JULY 25, 2025 COMMUNITY EVENTS community EVENTS AADL SUMMER GAME SPECTACULAR Saturday, August 26, 1 p.m. Veterans Memorial Park Join Summer Game players and community members for a spectacular celebration of all things Summer Game! Circus performances, lawn games, ice cream, game codes and more await at the annual summer celebration. RESILIENCE REVEALED: ANN ARBOR'S DISABILITY LEGACY Sunday, August 27, 6 p.m. AADL downtown branch, 1st floor The premiere of Resilience Revealed, a new documentary on the role Ann Arbor has played in the world of accessibility and disability activism. Filmmaker Zach Damon will introduce the film and take questions afterwards. GERMAN PARK PICNIC Saturday, August 26, 4-11 p.m. German Park, 5549 Pontiac Trail German Park Recreation Club hosts three picnics the last Saturday in June, July, and August. Admission gate open 4-9 p.m.; Park closes at 11 p.m. Live music, authentic German food and live dance performances. WALK WITH FRIENDS Saturdays through Sept. 27, 8:30 a.m. Start and finish at 105 Michigan Ave. Ypsilanti Walk With Friends is a community event; walk 2 miles through downtown and Riverside Park as a social group. All ages welcome. FIRST FRIDAYS YPSI Friday, August 1, 5 p.m. Downtown Ypsi and Depot Town Explore area businesses to shop exclusive discounts, attend pop-up events and galleries featuring Ypsilanti area artists and performers, and experience the Ypsi arts scene in all its forms. First Friday Food Court at Growing Hope (16 S. Washington), 5-8 p.m. — This vibrant event features a rotating lineup of local food entrepreneurs offering delicious, diverse, and affordable eats, including vegan and vegetarian options. by the Jim Toy Community Center. 200+ vendors, KidZone, food trucks, drag story hour, performances by Detox and Lucky Starzzz. A2ZERO MONTHLY CLOTHING SWAPS August 21, 4-7 p.m. Third Thursday of each month. Larcom City Hall, 301 E Huron St. These are a perfect way to give your gently used clothes a new home, and you might just find an item of clothing you have been looking for, without having to buy it new. How clothing swaps work: Each person can bring up to five items of clothing in good condition (no rips, holes, stains, or unwashed items please!). Accessories are also welcome. You can take clothing without bringing anything, or bring clothing without taking anything. Hosted by the Office of Sustainability and Innovations ANN ARBOR PRIDE August 2, 2025, 12-9 p.m. Main Street Ann Arbor Festival celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer identities, community, and allyship hosted GROUNDCOVER NEWS 15th ANNIVERSARY PARTY Thursday, September 4, 6-8 p.m. First Congregational Church of A2 For the first time, Groundcover is celebrating a major milestone. Join us for an evening of reunion, music, food and drink, and a gallery walk of Groundcover’s history. Be a part of celebrating where we started, where we are, and where we are going! Purchase tickets online at givebutter.com/gcn15 GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5 12/31/2025 Submit an event to be featured in the next edition: submissions@groundcovernews.com Birthday freebies in Washtenaw County KAYLA WISEMAN U-M student contributor Most people don’t know about the almost-endless amount of free stuff one can receive just because they get a year older. Free things provide many people with joy and can be very beneficial. Furthermore, birthdays are a day to celebrate and a day to feel special about oneself. On the business side of doing business, birthday freebies are a way to thank customers and attract new ones. The possibilities for freebies are endless – from free food, drinks, clothes or discounts on clothes to movie theater discounts, etc. All the freebies should be added to your list of stops to make on your birthday. Not only do you get free stuff, but it's a way to make an adventure out of your birthday. To find freebies you need to search online. A simple search for “birthday discounts” or “birthday freebies” within one’s local area is the first step. Then search for local restaurants’ or food chains’ websites to find these deals. Next, search reward programs that give you freebies or discounts on your birthday. For food and drink there are endless possibilities for free stuff. At 7-Eleven you can get a free Slurpee. At Buffalo Wild Wings you can get seven free wings. Auntie Anne's offers a free soft pretzel. At Baskin Robbins you can get a free 2.5 ounce ice cream scoop. Chili’s will give a free dessert from their menu, as will Applebee’s with a minimum purchase. Another free birthday scoop at Cold Stone Creamery can be a great reward. Starbucks offers a free drink or food item through their rewards app. IHOP gives a free pancake stack for birthdays with a membership in their rewards program. Olive Garden offers a free dessert coupon. Local restaurants in Ann Arbor like Argus Farm Stop Cafe offer a free drink. TAQ or Afternoon Delight gifts a free dessert with purchase of a meal. Additionally, Zingerman’s offers many birthday discounts and freebies. Zingerman’s Bakehouse gives a free loaf of bread (with value up to $6.99) with any purchase. At Zingermans’ Deli, receive 15% off everything with a valid ID. Then, at Zingerman's Coffee Company you will receive 50% off any hot chocolate drink. To finish off, Zingerman’s Creamery will grant you one free gelato. Another restaurant that offers a free dessert with a meal is Cafe Zola/ Zola Bistro. They give out a free nutella banana crepe with a purchase. A big freebie is at Northside Grill which includes a free breakfast or lunch entree until 3 p.m. with ID. On the other hand, there are other free birthday gifts or discounts that don’t involve food or drink. The Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase allows you to bring three guests to attend a show for free in the month of your birthday. Planet Rock gives members a free day pass during their birthday month. AMC movie theatergoers receive a free large popcorn loaded onto their AMC stubs account. For clothes or shopping, the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop gives 25% off total purchase (up to $10) on your birthday with valid ID. The possibilities of freebies out there are endless! To check out more, a simple Google search in one area will provide a list, including if membership or ID is required. Finding birthday discounts and freebies is an adventure itself and it always feels good to get offers that save money. It shows that when a business supports the community, the community celebrates you! Therefore, on your birthday go check out some of these nice offers and get some free stuff!
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