Hope all of you have stayed safe on these slippery roads. Lots of fun holiday festivities happening again this weekend.

And, ICYMI, Pretzel Bell has transformed its basement bar into a scene from one of my personal favorite holiday movies: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — and it looks magical.

🌟 Dexter Light Parade | Saturday, Dec 14th
A parade of lights and festively decorated floats make their way through downtown Dexter starting at 6pm

🎄 Ypsi Holifest | Saturday, Dec 14th
Held the first 3 Saturdays of December, this event in downtown Ypsi will bring carolers, Santa visits to storefronts, gift-wrapping stations and holiday music

🌙 Moonlight Madness (Milan) | Saturday, Dec 14th
A night of late night holiday shopping with special deals, vendors, music & more

⛸️ Holiday On Ice (Chelsea) | Saturday, Dec 14th
Get tickets to see the Chelsea Figure Skating club perform to all your favorite holiday songs

🏃🏻‍♀️ Jolly Jog 5k Fun Run/Walk | Saturday, Dec 14th
A free, festive & untimed 5k at Fleet Feet in downtown Ann Arbor - donations will also be collected for the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

♻️ Neighborhood Swap Day | Saturday, Dec 14th
Have clothing or household items you no longer need, but want them to find a good home? Join the swap to get items you may need or give away those you don’t

❄️ Christmas in the Village (Dexter) | Saturday, Dec 14th
The Historic Webster Village will be decked out with holiday decor & festivities for everyone to enjoy

🎅🏼 Brunch with Santa
Enjoy brunch with a visit from Santa at Venue 4M in Ann Arbor on Saturday or in Dexter on Sunday at the American Legion from 9am-12pm

Holiday Markets:
🌟 Holiday Makers Market at Ziggy’s & Bloodroot Herb Shop in Ypsi (Saturday)
🌟 Motawi Winter Market at Motawi Tileworks (Saturday)
🌟 Mini Art-Fair, Holiday Sale & Music Show at Dreamland Theater (Saturday)
🌟 Fairly Odd Finds Mini Market at Homes Campus (Sunday)
🌟 Christkindlmarkt at St Thomas Church in Ann Arbor (Sunday)

(Live music events in Ann Arbor/Ypsi unless otherwise noted & those marked with ($) charge a cover or require a ticket to the best of my knowledge)

Thursday, December 12th:
The Davis Triplets @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Keaton Royer and Josef Deas @ Weber’s from 6-9pm (no cover)
Marsha Gayle @ Erratic Ale (Dexter) at 6:30pm-8:30 (no cover)
Jake Reichbart @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover)
Robert Hurst Trio ft. Orrin Evans & Jeff “Tain” Watts @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 7-8pm & 9:30-10:30pm ($)
Fallout Shelter show @ 734 Brewing Co (Ypsi) from 7:30pm-midnight ($5 suggested donation)
Ypsilanti Community Choir Holiday Concert @ Washtenaw Community College from 7:30-9:30pm (free)
Ebird & Friends Holiday Show @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
Root Station @ Mash (Ann Arbor) @ 8pm (no cover)
Brian Plasticity Ukulele Collective @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 8-11pm ($)
Lyloc w/ Petalwave, Faceless @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($)
Birder, Soccer, Blind Liars, Riot Course @ Ziggy’s at 8pm ($)
House Music For All @ Elks Lodge AA from 8pm-midnight ($5 cover)
The Pherotones @ Last Word from 9pm-midnight (no cover)

Friday, December 13th:
Dave Keeney & Sophia Hanifi @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Songwriters in the Round @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Pontiac Trail Blazers ft. Ryan Michaud @ North Star Lounge from 7-10pm ($) 
Marcus Elliot Quintet @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 7-8pm & 9:30-10:30pm ($)
Christmas by Candlelight with R MacKenzie Lewis & Friends @ Kerrytown Concert House at 7:30pm ($)
Washtenaw Community College Band Holiday Concert @ Washtenaw Community College from 7:30-9pm (free)
Steve Pichan and Mike Ward @ Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room from 7:30-9:30pm (free)
Chirp w/ Act Casual, Candid Antics @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($)
Ebird & Friends Holiday Show @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
MusicMix Rick Hicks @ 734 Brewing (Ypsi) from 8pm-midnight (no cover)
Hot Wired @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 8-11pm ($) 
Sara Tea, Dollie Rot, Soft Mesh @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) at 8pm ($)
Erik Ryden & Beanstalk @ Mash (Ypsi) at 8pm (no cover)
Rob Crozier Ensemble @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)
JP & The Energy @ Mash (Ann Arbor) @ 10pm (no cover)
ThrillKill and Danny Fantom @ Alley Bar from 10pm-2am (no cover)

Saturday, December 14th:
Ebird & Friends Holiday Show @ The Ark at 2pm ($)
Poor Player @ Ypsi Alehouse at 4:30pm (no cover)
Head Full Of Ghosts @ North Star Lounge from 6:30-7:45pm ($)
Aguanko Holiday Show @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 6:30-7:30pm and 9-10pm ($)
KayLyn Pace @ Revel Run (Chelsea) from 7-9pm (no cover)
Ronald Shelton @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover) 
Robert Warren and others @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover)
734 Saturday Hosted by Northern Threat Entertainment @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) at 8pm ($) 
Ebird & Friends Holiday Show @ The Ark at 8pm ($)
The Machine @ Mash (Ypsi) at 8pm (no cover)
Deadicated Shakedown Saturday @ The Rumpus Room (Chelsea) from 8-11:30pm ($)
Joe Hertler (DJ Set) @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($20)
Michelle Held @ North Star Lounge from 9-10:15pm ($)
Rob Crozier Ensemble @ The Habitat Lounge from 9-11pm (no cover)
Off the Ledge @ Mash (Ann Arbor) at 10pm (no cover)
Jordan Rattner Trio @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 10:30-close ($)

Sunday, December 15th:
William Bennett @ 4M Venue from 11am-2pm (included with brunch) 
Ann Arbor/Ypsi Acoustic Jam @ Ypsi Alehouse at 2pm (no cover) 
Ellen Rowe’s All About the Trio: Jazz Holiday Extravaganza @ Kerrytown Concert House at 2pm ($)
Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra - "Up Close & Personal" @ Lincoln High School & Middle School (Ypsi) at 3:30pm ($)
Ann Arbor Concert Band Holiday Concert @ Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at 4pm ($10)
Vocal Arts Ensemble of Ann Arbor: C'est la VAE - A French Christmas @ The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor at 5pm ($)
Stella Cole @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 6-7pm & 8:30-9:30pm($)

Monday, December 16th:
Keaton Royer and Josef Deas @ Weber’s from  6-9pm (no cover)
Paul Keller Orchestra @ Zal Gaz Grotto from 7-10pm ($)

Tuesday, December 17th:
Easy Street Jazz Band @ Zal Gaz Grotto Club from 5-7pm ($) 
Community High Jazz @ The Ark / at 6pm & 8pm ($5)
Keaton Royer and Josef Deas @ Weber’s from  6-9pm (no cover)
Kalkaska String Quartet - Candlelight: 90s Unplugged on Strings @ Frutig Farms from 6:30-7:45pm ($36)
Jake Reichbart @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover) 
Bastard Ideals @ Ziggy’s at 8pm ($)
Kalkaska String Quartet - Candlelight: Rings and Dragons @ Frutig Farms from 8:45-10pm ($36)

Wednesday, December 18th: 
Ron Leary @ North Star Lounge from 5:30-6:30pm (no cover)
Keaton Royer and Josef Deas @ Weber’s from  6-9pm (no cover)
Kalkaska String Quartet - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings @ Frutig Farms from 6:30-7:45pm ($36)
Erin Zindle @ The Grateful Crow (Chelsea) from 7-9pm (no cover)
Tumbao Bravo @ Blue Llama Jazz Club from 7-8pm & 8:45-9:45pm ($) 
Jake Reichbart @ The Earle from 7-9pm (no cover) 
Deep Steam @ Ypsi Alehouse at 7pm (no cover)
Akio Jeimus + Julian Urrego duo @ Ziggy’s (Ypsi) @ 8pm ($)
The Telephone Poles w/ Mercury Switch, Violet Daybed @ The Blind Pig at 8pm ($)

And if you haven’t already… make sure you follow me on Instagram to get more updates & ideas of things to do and see in the area! 

Thanks for reading the AA Insider this week!

If you enjoyed it enough to share it with someone else, that would make me super happy too 🙂