Roots event: Exhibits and workshops fill the holiday season calendar

Art Exhibits

North Gallery at Riverside Arts Center 
The gallery showcases rotating exhibits by local and regional artists.

• 4-6 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
• Riverside Arts Center
• 76 N. Huron St.
• Ypsilanti

Riverside's Ypsi Fine Arts Club
Twice a month, during the first and third Wednesdays, artists are encouraged to showcase and talk about their work during this community event open to all, include creators and admirers.

• 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025
• Riverside Arts Center
• 76 N. Huron St.
• Ypsilanti

Comedy

• 7:30-9:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025
• Ypsi Alehouse
• 124 Pearl St.
• Ypsilanti, Michigan

Community

Thankful To Go
Hams, turkeys and locally produced produce are on the table for Eastern Michigan University's holiday meal project Thankful To Go: Drive-Thru Thanks Thanksgiving Meals. Everyone is welcome to drive up and received a bag of food; first-come, first-served.

• 10 a.m. until supplies run out
• Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025
• George Gervin GameAbove Center

Dance

• 8-9 p.m. lessons
• 9-11 p.m. social dance
• Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
• Riverside Arts Center
• 76 N. Huron St.
• Ypsilanti, Michigan

Unveiled Dance: Level 2 Bellydance Class
Previous bellydance class attendance required for this Level 2 Intermediate class under the instruction of the Unveiled Dance Company, founded in September 2004 by Crystal Dunlap. Classes are held weekly for four to five weeks. For more information visit the dance company website.

• 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Nov. 26, 2025
• Admission: $15 a class for full session; $20 per drop in
• Riverside Arts Center Dance Studio
• 76 N. Huron St.
• Ypsilanti

Ballet: Carnival of the Animals with the EMUSO
The Eastern Michigan University Dance Department and the EMU Symphony Orchestra collaborated on this choreographed presentation featuring Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3.

• 7:30-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
• Admission $10 adults; $8 students; children 5 and under free; tickets available through the university's online box office
• Pease Auditorium

Holiday Festivals and Fairs

Riverside's 2025 Holiday Art Fair!
Focusing on handmade art, vintage goods and self-care products this holiday fair will help shoppers get a head start on that gift list.

• 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025
• 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025
• Admisson: $1
• Riverside Arts Center
• 76 N. Huron St.
• Ypsilanti

Small Business Saturday Vendor Show
Shoppers can support local businesses and connect with the downtown Ypsilanti community during this special holiday season event designed to help with that Christmas shopping list. 

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
• 114 West Michigan Avenue
• Ypsilanti

First Fridays Ypsilanti 
Free monthly arts and culture self-guided tours, featuring business discounts, pop-up events, gallery openings, artists and performers.

• 5 p.m. until; Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
• Admission: free
• Downtown, Depot Town and more

Disability Network Holiday Market
Venue to support disabled artists and sell their works.

• 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025
• 3941 Research Park Drive
• Ann Arbor

Live Music/Poetry

Low Brass Studios Recital
Students from the studios of music professors Donald Babcock (trombone) and Brendan Ige (tuba/euponium) present a recital

• Noon to 12:50 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025
• Alexander Music Building, Room 110

Speakeasy Open Mic Night
Musicians, poets, authors and patrons of the arts are encouraged to share songs, stories and other wors during this low-key event. Held every Friday night. 

• 8:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
• Admission: $10; or $5 for students
• Rhizome Roots Studio
• 108 Pearl St., Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert & Auction
The event includes the orchestra’s 3rd annual fundraising auction and the “Nutcracker Suite and Swing” concert with guest artists Depot Town Big Band.

• 1:30 p.m. auction; 3 p.m. concert
• Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025
• Tickets: $7.96 (seniors) to $33.65; general admission is $15.45.
• More information: YpsilantiSymphony.org
• Lincoln High School Performing Arts Center

Creative Workshops

Digital Marketing Workshop
Learn from leaders at Google, Pinterest, Ford, AcquireUP and Detroit sports teams on connecting with customers and creating experiences.

• 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
• Cost: $5 students; $15 faculty: breakfast and lunch provided
• Student Center Grand Ballroom
• Eastern Michigan University

Making Japanese Traditional Strawberry Mochi Sweet (Daifuku)
A former chef from the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit will instruct the class on making these traditional sweets. Registration required; only the first 50 participants will be accepted.

• 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025
• Admission: Free; registration required
• Student Center Cafeteria (First Floor)
• Eastern Michigan University

Neurodiverse Artmaking Drop-In
Every 4th Monday, the neurodiverse community, teens and adults, gathers to be creative together at the Riverside Arts Center. For more information, check out the center's online event calendar.

• 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, 2025
• Admission: $5 to $10 suggested donation; no one will be turned away
• Riverside Arts Center, top floor, room B
• 76 N. Huron St.
• Ypsilanti

Fiber Arts Drop-In Days: Fibers@Riverside 
Get help starting a new project or working a current one in this drop-in class for fiber artists, novice to expert. Held the first Saturdays of the month.

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025
• Riverside Arts Center, Studio 1
• Admission: Free to drop in but donations are always welcome
• 76 N. Huron St.
• Ypsilanti

EMU Events

Rosa Skrobola Voice Junior Recital
Bachelor of Arts student Rosa Skrobola presents a voice junior recital.

• 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025
• Free admission
• Honors College Auditorium
• Eastern Michigan University

EMU Honor Choir Concert
Elite high school singers from across Michigan join the EMU Choir to perform a diverse selection of choral music. 

• 7:30-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
• Admission: $10; tickets available through the university's online box office
• Pease Auditorium
• Eastern Michigan University

Theater/Film

"Big Love" at Eastern Michigan University
This play explores the themes of patriarchal control, romantic love and the question of personal freedom.

• 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Nov. 20-22
• 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23
• Tickets: $12 to $20, available through the university's online box office.
• Legacy Theatre
• Judy Sturgis Hill Building
• Eastern Michigan University

"Othello" by PTD Productions and Brevity Shakespeare
Setting this Shakespearean story in the year 1881 in California, these two production companies are presenting several shows from Wednesday to SSaturday.

• 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19
• 7:30-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20-22.
• Riverside Arts Center
• 76 N. Huron St.
• Ypsilanti