Huntsville skies are going to be lit up with lanterns later this month. Nuit Blanche North is back for its sixth year, to showcase a variety of artistic projects. Organizers say the goal of the event is to support the local economy by bringing visitors downtown, and also gives local artists an opportunity to create and present their work.
The night kicks off with a canoe lantern parade along Main Street. A lantern parade is a New Orleans style funeral march, and the parade is to mark the 100th anniversary of Tom Thomson’s death. It will make its way to the Muskoka River, where the lanterns will stay throughout the night. You can take part by making your own lantern, or by wearing white and joining the parade. There are free lantern making sessions from July 26th to the 28th at the Other Gallery from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. The parade starts at 8:00pm on the 29th.
Other activities throughout the night include buskers and aerialists, live video and projections, an interactive tango on the docks, and a woven wood sculpture. There will also be a fire show at 11:00pm and an adult-only event at midnight in Club 55. Over 30 art projects will be on display in total.
Nuit Blanche North is free to take part in, and is on July 29th. Main Street will be closed to traffic from Brunel Road to West Street from 8:00pm on Saturday to 3:00am on Sunday.