They say, “Everything good must come to an end,” and though we’ve been dreading the end of one of our favorite local festivals, this is the last year for the Bright Walls Mural Festival. Luckily, though the festival component is ending, we can still admire the beautiful murals that line the downtown streets for decades to come. Bright Walls has, literally, left its mark on Jackson.
It’s been said that this year’s festival will be the biggest and best yet, so here are a few things to expect when Bright Walls comes to town for the last time.
There will be around a dozen artists coming to town.
These new murals will be added to the existing 40 that are already downtown Jackson. Those walls that have been left bare have been saved for the finale. You can find some of these new murals between Michigan Ave and Cortland Street. One of the artists that is coming to town is Ricky Watts, who has gifted downtown with his work in previous Bright Walls. Watts is from Northern California and will be painting the back of the Experience Jackson & Chamber of Commerce building.
There will be live musical performances throughout the weekend.
What is a festival without a little music? For Bright Walls this year, you can expect live music each day of the festival. Friday, Your Generation will be performing live for a concert at the amphitheater, along with DJ Mike Holiday and more. On Saturday, The Verve Pipe and The Fresh Kids of Bel-Air along with other bands, will be playing throughout the festival’s activities. Sunday will feature many live performances, some being from the Detroit Pistons Drumline as well as a concert by the #1 Beatles tribute band, The Fab Four, and that only scratches the surface.
There will be fun for the whole family… and pets, too.
If you’re not sure whether to bring your kids, your parents, or a date, the answer is yes…Bright Walls will have fun for everyone! Throughout the weekend, visitors will be able to enjoy the Bright Paws Dog Parade & Pageant, a Mini Murals Painting Competition, food trucks, and drink tents. Sunday Funday will be the perfect day for the family to take a trip downtown since that has been designated Family Day with kids’ activities and puppet shows.
Whether you make your way to the Bright Walls Festival annually, or if you’ve never had the chance to go, this is your year to attend. You can get find out more about Bright Walls happenings on their website or on our community calendar.
