Special Events

There is nowhere else in Detroit with the density of world-class cultural institutions, museums, and galleries. From the old masters to modern art, to our city’s history, Detroit museums have something for everyone to enjoy. Immerse yourself in some of the best arts and culture Midtown Detroit offers!

Noel Night

Each year, Midtown ushers in the holidays with the ever popular Noel Night community event. Noel Night attracts over 50,000 visitors to celebrate a Cultural Center-wide holiday “open house.”  Over 110 Midtown venues, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Detroit Public Library, many churches and others, open their doors to the public free of charge. Noel Night has activities for everyone to enjoy including the Ice Scraper’s Challenge, an ice sculpting competition between Center of Creative Studies (CCS) and WSU students, glass-blowing demonstrations, holiday shopping, family craft activities and performances by over 150 area music, theatre, and dance groups. The evening’s festivities culminate with a community sing-along led by the Salvation Army Band -a long-standing Noel Night tradition. Noel Night activities take place all throughout the Midtown Detroit neighborhood. Daytime events focus on the Cultural Center institutions, and Nighttime events take place throughout the Midtown Detroit Neighborhood.

www.NoelNight.org

DLECTRICITY

DLECTRICITY, inspired by Nuit Blanche arts festivals from around the world, has presented four major light-based art + technology festivals in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2021. Produced by Midtown Detroit, Inc., the spectacular outdoor visual light + art celebration takes place along the Woodward Corridor as well as DTE Beacon Park. Attendees are immersed in a landscape of light through groundbreaking installations of video art, 3D video mapping, lasers, interactive design and engineering, and captivating performance.

During each event, DLECTRICITY showcases over 40 internationally acclaimed and emerging artists from around the world, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Detroit. Attendance has grown rapidly from 75,000 in its inaugural year to 250,000 in 2017. The Light Bike Parade, unique to DLECTRICITY, also draws over 3,000 individuals to its 4-mile route.

DLECTRICITY was inspired by Detroit’s very own Electric Park, formerly located on the site of what is now Gabriel Richard Park. From 1906 until 1928, Electric Park served as a major attraction, beginning as a trolley park and later expanding into a dazzling amusement park with the development of electrification.

www.DLECTRICITY.com

NEW CENTER PARK

New Center Park, owned and operated by Midtown Detroit, Inc., is a unique green space located on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and West Grand Boulevard across from the Fisher Building. The park presents free movie screenings, theatrical performances, and more every year from June through August. The park is open from 8:00 AM until dusk on weekdays as weather permits through October 15. Movies and special events are scheduled for evenings throughout the summer.

www.NewCenterPark.com