This year’s Alley Fest, hosted by the Friends of the Alley, marks 15 years of celebrating local art, music and community in downtown Flint. What began in 2011 as an effort by a small group of organizers to reimagine an alleyway has grown into an annual summer festival that highlights the community of Flint.
The first Alley Fest, originally called Buckham Alley Fest, was held in 2011 after a group of 10 organizers sought to transform the alley into a public gathering space. The six-hour event drew attendance of more than 1,500 people, featured 10 local musical acts and hosted a Craft City presented by Flint Handmade where attendees could participate in handcrafting classes free of charge and donate old craft supplies for craft swaps.
In 2011, Chris Everson, Flint native and event organizer, said in a statement that the vision was to add to Buckham Alley to create a fun space for the community.
“We think we can do more with Buckham Alley,” Everson said. “Get it paved, better lights installed, make it more of a fun place to hang out.”
Alley Fest’s success also led to the creation of Friends of the Alley, a Flint nonprofit group whose mission is “to beautify and activate the alleyways in Downtown Flint.”
Motivated by the festival’s success, Chris Everson and other event organizers formalized the group in 2012 to expand its capacity and support future projects. Today, Friends of the Alley is led by an 11-member board and continues to organize Alley Fest each year.
In 2015, Friends of the Alley raised $50,000 through a crowdfunding campaign for permanent installation of the string lights currently at the alley, which was matched by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
“The permanent lighting of Buckham Alley will really allow the space to become more than just a pass-through. It will create a destination. A place that people want to come and see. We are really excited to be able to make this a staple in downtown Flint,” Marcus Papin, marketing and property manager at Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, said in a statement in 2015.
Other improvements to the alley include the installation of corrugated metal bike racks in Buckham and Brush Alley, each uniquely shaped to spell the name of its respective alley. Murals created by local artists have also been added throughout the space over the years, bringing additional color and character to downtown Flint.
Since its debut, Alley Fest has grown into one of downtown Flint’s signature summer events. In 2025, the festival featured 65 local vendors and 16 music acts across two stages, drawing crowds of over 3,500 attendees.
“We’re proud to continue this tradition of transforming Buckham Alley into a hub of culture and creativity,” Joel Arnold, former Friends of the Alley president, said in a 2025 statement. “Alley Fest is about showcasing local talent, supporting small businesses, and giving the community a reason to come together in a space that feels uniquely Flint.”
As the festival continues to evolve over its fifteen years, it remains a space for attendees to experience the culture, creativity and community in downtown Flint.
The 2026 Alley Fest will take place July 11 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint.
