takes place Monday, July 17 at 5 p.m. at North University and Ingalls Mall in downtown Ann Arbor.

Safety first

For the fifth consecutive year, identification wristbands will be available for kids to wear. If a child becomes separated from her/his parent or guardian, officials will know whom to contact by looking at the child’s wristband. The parent’s or guardian’s name and cell phone number will be written on the underside, and the information will not be visible unless the wristband is removed. A wristband will not be removed from a lost child until a police officer is present, to ensure the officer can properly identify the parent/guardian during reunification. A police officer will remain present until the child is reunited with his or her parent or guardian.

The wristbands will be available during Art Fair from several participating organization locations:

• *The Safety Service Plaza at Liberty Plaza (at the corner of Division and Liberty streets).
• American Red Cross booths.
• Art Fair information booths.
• Ann Arbor Emergency Management mobile command unit.
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers (look for the yellow CERT vests).

The wristband program is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Police Department, Ann Arbor Office of Emergency Management and the executive directors for the individual fairs.

*The Safety Services Plaza will be open each day during regular Art Fair hours. In addition to representatives from Ann Arbor Police and Fire departments, also present at the Safety Services Plaza will be Huron Valley Ambulance and American Red Cross.