Community Calendar

Midwest Literary Walk draws visitors from near and far. Originally conceived as an event to both celebrate literature and introduce the Chelsea community to visitors, this single-day event features nationally recognized authors held in public venues, with time to check out downtown between events. This year’s Walk offers attendees the chance to see one of Chelsea’s most iconic venues and experience a play reading at the Purple Rose Theatre, while engaging with the actors and playwrights. Our three visiting authors include Chris La Tray, Carmen Bugan, and Nathan Pyle. Lit Walk is intended to be a celebration of literature, reading, and the Chelsea community; removing barriers between everyday people and fantastic literature and the arts. All events are open to the public with no admittance charge.
Schedule of Events:
2026 Purple Rose Theatre Company New Works Comedy Fest!
10am | Purple Rose Theatre | 137 Park St. | Register at https://chelseadistrictlibrary.libnet.info/event/15299826

Chris La Tray Montana Poet Laureate
1pm | Main St. Church | 320 N. Main St.

Carmen Bugan George Orwell Prize Fellow
Saturday, Apr. 18 | 3pm | Chelsea First Congregational Church | 121 E. Middle St.

Nathan Pyle New York Times Bestselling Author & Cartoonist
4:30pm | Chelsea First United Methodist Church | 128 Park St.

Co-bill:
JENNY & ROBIN BIENEMANN and
THE DANGLING PARTICIPLES
Admission $20, $18 student/senior
Cash or check at door only
The husband and wife duo of Robin and Jenny Bienemann are both singer-songwriters and instrumentalists. By turns hilarious and heartfelt, this cutting-edge acoustic duo melds original and traditional music with an elegant hint of jazz. Robin's wild guitar stylings harken back to the earliest forms of jazz, blues and country guitar. Jenny’s voice and guitar playing evokes comparisons to Joni Mitchell and Ricki Lee Jones. Both write songs that are celebrations of modern life in all of its wonderful, strange and hilarious beauty.
Tamiko May and Austin Kaufmann comprise the creative duo at the heart of Lansing’s own indie folk darlings The Dangling Participles. Their performances feature spirited duets, storied lyrics, soulful harmonies, and vibrant folk-jazz instrumentation, with Austin anchoring the pair on guitar and Tamiko adding cornet and ukulele. Songwriters both, they draw deep from the wells of literature, art, family, and relationships to pen songs evoking the breadth of human experience.
“Listening to them feels like a burst of dopamine.” - Local Spins, Grand Rapids

Sopranos Kimwana Doner and Kira Slovaček will present an eclectic program of classical vocal repertoire, featuring works by Verdi, Dvořák, Chopin, William Bolcom and more! Join us for an entertaining evening as we explore themes of passion, triumph and adversity, celebrating the strength of the human condition.

The JonBenét Game by Tori Keenan-Zelt
NNPN Rolling World Premiere ​
​
It’s not whether you win or lose…

When best friends Molly and Rae were 12, they secretly played JonBenét Ramsey at sleepovers. Twenty years later, in the wake of Molly's tragic death, Rae returns to her hometown school as a guidance counselor. But when Molly’s 12-year-old daughter, Hazel, knocks on Rae’s door, she and Rae slide back into the game, and the dark and liminal spaces of their unresolved grief. Directed by Carla Milarch.
​

March 27 - April 19, 2026

Fridays 8:00 pm, Saturdays 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Sundays 2:00 pm

Tickets: General $30 / 65 & Over $25 / Students $15

Race Day Schedule
6:00-7:20am Packet Pickup
7:25am Kids Dash (Meet at the Start Line and we will walk participants out to the starting area)
7:30am National Anthem and Race Start!
Results and Awards are live and available at the Registration tent immediately following your finish!

Every Registration Includes
Great Swag - designer shirt
Custom medal
Chip-timing with live results and awards
Free photos
FREE Donuts at the finish line!
Plenty of fun!
Grab your friends and family, you are not going to want to miss this one!

*Youth-based pricing for the 5k/10k, 12 & Under are only $17!

*Register by midnight on Thursday, two Thursdays before race day, to guarantee your shirt!

More Than a Run
Because we’re all about fun, family-friendly events that welcome every pace and fitness level. This spring race is the perfect chance to challenge yourself, enjoy creative swag, and be part of an encouraging, affordable, and inclusive community. Whether you're chasing a PR or just showing up for the fun, we’re here to cheer you on every step of the way.

Run your race, your way.

5k/10k/Half Marathon registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and a custom finisher medal!
1 Mile registration is untimed and includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and a custom finisher medal!
The kid's dash is a fun, untimed dash for our kiddos ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a specifically crafted medal for our kids' dash event! (If your child wants to run the kid's dash, and doesn't want the SWAG, they are welcome to run with us on race day for free!)

Join us on April 3 from 6 to 8 PM for local Ann Arborite Jason Kluttz's first-ever exhibition. Jason's show will be on view until April 24th when he hosts a portrait session at the museum starting at 6 pm.

The exhibition will be on display every weekday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Join us for a 5K loop through Gallup Park in Ann Arbor on April 19. 2026, at 9am. Twinkies® will be served along the route and at the end of the race! We encourage festive attire and a lot of fun. Help us raise money for ALS while enjoying some yummy treats!

The JonBenét Game by Tori Keenan-Zelt
NNPN Rolling World Premiere ​
​
It’s not whether you win or lose…

When best friends Molly and Rae were 12, they secretly played JonBenét Ramsey at sleepovers. Twenty years later, in the wake of Molly's tragic death, Rae returns to her hometown school as a guidance counselor. But when Molly’s 12-year-old daughter, Hazel, knocks on Rae’s door, she and Rae slide back into the game, and the dark and liminal spaces of their unresolved grief. Directed by Carla Milarch.
​

March 27 - April 19, 2026

Fridays 8:00 pm, Saturdays 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Sundays 2:00 pm

Tickets: General $30 / 65 & Over $25 / Students $15

In this final installment of this season’s All About the Trio series the trio will be joined by a collective of special guests to present a retrospective of different takes on the classic American Songbook standard. Versions referenced will include Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Ahmad Jamal, Modern Jazz Quartet, John Coltrane and the Jeff Hamilton Trio. Audience questions are welcome!

Join us for an enjoyable, improvisatory and interactive afternoon of jazz in the House!

Ellen Rowe (piano); Paul Keller (bass); Pete Siers (drums); Kenji Lee (tenor saxophone); Sunny Wilkinson (vocalist), Justin Walter (trumpet); Cary Kocher (vibraphone)

Washtenaw Chorale presents their Spring concert: When Spring Comes Walking. It will feature two magnificent selections from the traditional choral repertoire: Mozart's "Regina Coeli" and Randall Thompson's "Alleluia." Our tenors and basses will sing "Shenandoah" and our women will serenade the audience with "Sentimental Journey." The full choir will also sing several contemporary selections including: "O Salutaris Hostia" by Eriks Esenvalds; "Sweet Rivers" by Shawn Kirchner; and "When Spring Comes Walking" written by The Kings Singers' composer/arranger Bob Chilcott. A delightful musical smorgasbord to delight every taste! Sing Alleluia!