Ann Arbor Russian Festival

11/02/2026

⛪ HAVE YOU EVER PASSED AN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN MICHIGAN AND WONDERED ABOUT ITS HISTORY?

Michigan’s story is also a story of immigrants who brought their faith, languages, music, and traditions with them from across the ocean.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people from Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe came to Michigan for work, family, and new opportunities. Many wanted to preserve an important part of their lives: their Orthodox Christian faith.

Communities established churches that became much more than places of worship. They were places where families gathered, children learned traditions, people celebrated holidays, and generations stayed connected to their heritage.

Detroit and other Michigan communities became home to Orthodox parishes representing different backgrounds and traditions. These churches remain part of Michigan’s cultural landscape and tell stories of faith, migration, and belonging.

✨ A little piece of history may be hiding in plain sight right in your neighborhood!

Have you ever visited a Russian Orthodox or another Eastern Orthodox church in Michigan? Do you know the story behind one in your community? Tell us in the comments!

And if you enjoy discovering connections between Russian culture and Michigan history, follow the Ann Arbor Russian Festival page for more fascinating stories!

📍 Join us September 18–19, 2027, for the 13th Annual Ann Arbor Russian Festival in Dexter, Michigan!

11/01/2026

⚓🌊 DID YOU KNOW THAT MICHIGAN’S GREAT LAKES HISTORY HAS A CONNECTION TO RUSSIA?

Here’s a little-known story for our Michigan history lovers!

In 1875, Alexander McDougall, a Scottish-born shipbuilder who became an important figure in Great Lakes shipping, traveled to Russia to study its grain trade and shipping practices.

Think about that for a moment: in the 19th century, a man connected to the maritime industry of the Great Lakes traveled all the way to Russia to learn about its commercial shipping!

Michigan’s history has always been connected to the wider world through trade, industry, immigration, and the movement of people and ideas. 🌎

We often think of Russian-American connections in terms of Alaska or the transcontinental story—but sometimes the connections are found much closer to home, right here in the Great Lakes region!

⚓ A question for our local history enthusiasts: Did you know about this connection? And what other surprising links between Michigan and Russia have you discovered?

Share your thoughts in the comments! 👇

❤️ Follow the Ann Arbor Russian Festival for more fascinating connections between Russian culture, history, and our Michigan community.

11/01/2026

10/31/2026

🥟❤️ SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT FOOD! 😋

Have you ever tried Russian pelmeni, homemade blini, traditional borscht, or juicy shashlik?

If not, we have a delicious introduction waiting for you!

At the Ann Arbor Russian Festival, food is more than just a meal—it’s a chance to experience the traditions and flavors of another culture.

🥞 Sweet and savory blini
🥟 Traditional pelmeni
🍲 Hearty borscht
🔥 Delicious shashlik
🍦 Russian ice cream and more!

And the food is just the beginning! Enjoy live music, spectacular folk dancing, cultural presentations, and family-friendly activities all in one place.

📍 Dexter, Michigan, just outside Ann Arbor
📅 September 18–19, 2027
🎟️ FREE admission and parking!

👇 Now we have a very important question for you:

If you could try just ONE of these dishes first, which would it be?

🥞 Blini | 🥟 Pelmeni | 🍲 Borscht | 🔥 Shashlik

Tell us in the comments! And tag a friend who never says no to good food. 😉

10/30/2026

〽️🌎 ANN ARBOR IS A WORLD OF CULTURES—LET’S CELEBRATE THAT!

University of Michigan students, international residents, language learners, music lovers, and curious explorers—this one’s for you!

The Ann Arbor Russian Festival brings together cultural traditions, spectacular live performances, traditional food, and fascinating educational presentations in one welcoming community event.

🎶 Enjoy live music and outstanding folk dancing.
🥟 Discover traditional Russian food.
🌍 Learn about the diverse peoples and cultures of Russia.
❤️ Experience a festival that brings generations and cultures together.

You don’t need to speak Russian or know anything about Russian culture to enjoy it. Curiosity is enough!

Whether you’re a University of Michigan student, a longtime Ann Arbor resident, or new to Southeast Michigan, we’d love for you to discover this unique local festival.

📍 Dexter, Michigan, just outside Ann Arbor
📅 September 18–19, 2027
🎟️ FREE admission and parking!

Tag a friend who loves exploring different cultures, and share this post to help more people in our community discover us!

10/30/2026

Michigan Academy of Dance & Music is bringing The Nutcracker to Chelsea this December — the same talented young dancers you’ve seen perform at the Ann Arbor Russian Festival the past two years!

Directed by Miss Irina Vassileni (graduate of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography at the Bolshoi Theatre and former Bolshoi ballerina), the production features the academy’s kids in a beautifully staged show. It’s about an hour long, making it perfect for families with younger children, and kids 12 and under are FREE.

Sunday, December 13th
2:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.

Chelsea Performing Arts Complex at Chelsea High School (740 N Freer Road)

After the performance, enjoy complimentary cookies with Clara and members of the cast.

If you’ve enjoyed their festival performances, come see them in this classic holiday production. Scan the QR code on the flyer for tickets!

10/29/2026

🎭 YOU DON’T HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY!

Every year, the Ann Arbor Russian Festival brings together talented local artists and outstanding performers from across the United States and Canada! 🇺🇸🇨🇦

From spectacular folk dancing to the beautiful sounds of the balalaika, our festival offers performances you won’t see at an ordinary weekend outing.

We’re proud to bring these incredible artists to our local community, and we want more of our neighbors in Ann Arbor, Dexter, Saline, Chelsea, and beyond to discover this unique cultural experience!

✨ Live music and professional performances
💃 Spectacular traditional dancing
🎶 A chance to experience the rich musical traditions of Russia
❤️ A welcoming community atmosphere

Have you ever watched a Russian folk dance performance live? Tell us in the comments! And tag a friend who would love to experience something different.

📍 Dexter, Michigan
📅 September 18–19, 2027
🎟️ FREE admission and parking!

10/28/2026

🌊❄️ DID YOU KNOW? Michigan and Russia Have More in Common Than You Might Think!

What do Michigan and Russia have in common? More than you might expect!

Both have breathtaking freshwater landscapes, long winters, fishing traditions, and communities whose lives have been shaped by water and weather.

🇺🇸 Michigan: Surrounded by the Great Lakes, our state has beaches, lighthouses, fishing towns, frozen shorelines, and winters that can make even a short walk feel like an Arctic expedition!

🇷🇺 Russia: Home to Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake, as well as enormous rivers and vast northern landscapes. In some regions, winter transforms lakes and waterways into spectacular frozen worlds.

And here’s a fascinating fact: Lake Baikal holds about 20% of the world’s unfrozen surface freshwater.

Different countries, different histories—but nature has a way of giving people surprisingly similar experiences: watching the ice form, appreciating the first signs of spring, and enjoying those beautiful summer days by the water.

🌊 Michigan friends, we have a question for you!

Which would you choose for a summer getaway: a Michigan Great Lakes beach or a trip to see Russia’s spectacular Lake Baikal?

Tell us why in the comments!

10/28/2026

🎼🇷🇺🇺🇸 From Russia to America: The Composer Who Became an American Citizen

Did you know that one of the most influential composers of the 20th century was born in Russia and eventually became an American citizen?

Meet Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971), born near St. Petersburg, Russia, whose music transformed classical music and ballet around the world.

🎶 Stravinsky became internationally famous for his groundbreaking ballet The Rite of Spring, which premiered in Paris in 1913 and became one of the most talked-about works in modern music.

🌎 As Europe faced the turmoil of World War II, Stravinsky moved to the United States in 1939. He eventually settled in California and became a U.S. citizen in December 1945.

🎬 Here’s another fascinating connection: excerpts from The Rite of Spring were featured in Disney’s 1940 animated film Fantasia, introducing audiences to Stravinsky’s music in a new way.

Stravinsky continued composing, conducting, and influencing musicians in America for decades. His life is a remarkable example of how artists can carry their cultural heritage across borders and enrich the countries where they settle.

✨ A little Russian history is part of American cultural history, too!

Have you heard The Rite of Spring or seen Disney’s Fantasia? Did you know about Stravinsky’s Russian roots?

Tell us in the comments!