Taste of Ann Arbor expands footprint, pilots reusable service ware and offers 24 participating restaurants
May 22, 2026 | Ann Arbor Public Schools, School Boards, Michigan
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Ashley Schafer, executive director of the Main Street Area Association, previewed the 2026 Taste of Ann Arbor and said organizers are expanding the festival footprint, piloting reusable service ware and coordinating logistics with downtown construction and other events.
"You can actually prepurchase your tickets online. You can purchase those in bundles of 20," Schafer said, describing advance sales and complimentary bamboo silverware that comes with online bundle pickup. She added that individual tickets will also be sold at the event and that tickets are priced at $1 each.
Schaffer described a pilot with Bold Reuse to reduce single-use waste: "They reported to me yesterday that they ordered 24,000 pieces, between cups and reusable service wear boats for this particular event," and said all but three participating businesses have committed to using the reusable service ware during the footprint.
On scale and circulation, Schafer said organizers expect roughly "33,000 people that visit our area within that day" and are extending the Taste footprint to mirror the Rolling Sculpture car show, from East William down to Huron and with Washington closed from Ashley to the alley; Liberty will be closed from Ashley to the alley as well. She said the DDA's 4th Avenue work affects a portion of the route but that access to some parking garages will be preserved.
Schafer listed 24 participating restaurants including Ashley's, Connor O'Neil's, Shalimar, Slows Barbecue, Washing Out Dairy, Ho Chi, the Graduate Hotel, Aventura, Mindo Chocolate, Blue Nile and Phenology, and said Fever-Tree is sponsoring a social-district beverage collaboration with several venues.
Event time is May 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Schafer recommended that visitors plan extra time for construction-affected travel, noted that parking is free on Sundays and that on-site features will include DJ Ron Don, the Ann Arbor District Library's summer-reading outreach and local tabling organizations.
"You can actually prepurchase your tickets online. You can purchase those in bundles of 20," Schafer said, describing advance sales and complimentary bamboo silverware that comes with online bundle pickup. She added that individual tickets will also be sold at the event and that tickets are priced at $1 each.
Schaffer described a pilot with Bold Reuse to reduce single-use waste: "They reported to me yesterday that they ordered 24,000 pieces, between cups and reusable service wear boats for this particular event," and said all but three participating businesses have committed to using the reusable service ware during the footprint.
On scale and circulation, Schafer said organizers expect roughly "33,000 people that visit our area within that day" and are extending the Taste footprint to mirror the Rolling Sculpture car show, from East William down to Huron and with Washington closed from Ashley to the alley; Liberty will be closed from Ashley to the alley as well. She said the DDA's 4th Avenue work affects a portion of the route but that access to some parking garages will be preserved.
Schafer listed 24 participating restaurants including Ashley's, Connor O'Neil's, Shalimar, Slows Barbecue, Washing Out Dairy, Ho Chi, the Graduate Hotel, Aventura, Mindo Chocolate, Blue Nile and Phenology, and said Fever-Tree is sponsoring a social-district beverage collaboration with several venues.
Event time is May 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Schafer recommended that visitors plan extra time for construction-affected travel, noted that parking is free on Sundays and that on-site features will include DJ Ron Don, the Ann Arbor District Library's summer-reading outreach and local tabling organizations.
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