DETROIT — The Dally in the Alley festival celebrates its 36th anniversary Saturday, held in Detroit’s Cass Corridor. The annual event attracts thousands of attendees to the live music, DJs, art, vendors, food and community. The festival-goers, will experience a unique party that has become one of the most-loved festivals in Detroit.
The Dally in the Alley began as a one-day an inner city art fair in 1977. Four music stages, art installations, more than 120 local food and retail vendors provide attendees with activities and entertainment all day long.
The Dally in the Alley is a fundraiser for the North Cass Community Union, and awarded Best Festival in Detroit by MetroMix readers.
This year’s event features
- Ann Kennedy Community Stage: Dedicated to long-time Dally in the Alley supporters Ann Kennedy and Dylan Bailey, this new fifth stage is an eclectic interactive performance space that pays homage to Dally’s community roots. It will feature soapbox forums, performances, contests and other activities. Mayoral candidates Mike Duggan & Benny Napoleon will speak, as well as District 6 City Council candidates. For complete programming please visit the Dally website.
- Expanded Kids Fair: In addition to games, crafts and face painting, Torri Ashford of PuppetArt will be leading puppet-making workshops this year at the Dally Kids Fair. Ashford and Gabriel Brass Band, Ashford will lead a parade through the festival showcasing all the puppet creations.
- Increased focus on environmental impact: The North Cass Community Union is working with Recycle Here to make the Dally in the Alley the greenest festival in Detroit. In 2011 Dally begin its greening efforts by implementing a recycling and composting program. By requiring all food and drink to be served in compostable wares and staffing green stations with volunteers to ensure the right waste gets into the right can, Dally has reduced the amount of garbage by over 60 yards. In 2012 Dally had less than five cubic yards of garbage. This year, Dally has implemented a color-coded system; green for compost, blue for recycling, and black for garbage.
- Dally In The Alley Installation Project: Continuing the tradition of showcasing cutting edge art, Dally Art Director Andy Durkas has put together an exciting presentation featuring art installations by local artists, including Nick Pizana and Jimmy Murphy. Installations will be in various locations throughout the festival.
- Poster Artist: Nicole Macdonald. This year’s poster artist has created a truly unique representation of Dally in the Alley. Nicole Macdonald makes documentary films, paints landscapes, and makes collages, mostly about the city of Detroit. She has been involved with the Detroit Film Center, Detroit Film & Television, Prison Creative Arts Project, and a number of galleries and visual arts groups in the city. She paints to make a historical record, working from direct observation to a more stylized rendering, blending fictitious elements and combining perspectives. There is a similar approach in her collages, with an intention to depict reality, altered for viewer accessibility. Additionally, she makes stencils, aiming to project a social message that will stimulate criticism of the status quo, and examine issues affecting Detroit.
Dally in the Alley takes place in Detroit’s North Cass neighborhood, between Forest and Hancock, Second and Third on 11a.m to 11p.m Saturday, (rain date is Sunday).
Visit dallyinthealley.com for map, music, lineup and additional information.