Ann Arbor Michigan Pinball Show 2024

The 2024 Ann Arbor pinball show will be Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th, 2024. We are also having a VIP party Friday evening May 3rd.

Get show ticket reservations for the next Ann Arbor pinball show here.

the VFW 2024 Pinball Show is the largest in world (by unique game count.) You will not find a pinball show with a greater number of restored and working pin games available for play any where in the World! And using a registration ticket system keeps people numbers low, so there’s always games to play, with no lines! This will be our tenth year for the VFW showcase.

2024 VFW Pinball Showcase has pin games from 1933 (essentially the start of coin operated pinball), to 1950s “woodrails”, to the 1960s/1970s/1980/1990s all the way to the latest current games of the 2000s and beyond. Every decade, manufacturer and game type is represented at the museum. There are many rare and hard to find games set up and ready to play. All machines are free play, so one entrance ticket allows unlimited play for the day. There’s something for every pinball fan here (we are the one of the largest dedicated pinball facility in North America.) But unlike other pinball museum type facilities, we are here every day working on our machines, making sure they play perfect!

2024 VFW Showcase Dates and Times.
– Saturday May 4th, 2024 – 10am to 6pm
– Sunday May 5th, 2024 – 9am to 5pm
– Friday May 3rd, 2024 – 7pm to 10pm VIP party (details below.)

Ticket Reservations for the 2024 VFW Pinball Show.
Tickets Reservations for the showcase will be available in advance. We want to ensure that all attendees have the absolute best possible experience and have plenty of room to mingle and experience and play the pinball machines. To do this we have a limited number of tickets available. Once the limit is reached, we are sold out, and no more reservations will be issued. There may be tickets available at the door, depending on the number of reservations made. So if you want to guarantee a ticket, it’s best to make a reservation. Reservations are non-refundable $1 and available at the Ticket reservation web page. The reservation involves a small $1 fee. The remainder of your ticket will have to be paid at the door in cash money. In years past we completely sold out (as in every ticket for every day sold), so don’t wait until the last minute to get your show ticket reservation.

Friday VIP Party.
For those that want the total VFW Pinball experience, we offer a Friday night VIP party, limited to 100 guests. In order to attend, you must get a VIP reservation, which includes both Saturday and Sunday tickets, and the Friday evening VIP party. Food and drink will be included at the Friday VIP party. You may also bring your own drink too (we do not allow drinks inside the building on Saturday/Sunday show days). Also as a VIP you get Sunday access an hour early at 8am, before we open to the general public at 9am.

How Many Games will be at the Show case?
There will be about 525 games available for free play. We list the game titles in a separate post here. These games are of known quality and caliber, and some are very rare. You’ll know what titles will be at the show ahead, there’s no guessing.

Why is the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Show better and different?
First off nearly everyone goes to pinball shows to play games (versus say going to seminars or other related activities.) Hence the number of working games ready for play is a big draw to our show (most shows struggle to get games.) And at the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Museum, there are no duplicate titles. Meaning when we say there are “X” many games, there are that number and all with unique titles. (There’s aren’t five Stern Godzilla pinballs, for example.) Hence there is more variety and more representation of pinball’s history. We strive to have all the popular games, and many rare machines, all restored and working.

Also the games are already on site. No set up or tear down like other shows. This means they are leveled, prep’ed, and ready for play. Also the show has the same games on Friday as there are on Sunday (many shows have problems with games leaving early, making the last show day lame.) And there’s a full on-site repair and parts shop (biggest pinball parts department in Michigan), so if anything breaks, it gets repaired quickly and easily. Finally the venue is customized for pinball. That is it’s not a converted school or hotel – it’s a permanent fixture with proper power and display requirements for pinball. Additionally, all the modern games with dot matrix displays have “glare guards” and color dot matrix displays (where available.) This makes the playing experience a lot better than a typical pinball show.


Vendors.
We do have space for vendors who will be showing their products. (Please contact us if you’re interested in doing this.) There is no cost for being a vendor (vendor space is FREE, as is show admission for vendors.) Note the Ann Arbor pinball museum does not sell games or parts, so all we can do is point you to known good vendors.


Nearby Hotel.
Just a few miles away there are a couple places to stay, if you’re from out of town. We don’t have anything set with them, so you will have to call/email to see about reservations. The Holiday Inn Express is a nicer place, but the Best Western is a better deal.

  • Days Inn by Wyndham. 9897 Main St, Whitmore Lake, Michigan 48189. 1-734-449-2058. About $80 per night and 5 minutes away.
  • Holiday Inn Express. 6910 Whitmore Lake Road, Brighton, MI 48116. 1-810-227-6300. About $130 per night and 5 minutes away.
  • Hampton Inn, 8068 Challis Rd, Brighton, MI 48116. 1-810-225-8363. About $115 per night and 15 minutes away.
  • Candlewood Suites. 151 Library Dr, Brighton, MI 48116. 1-810-220-1200. About $85 per night and 15 minutes away.
  • Courtyard by Marriot. 7799 Conference Center Dr, Brighton, MI 48114. 1-810-225-9200. About $120 per night and 15 minutes away.
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton. 8060 Challis Rd, Brighton, MI 48116. 1-810-225-0200. About $130 per night and 15 minutes away.

Airports.
There are two airports close to the show. The best and easiest airport is the Flint Bishop (FNT) airport. This is a smaller airport, but it’s just so much easier to deal with than Detroit Metro airport (DTW). If you can get a flight to Flint (about 45 minutes due north of the show), we recommend that over Detroit Metro (which is about 45 minutes south east.) DTW is a huge airport and hard to navigate. Flint Bishop is smaller and friendlier, and the security is way easier to deal with.

The Location and Address.
The Ann Arbor pinball museum is located on a scenic 10 acres in the countryside north of Ann Arbor in Green Oak Township. It’s very relaxed and located on a beautiful piece of natural property. The facility has a full pinball restoration shop and of course many games. There’s plenty of parking too. Official address is 8891 Spicer rd, Brighton MI 48116