Skate outdoors, volunteer in the parks, shop at the farmers market and more this weekend

FREE special events in the Ann Arbor parks Take part in free beginner dance lessons followed by a social dance Wednesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. The class will be taught by Chris Moy with music by Steve and Robin Plawinski with Michigan West Coast Swing. Lessons 6-7 p.m. taught by Chris Moy and then enjoy social dancing 7-9 p.m. Don’t miss out. Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Road. FREE: Intro to Improv - Three part series Intro to Improv at Ann Arbor Senior Center. Class series is offered Mondays March 9, 16 and 23, 5-6:30 p.m. Registration required. Class is designed for adults ages 18+. This class is designed for people who have little to no Improv experience who want to come learn about it and give it a try without the commitment of paying for a class or joining a troupe. In this three class session participants will learn the basic rules of improv and partake in some fun beginning level improvisation and exercises to get a taste of the art of improv! Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Sign up here. NEW: Hip hop dance class for ages 18+ This free workshop Thursday, March 12 at 5 p.m. will be taught by a professional choreographer. and includes a group stretch, a dance taught by the instructor and a set break mid-class. This class is intended for participants eighteen years and older; no dance experience required. Each person should wear shoes and clothes they are comfortable moving in and bring a water bottle. Registration required to attend. Sign up here. Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Road. FREE: Family Trivia Night Family Trivia Night at the Ann Arbor Senior Center (1320 Baldwin Ave.), Friday, March 27, 5-6:30 p.m. Suitable for ages 5+. Looking for a fun event for the whole family? Come to one of our family trivia nights! Questions will range in difficulty from things your kiddos will know to things that might be challenging for our adult kids at heart! Come with your family or friends and connect at family trivia night! Registration required to attend. Sign up here.

There's still time to register for a boat locker Bandemer boat locker applications are available online. Complete and return the application via email to a2parks@a2gov.org thru Sunday March 15. Lottery drawing will take place on Monday, March 16.

Eat local with the Ann Arbor Farmers Market On Saturday, Feb. 28 the Ann Arbor Farmers Market will be open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at 315 Detroit St. We will have warm drinks, plentiful produce, artisan goods, jams and honey, protein options, and more! In-season produce that you can find at the market this time of year includes the following: apples, kale, chard, beets, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, cabbage, onions, garlic, mushrooms, winter squash, brussels sprouts, parsnips, salad greens, turnips and more! Rite Spice will be joining us and a taco truck. Vendors accept cash, and tokens for credit/debit card, mobile payment and SNAP/EBT are available at the construction trailer in the parking lot. Service animals only. Accessible restrooms are available. More information at our website.

Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Arena is the place to skate this winter, with fresh air, great ice, and expanded opportunities to get out and glide. Additional weekday open skate is now available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and don’t miss 80’s Night during open skate on Friday, Feb. 27, from 7-8:45 p.m., featuring retro music and fun on the ice. Bring skate or rent them from us. Please note there will be no drop-in hockey tonight, Thursday, Feb. 26 from 9-10 p.m. With Veterans Memorial Ice Arena now closed for the season, skaters are encouraged to visit Buhr Park (2751 Packard Road) and enjoy everything it has to offer. View the full schedule and details online.

Join Natural Area Preservation for hands-on training
Saturday, March 7 – Salamander Survey Kickoff and Training: 1-3 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Senior Center. Learn how to help monitor salamanders in Ann Arbor’s parks – there are five species here! Volunteers will select parks to survey and learn how to identify these rarely-seen silent amphibians. Register here.

Friday, March 13 – Frog  and Toad Survey Kickoff and Training: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Senior Center. Everyone is invited to help monitor frog populations in Ann Arbor! No experience required. You will learn to identify frogs mainly by ear, optionally by eye, and chose an area of the city to survey. Register here.

Winter Story Time at Veterans Memorial Ice Arena Tuesdays in March, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Bundle up and join us for cozy winter story times with seasonal themes, songs and hands-on fun. For preschool-aged children and caregivers. Dates and themes are listed below. Please preregister: Tuesday, March 3, 10:30–11:30 a.m. – Rain Tuesday, March 10, 10:30–11:30 a.m. – Birds Tuesday, March 17, 10:30–11:30 a.m. – Worms Tuesday, March 24, 10:30–11:30 a.m. – Flowers First Saturday Story Time at the Burns Park warming hut Saturday, March 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Bird Nests. A special story time focused on birds and their nests, with stories and simple activities. For ages 2-6. Free; registration required. Questions: epotter@a2gov.org. Preregister here. K–5 Events Birding and Bird Feeders in the Gallup Park Meeting Room, Tuesday, March 10, 1-2:30 p.m. Search for local birds and create your own bird feeder using pinecones and peanut butter to take home. Not suitable for those with peanut allergies. For K–5 students with an adult. Free; registration required. Plants to Jam inside the Burns Park warming hut, Tuesday, March 31, 1-2:30 p.m. Plant a local berry seed to grow at home and make fresh jam using berries and sugar. For K–5 students with an adult. Free; registration required.

We need a helping hand: Volunteer opportunities in the Ann Arbor parks
Check out the Ann Arbor Parks Volunteer Program website on VolunteerHub to register for upcoming volunteer events. All experience levels are welcome and we provide tools/supplies. Dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes and bring water. Help beautify, maintain and steward parks and natural areas. 

* Saturday, March 7, 1-4 p.m. At this event, you’ll help protect Ann Arbor’s biodiversity and public lands by cutting and removing invasive shrubs with hand saws and loppers. Register here. Meeting Point: Kuebler Langford Nature Area entrance off of Beechwood Drive.

* Sunday, March 22, 1-4 p.m. We need help cutting and removing invasive shrubs at Kuebler Langford Nature Area ( meet at the entrance off Beechwood Drive). Register here.

* Saturday, April 11, 1-4 p.m. Cut and remove invasive shrubs with hand saws and loppers. Mary Beth Doyle Park (meet at the natural area entrance on east side of Mary Beth Doyle Park at the intersection of Cardinal Avenue and Sharon Drive). Register here.

REMINDER:

Veterans Memorial Indoor Ice Arena has closed for the 2026 season
We regret to share that due to an unexpected compressor failure, Veterans Memorial Indoor Ice Arena will be closed for the remainder of the 2026 skating season. We understand how important the rink is to our skaters, families, and community, and we sincerely apologize for the disruption this causes. This was not an outcome we hoped for, and we know how disappointing it is to lose ice time so suddenly.

All participants who registered for programs, lessons, or activities that can no longer be held will automatically receive refunds. Our team is working to process these as quickly as possible, and no action is needed on your part.

We are happy to share that we are adding additional open skating sessions at Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Arena (2751 Packard Road), 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday starting Monday, Feb. 23. The Veterans Memorial Past Masters program will also be hosted at Buhr, Thursdays 9:30-10:50 a.m.

Educational presentation: All about acupuncture
Friday, March 6, 10:30-11 a.m. Join Evan Lebow-Wolf, president and senior acupuncturist at Ann Arbor Community Acupuncture (AACA) for this informative talk on acupuncture, a healing modality used for to treat pain, inflammation, and stress related issues. The AACA is a non-profit clinic dedicated to making acupuncture affordable and accessible. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Brunch & Learn: Music therapy benefits for seniors
Monday, March 9, 10-11 a.m. Join Rachael Lawrence-Lupton, music therapist and owner of Gentle Care Music Therapy to explore how music impacts the aging brain—supporting memory, mood, connection, and overall quality of life for older adults. We’ll look at the neuroscience behind music’s effects, basic music therapy interventions that are utilized with older adults, and share practical, accessible ways caregivers, families and individuals can intentionally use music in everyday settings. The goal is to empower anyone working with seniors to use music thoughtfully, even outside of formal music therapy. Light brunch provided. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Drive-thru: National Eat Your Noodles Day
Wednesday, March 11, noon-1 p.m. Join Interim of Washtenaw for this fun and informative event where you'll learn about short-term and long-term care provided. Enjoy coffee, snacks, socialize and pick up information. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here or call 734.794.6250. Free for members; $5 nonmembers. ​

Travels With George: The Soul of Southeast Asia
Thursday, March 12, 1:30-4 p.m. Join host George Jabol for a travelogue through Southeast Asia, exploring the rich cultures, history, and landscapes of Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Highlights include Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace and Killing Fields, Bangkok’s Grand Palace and Ayutthaya ruins, a Mekong River cruise in Laos and Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, water puppet theater and bustling Hanoi streets. This journey offers meaningful insight into the people and traditions of the region. Open to ages 18 and up. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Free of charge. Preregistration required. Click here to register or call 734.794.6250.

Mind Matters – Fun brain games with students from the AFA U-M Chapter
Friday, March 20, 1-2 p.m. Join us for this special Mind Matters session that will be hosted in person by representatives from the Alzheimer’s foundation of America at the University of Michigan. The AFA organization is dedicated to promoting brain health and wellness, raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, and encouraging proactive approaches to brain care. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave. Preregistration required. Click here or call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.

Kempf House guided tours
(First Sundays: March 1, May 3, June 7, Sept. 6, Oct. 4 and Nov. 1)
Visit the 1853 Greek Revival home of German-American music teachers Reuben and Pauline Kempf. See Victorian period furnishings, including an 1877 Steinway piano, the first concert grand in Ann Arbor. Hear about the Kempfs' connections with both German-speaking and English-speaking residents. 1-4 p.m., Kempf House, 312 S. Division. Admission free, donations appreciated. Questions? Call 734.994,4898. Go online to learn more before your visit.