Nuit Blanche North lights up Huntsville on July 29

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts and Edge of the Woods Theatre invite you to leave your docks and experience the six^th annual Nuit Blanche North, one of Muskoka’s most unique events, on July 29 in beautiful downtown Huntsville! Attracting thousands of visitors, this one-of-a-kind, all-ages event celebrates the creativity and natural beauty of the region through interactive art and eccentric performances in the streets, waterways and green spaces of downtown Huntsville.

This year’s event features over 30 different artistic projects inspired by the theme of “On This Day”. Visitors can walk Main St. Huntsville, which will be closed to traffic from Brunel Rd. to West St., as well as River Mill Park, starting at 8 p.m. and continuing until the wee hours of the morning.

Kick off the evening with a funeral as the event marks the 100^th anniversary of Tom Thomson’s death with a lantern parade inspired by New Orleans Jazz funeral marches. The Heavyweights Brass Band and the Boxcar Boys will lead a joyous and solemn procession of canoe lanterns down Main Street. Created by artists Patricia Astley and Krista Dalby, in collaboration with community members, these lanterns will make their way to be launched on the Muskoka River where they will glow throughout the night. The public are encouraged to participate by making lanterns during free art making sessions on July 26-28 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at The Other Side Gallery, or by wearing white and joining the lantern parade on the night of the event. Parade starts at 8 p.m. in front of Trinity United Church.

Visitors can also expect incredible music from Kobo Town in River Mill Park, death-defying buskers and aerialists, live video and projection play, interactive Tango dance on the docks, an epic woven-wood sculpture from festival favorite Marc Walter, and all-ages interactive hands on activities and experiences throughout downtown.

Local participating artists include Beverley Hawksley, Sandy McLennan, Rob Gill, Patricia Astley, Catherine Luce, Sarah Spring, Elise Muller, Barry Hayward, Nathan Sowry, Sonny Allinson, The Huntsville Theatre Company, Community Living Huntsville, Pam MacKenzie, Carol Ferris, Huntsville Art Society, Diane Thoms, Suzanne Riverin, Carolyne Wagland, Barb Hartwick, Sherry Peddie, Daron McColl and a special cabaret space in Club 55 sponsored by Hunters Bay Radio.

At 11 p.m., the popular fire show Feu Blanche will light up River Mill Park. Following this will be a special adults-only event: Midnight Cabaret Drag Extravaganza starting at midnight in Club 55 under Town Hall.

Nuit Blanche North is made possible through the generous financial support of the Celebrate Ontario Program, the Huntsville Downtown BIA, the Muskoka Community Foundation, Ontario 150, as well a support from community partners the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Huntsville and Trinity United Church.

Participation in the events is free. For more information go to www.nuitblanchenorth.com , email [email protected], call 705-571-4334, or just come to downtown Huntsville on the 29th and follow the signs.

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