The Neutral Zone has partnered with several nationally-acclaimed writers to select the next Ann Arbor Youth Poet Laureate!

Five finalists will read their work and the 2018 Ann Arbor Youth Poet Laureate will be announced. The winner will receive a contract to have a debut collection of poems published by Red Beard Press.

Make unique LEGO creations while wearing blindfolds or glasses that simulate various visual Impairments.  

If you love all things Austen, from the books, to the frocks, to the many, many film adaptations, this event is for you.

Join us for the annual Teen Writing Festival, featuring a writing workshop, a Q & A panel with YA authors, a writers showcase, partnering organizations, and an awards ceremony for the "It's All Write!" Teen Writing Contest!

Check out aadl.org/events/itsallwrite for more details.

The awards ceremony will be live streamed starting at 3:30pm.

If you participated in the "Write On!" Short Story Contest for Grades 3-5 this year, or want to support those who did, join us for the final awards celebration! Winners will be announced and Michigan author Jack Cheng, author of See You in the Cosmos, will present his advice for young writers. We will also provide light refreshments.

This event includes a book signing and books will be for sale.

Come meet with art educators to share and talk about your work as part of the jury process for the 2018 Youth Art Fair. The Youth Art Fair is open to young artists in 4th – 12th grades, residing in Washtenaw County. For the jury requirements or to learn more about the Youth Art Fair visit TownieStreetParty.com

Come meet with art educators to share and talk about your work as part of the jury process for the 2018 Youth Art Fair. The Youth Art Fair is open to young artists in 4th – 12th grades, residing in Washtenaw County. For the jury requirements or to learn more about the Youth Art Fair visit TownieStreetParty.com

Enter your best LEGO project in AADL’s 12th Annual LEGO Contest, held at Kensington Hotel near Briarwood Mall. Get complete rules and guidelines for the 2017 Contest here for the LEGO contest. or at any AADL location beginning June 16.

9 AM–3 PM: Drop off projects at Kensington Court

3 PM–6 PM: Doors closed for judging

6 PM: Doors open for public display of all projects

8–8:30 PM: Awards Ceremony with prizes in six categories: Preschool, Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12 & Adult

All projects must go home with their creators that night!

Join us for a pre-BookFest reception for the 15th annual Kerrytown BookFest!

This event will include:

• elegant refreshments

• exquisite music by harpist Deborah Gabrion

• the grand opening of Kerrytown BookFest Cover Contest Exhibit at the Library which showcases entries from the BookFest’s annual Book Cover Design contest for high school students. The contest, open to all Michigan High School students, asks the students to re-imagine a cover for a chosen book and give a visual interpretation to the written word. The contest winners will be announced at the reception.

This year students were asked to create a new cover for Last Seen Leaving, the YA novel by Caleb Roehrig which is set in Ann Arbor. This year’s judges were author Caleb Roehrig; Cover designer and writer Molly McCaffery, and children’s book expert Jackie LaRose. Ms. La Rose will assist cover contest coordinator Robin Agnew in announcing the winners.

The Kerrytown BookFest, which will be held on Sunday, September 10, is an event celebrating those who create books and those who read them. The primary goal is to highlight the area’s rich heritage in the book and printing arts while showcasing local and regional individuals, businesses, and organizations.

Begin the celebration! Attend this reception which is open to all!

Are you a spelling geek who likes the taste of victory? Did losing your middle school spelling bee on the word “broccoli” leave you demanding a do-over?

Buzzed Bee is your chance to conquer some words, prove your 5th grade teacher wrong, and do it like an adult! Buzzed Bee will combine some of that nostalgic middle-school spelling bee vibe with a super-fun, laid-back atmosphere, the option of beer, and the guarantee that each round will get more and more ridiculous. And, of course, we’ll offer way better prizes than the “Super Speller!” sticker you’d have gotten in the 5th grade.

Please note, the Annex is a 21 and up venue

This program is held in partnership with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.