💦 Ann Arbor's first splash pad is open

Morning, Ann Arbor! The city just opened its first-ever splash pad, the Fourth of July parade steps off Saturday, and we dug up the summer the World Cup grew grass inside the Silverdome. It’s going to be a hot one this week with temperatures getting into the mid 90s. Let’s dive in.

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🌊 Ann Arbor's First Splash Pad Just Opened 

Tree Town has plenty of pools and a river, but never a splash pad. Until now. The city's first one is open at Bicentennial Park on the southeast side, running 9am to 9pm. The star is a giant bucket that fills up and dumps on whoever is brave enough to stand under it. The official ribbon-cutting is Friday, July 10. WEMU

🇺🇸 Your Fourth of July Game Plan 

Saturday is the big one. The Jaycees Fourth of July Parade steps off at 10am downtown, starting at State and William and looping through Liberty and Fifth. It's the 36th year. Early birds can run the Firecracker 5K at 8am from Liberty and Fourth, which has a rucking division, a flag-carrying division, and yes, a hot dog eating contest (four dogs in 76 seconds, then you still run the 5K). For fireworks, head to Whitmore Lake on Friday at dusk, the Social Vines vineyard out in Dexter on Saturday night, or Ypsilanti's Depot Town, home of one of the oldest Fourth of July parades in the state. Jaycees Parade | Firecracker 5K

🎨 The Art Fair Returns Next Month

Tree Town's biggest weekend is almost here. The Ann Arbor Art Fair runs July 16–18 with nearly 1,000 juried artists spread across 30 downtown blocks, drawing an expected 400,000+ visitors to what's billed as the country's largest juried art fair. This year brings three stages of live music, expanded food options (Slow's Bar BQ joins the lineup, plus tastings from eight restaurants at the Culinary Arts Gallery), and the usual favorites: David Zinn's 3D chalk creatures, Mr. B at the Piano Lounge for his 47th year, and the Kids Collectors Club. Kickoff events start July 14 with the Dart for Art run. Art Fair

🥽 A Virtual Reality Arcade Lands Downtown

The future has come to Washington Street. Sandbox VR, a nearly 5,500-square-foot virtual reality space at 215 E. Washington St., held its soft opening June 12, offering immersive experiences for groups of two to six. Players can book from more than 10 adventures, from "Squid Game Virtuals" to "Age of Dinosaurs," and walk away with a video of the whole thing. It's the second Michigan location for the global franchise. Experiences start at $57 per guest. Sandbox VR

🍔 A Vegan Burger Joint Is Coming to South Main

Plant-based comfort food is heading to The Yard on S Main. Unburger, a 100% vegan quick-service spot known for its flavor-packed burgers, dairy-free shakes, and kombucha on tap, is opening in the retail space at 615 S. Main St. The Dearborn-born grill, named Restaurant Guru's best vegetarian restaurant and a local media favorite, will be its first location beyond metro Detroit. Opening date: Summer 2026. Unburger

🏀 A Wild Week for Michigan Basketball

Two big shakeups for the reigning national champs. First, head coach Dusty May is leaving Ann Arbor to take over the Dallas Mavericks, just weeks after summer practices began, throwing the Wolverines into a coaching search with rosters already set and the transfer portal closed. Then came the payoff for his title run: Michigan made history Tuesday as Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9, Mavericks), Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11, Warriors), and Aday Mara (No. 12, Thunder) became the first trio of Wolverines ever taken in the top 15 of a single NBA draft. Johnson, fittingly, lands with May in Dallas. The Athletic

🍦 Blank Slate Debuts Michigan's Biggest Ice Cream Flight

Blank Slate Creamery just sold its first-ever "Scoopski," billed as Michigan's largest ice cream flight: 10 scoops of all-natural flavors lined up on a board fashioned after the classic shotski. You can reserve your own through the order link in their bio. Blank Slate Creamery

💜 A Lavender Festival Blooms Near Ann Arbor

Peak bloom season is almost here. Lavender Lane Farm in Milan hosts its annual Lavender Harvest Festival July 11–12, drawing thousands from Ann Arbor and across southeast Michigan to its fields of 10,000+ lavender plants. Guests can pick their own lavender, browse over 100 farm-made products, enjoy live music, and take in family-friendly activities. Saturday runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 12040 Plank Road. Lavender Festival

⚽ The Summer the World Cup Came to Michigan 

With the 2026 World Cup playing across North America right now, here's a fun bit of state history. In 1994, the Pontiac Silverdome became the first indoor stadium to ever host World Cup matches. The catch: you cannot grow grass under a roof. "The roof of the Silverdome, which was translucent, only allowed 20% of the sun rays that are needed to enable grass to grow." So Michigan State researchers grew the turf out in California, trucked it back in refrigerated trailers, and pieced together 1,850 hexagonal chunks of sod by hand. Nearly 80,000 people packed in for Brazil and Sweden. Michigan Public

On the Market

2310 Pinecrest Ave — $285,000 4 bed | 1 bath | 1,349 sqft A four-bedroom on the southeast side near Stadium, under $300K, which barely happens in this town anymore.

706 S 7th St — $614,900 3 bed | 2 bath | 1,620 sqft A 1919 Old West Side classic, walkable to everything and full of the original character.

916 Olivia Ave — $1,495,000 4 bed | 4 bath | 3,812 sqft An 1899 Burns Park grande dame, steps from the park and a short walk to campus.

Adoptable Humane Society Pets

Cadence — 3 years | Medium Female | Domestic Shorthair "A friendly and charming princess who likes to play with wand toys and receive loving head scratches." Meet Cadence

Delta — 1 year | Large Female | Terrier/Pit Bull Mix A good girl who shines on hikes and long walks. She wants to be your one and only dog. Meet Delta

Chameleon — 2 years | Medium Female | Domestic Shorthair A cat on the go, all the time. She wants a low-key home where she can be the main event. Meet Chameleon

That's all for now! Have a great Fourth and a great week in Tree Town!

— Ryan, James, and the Michigander Team

P.S. - If you like what you read, subscribe below.

P.P.S. - Dogs and beer, together at last. Bill's Beer Garden has an Instagram page that's nothing but cute pups who've visited the garden. Follow along → @dogsofbillsbeergarden.

P.P.P.S. - Not following us on Instagram yet? That's where we drop weekend checklists, "best of" roundups, and the Ann Arbor stuff that doesn't make the newsletter. Come hang → @michigandernews

P.P.P.P.S. - Need a new Thursday tradition? Aventura's patio hosts Brava Nights every Thursday this summer with live music, happy hour bites, outdoor paella, and 25% off porrón service. No tickets, just walk in → Aventura

P.P.P.P.P.S - YORK is throwing a Prohibition-themed cocktail class on Friday, July 10 from 6:30–8 p.m. You'll sip the bootleg-era drinks bartenders dreamed up to keep the party going, and walk out with a recipe sheet to recreate them at home. $65 per ticket. Grab a spot.

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