Metro Parent / October 2012 / DLECTRICITY Art and Light Festival in Detroit

Subscribe to Metro Parent : Web Edition

DLECTRICITY Art and Light Festival in Detroit

This first-time event hits the streets of Midtown Detroit, Oct. 5-6, 2012, showcasing creative art projects and interactive exhibits

Midtown Detroit will be aglow with innovation during a new art festival called DLECTRICITY. The free two-night event, which is Oct. 5-6, 2012, merges art and architecture – where light, sound and performance come together in a re-imagining of the Woodward Corridor.

While this type of festival is new to Detroit, similar versions have taken place around the world – and they are known as Nuit Blanche art festivals. Nuit Blanche means "all-nighter" or "white night" in French – and this particular weekend, Nuit Blanche festivals will be held in Paris and New York.

As the sun goes down, families can come see the city in a different light – and enjoy creative art projects and interactive exhibits like shadow puppet shows and arts-and-crafts stations. More than 35 installations will be showcased – including lasers, interactive design and 3D video mapping – giving parents the chance to introduce their kids to different forms of art.

The big event will be a Saturday night "Light Parade." Attendees are encouraged to adorn themselves – and their bikes – with illumination in creative ways. Join a workshop run by Detroit-area artists prior to the parade to help jazz up your rides with glow sticks and other bright décor.

Prizes will be awarded for the best display of lights in the parade – so be sure to amp it up and get noticed. It starts at Second Street and Warren Avenue, with other events and exhibits happening throughout Midtown.

The two-day festival kicks off 7 p.m.-midnight Friday runs 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday.

See the Metro Parent listing for more on DLECTRICITY at the Midtown Detroit's Woodward Corridor.