Set to take place on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, the City of Ann Arbor's 25th annual Green Fair offers residents opportunities to adopt sustainable habits.
Hosted by the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations, the fair aims to promote environmental sustainability.
"Green Fair is yet another long-standing demonstration of Ann Arbor’s commitment to climate action and fostering a more sustainable relationship with our environment and each other,” Sustainability Director Missy Stults said in a written announcement posted by the city Sept. 4.
The fair will take place along Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor, where visitors can talk to business owners and industry experts, participate in interactive activities and enjoy live music. The event will be split into five distinct zones, all along Main Street downtown.
Electric Avenue
Guests will find power industry experts and contractors who can share strategies for keeping home heating and air conditioning systems clean and efficient. Participating experts from previous fairs included representatives from DTE Energy, Ann Arbor Public Schools and Ann Arbor Water.
The Ann Arbor school district operates at least a dozen rooftop solar arrays. District officials report that the arrays deliver as much as 2.1 megawatts of power, enough to charge the batteries of about 40 electric cars or power more than 1,000 homes. The arrays were added using a $1 billion bond issue, approved in 2019, as reported on the district website. District officials earlier this year said they planned to add additional solar arrays.
Circularity Street
This area will showcase businesses in Ann Arbor that employ and promote environmentally sustainable operating practices. In the past, Green Fair has hosted businesses such as Cinnaholic, Big George's Appliance Mart and Hickory Nut Farmstead.
Resilience Road
In this zone, visitors can tour a Sesame Solar Mobile Nanogrid Unit, which the city has dubbed a "Mobile Resilience Hub." This unit is a trailer that contains an array of solar panels that can be deployed within a matter of minutes.
"This will enable the trailer to provide mobile communications, connectivity, electricity, water purification, and you can also use the inside as an office or a medical facility if you need a pop-up store or health clinic," City Council Member Lisa Dish said during a March 2024 meeting.
Dish said the city intends to use this hub as an environmentally-friendly emergency response vehicle.
Nature Boulevard
Organizers designed this area to highlight community efforts to protect the environment. Visitors can learn about volunteer opportunities in the Ann Arbor area.
Kid's Corner
This area is the center for games and activities at the fair. All visitors are encouraged to participate and will have the opportunity to win prizes.
For its first 20 years, the Green Fair was hosted by the Ann Arbor Mayor's Office, but it switched over to the Office of Sustainability and Innovations in 2020 when the city adopted its A2ZERO Plan. A2ZERO is Ann Arbor's effort to move the city to total carbon neutrality by 2030. More information about the plan and Green Fair is available on the city's website.
The fair will take place from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. The event is free for all visitors.
