Taste of Ann Arbor Returns Sunday, May 31: A Celebration of Local Flavor, Community, and Sustainability

ANN ARBOR, MI — The beloved Taste of Ann Arbor returns to Main Street on Sunday, May 31, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, bringing together local restaurants, community partners, and downtown energy for an afternoon celebrating Ann Arbor’s vibrant culinary scene.

Twenty-four restaurants and food businesses will line Main Street between William and Washington Streets, serving up bite-sized portions of their most popular dishes. From globally inspired flavors to hometown favorites, Taste of Ann Arbor offers attendees the chance to sample a little bit of everything downtown has to offer.

Participating restaurants and food vendors include:

• Detroit Pizza Pub

• Washtenaw Dairy

• Slows Bar BQ Ann Arbor

• Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.

• Conor O’Neill’s

• Zingerman’s Roadhouse

• Moka & Co

• Vinology

• Shalimar Restaurant

• Real Seafood Co.

• The Chop House

• Mindo Chocolate Makers

• Aventura

• Palio

• Pretzel Bell / Avalon

• Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor

• cupsnchai

• Ashley’s

• Jolly Pumpkin

• Hao Chi

• CD Top Shelf

• Triumvirate Catering

• Blue Nile

• RiteSpice Kitchen

This year, the Main Street Area Association is excited to partner with the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations and A2ZERO to pilot reusable and returnable serviceware at participating restaurant booths. The initiative is designed to introduce more sustainable event practices while creating a more connected and thoughtful event experience for attendees.

“We’re excited to bring returnable containers to Taste of Ann Arbor,” said Genevieve Rattray from the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations. “Our community has long embraced ambitious, practical climate solutions. Ann Arborites understand that reducing waste is not just an environmental goal, but a reflection of how a community chooses to live and gather together. The community’s appetite for reuse and circular systems makes Ann Arbor an especially meaningful place to introduce this work, and we’re proud to help make lower-waste events part of the city’s culture.”

Guests can also look forward to a new signature cocktail experience this year. Fever-Tree joins Taste of Ann Arbor as a sponsor, partnering with Conor O’Neill’s, Vinology, and The Grotto – Watering Hole to offer a special TASTE cocktail designed for sipping throughout the Downtown Ann Arbor Social District.

Adding to the atmosphere this year, DJ Ron Don will keep Main Street energized throughout the event with live DJ entertainment.

Tasting tickets are $1 each and can be purchased both online and onsite during the event. For the first time ever, attendees can purchase ticket bundles online in packs of 20 prior to the event. Pre-purchased tickets will be available for pick-up the day of the event and will include complimentary bamboo cutlery provided through A2ZERO.

Dish prices range from $1–$6 per item, and tickets are required to make purchases at all participating restaurant booths. The event itself is free to attend.

In addition to participating restaurants, attendees can also connect with community organizations and partners throughout the event, including the Ann Arbor District Library, the Alzheimer’s Association, Empowerize Therapy Center, and A2ZERO, where visitors can learn more about A2ZERO Week taking place May 31–June 6.

“This event is a celebration of everything we love about downtown Ann Arbor—great food, community energy, and discovering something new along Main Street,” said Ashley Schafer, Executive Director of the Main Street Area Association. “We’re especially excited to introduce new sustainability initiatives and partnerships this year while continuing to showcase the incredible restaurants and businesses that make downtown Ann Arbor so special.”

The Main Street Area Association extends heartfelt thanks to the sponsors whose generous support helps make Taste of Ann Arbor possible.

Special thanks to A2ZERO, Destination Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, Bank of Ann Arbor, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Fever-Tree.

For more details about the event and a full list of participating restaurants, visit mainstreetannarbor.org

Media Contact:Ashley SchaferExecutive DirectorMain Street Area AssociationEmail: director@mainstreetannarbor.org Phone: (734) 215-5671

About the Main Street Area Association Ann Arbor:The Main Street Area Association is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the long-term success and vitality of downtown Ann Arbor. Committed to fostering a vibrant community, the Association supports local businesses, arts, and cultural events to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.