Dally in the Alley facts for kids
Dally in the Alley is Detroit's biggest yearly community festival. It takes place in the Cass Corridor area of Detroit, close to Wayne State University. This amazing event is put together entirely by volunteers from the community. "The Dally" offers live music, cool visual arts, exciting performances, delicious food, and drinks. It's a fun time for everyone!
Contents
A Look Back at Dally in the Alley
How the Neighborhood Started (1866-1925)
Back in 1866, Michigan Governor Lewis Cass owned a large farm. This land is now where the Cass Corridor is located. He sold some of his land to William A. Butler. This area was between Putnam and Prentis streets, and 2nd and 3rd Street.
As Butler's family sold off parts of the land, apartment buildings started to appear. The city grew north, and streets began to be paved. By the early 1900s, the neighborhood was really coming together. Second and Third streets were paved with cedar, and Forest Street had brick.
In 1899, there were only five houses in this area. Four were on Forest Street and one on Second Street. In 1904, Horace Elgin Dodge bought one of the houses on Forest. He built a famous garage in the back alley. People say Horace might have built his own car there. He learned a lot from working for Henry Ford.
Horace and his brother John Francis Dodge were well-known for their work with Ford Motor Company. From about 1903 to 1914, the Dodge brothers supplied many parts to Ford. Then, in 1914, they started their own car company, called Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company.
The first apartment building on Second Street, called The Winthrop, was built in 1910. The Hollender followed in 1912. More and more apartment buildings were built by people living in the area. The Wellesley, built on Hancock in 1914, was the largest and most fancy. The Sherbrooke, also built in 1914, was on Hancock and Third.
The Festival Today (Since 1977)
The very first "Dally" festival happened in 1977. It was held on the first Saturday after Labor Day. The fair didn't get its official name, "Dally in the Alley," until 1982. Allen Schaerges, a long-time resident of the Cass Corridor, gave it this name.
Since then, the Dally has grown a lot. It is now a very popular arts and music festival. Thousands of people visit it every year. Each year, a local artist creates a special poster to advertise the event. You can often see these posters displayed in local stores.
In 2020, the Dally festival was canceled. This happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vendors at the Dally
Over the years, Dally in the Alley has featured many different vendors. These vendors offer great places to shop for unique items. You can also enjoy food from Detroit's local restaurants. Plus, you can listen to local music talent.
Vendors are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a small fee for those who want to be a vendor at the Dally. Vendors sell many different things to festival guests. You can find homemade jewelry, special arts and crafts, music records, and t-shirts. Some vendors even offer art and poetry workshops.
Dally in the Alley has activities for both adults and children. They offer many family-friendly things to do. Some vendors have stations for arts and crafts or face painting. Festival visitors can enjoy food from Detroit's best local restaurants. There is a whole area just for food! Some food vendors include Amicci's Pizza, Turkey Tom, Taste of Ethiopia, and Mario's.
Performers at the Festival
In 1977, a small art fair grew into a performing arts festival. It was held near Wayne State University, on W Hancock Street, 2nd Avenue, and West Forest. Today, we know it as Dally in the Alley. The North Cass Community Union proudly sponsors Detroit's Dally in the Alley.
Money raised from the Dally events helps support North Cass projects. These projects work to make life better for people living and working in the North Cass Community. For example, the North Cass Community Union has used Dally money to help with environmental issues. They also provide security at night and give scholarships. These scholarships help neighborhood children attend the Art Center Music School.
Many artists, mostly from Detroit, perform at the Dally in the Alley festival. They come together for one weekend every late summer. They share their unique talents on a common stage. This has turned a small art fair into a big performing arts festival. The festival does more than just entertain the community. The money raised helps make neighborhoods safer and gives young people a chance to follow their dreams in art and music.
Dally Posters
Gary Grimshaw designed the very first Dally in the Alley poster in 1982. This poster featured dancing cats created by artist Brian Taylor. Gary was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1946. He started his artwork at age twenty. Gary also designed two other posters in 1986 and 1987.
Brian Taylor was born in Inkster, Michigan, in 1952. He earned his art degree from Wayne State University. Brian also painted the "Dancing Cats" mural in the alley where the festival is held. He designed the artwork for the 1983 and 1984 posters too. As part of the Detroit mural team, Brian painted over twenty murals in the city.
Jerome Ferreti designed the Dally in the Alley poster for 2001. He took classes at several universities, including Wayne State University. Jerome is also part of an artist group called Slippery Weasel, based in Detroit.
Niko Marks performed at Dally in the Alley in 2011. His mother influenced him to improve his music skills from a young age. As a teenager, he was inspired by famous musicians like Stevie Wonder. Niko later joined Raphael Merriweathers, Scott Weatherspoon, and Michael Banks to form a production team. They had a hit song called "Summer Nights."
Kevin Reynolds also performed at Dally in the Alley in 2011. Kevin was born in Detroit, Michigan. His parents worked in the auto industry. Kevin lived in student housing while his mother attended medical school. This environment, with students from all over the world, exposed him to many different sounds. He heard music from China, the Middle East, and Tejano music. This inspired Kevin to create his own music.
