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You are browsing an archived site for a previous Northern Spark event. To visit the current site click here.

 

Press Release 6/1/17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

How to Experience Northern Spark

Prepare for the all night festival on June 10 by planning transportation, must-see art projects, where to eat, and more!

Northern Spark 2017 takes place in 7 neighborhoods along METRO Transit’s Green Line from sunset on June 10 to sunrise on June 11. With 7 sites to travel between, we recommend planning your Northern Spark experience. For full details about the festival and ongoing updates, visit 2017.northernspark.org.

Explore art projects

Your experience starts with the art in each neighborhood of the festival! Visit our art and events page to learn more about the almost 70 projects in 7 neighborhoods. Follow Northern Spark on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (#NorthernSpark) for artist highlights daily.

Transportation to and around Northern Spark

Plan your route! Take a look at the festival areas using our zoomable maps. Make a customized list of the art projects you want to visit with our My Night feature. Or stop at any festival Info Tent and pick up a paper map! As long as you find your way to the METRO Green Line, you’ll find the festival. All festival sites are walkable from Green Line stations.

Download a free pass for use on all Metro Transit light rail and bus lines. Riding the train is easy! Either print out the downloadable pass or show the digital version on your smartphone to a Metro Transit operator if asked. Free passes are viable from 8 pm – 6:30 am. Service on the METRO Green Line runs regularly until 1 am, then every half hour until 4 am. Ticket machines are located on each train platform if you forget to download a pass or your phone runs out of juice. The Northern Spark Festival Map also functions as a free pass for the Green Line ONLY. Use Metro Transit’s Trip Planner or call 612-373-333, TTY 651-291-0904.

Only the METRO Green Line service runs 24 hours during Northern Spark. METRO Blue Line and bus routes end at varying times.

Park and ride (or walk or cycle). Drive close to the METRO Green Line, park and ride, walk or cycle your way through the festival. Visit our site for a list of 24 hour ramps and lots convenient to Northern Spark.

Street closures. In Lowertown: Broadway St. between 4th St E and 5th St E. In Little Africa: Sherburne Ave between Snelling Ave and N Asbury St. In Minneapolis at the Commons: Portland Ave between 4th St and 5th St. Street closures take place beginning at 9 am on Saturday June 10 through 9 am on Sunday, June 11.

Bike between festival sites. Don’t forget a bike lock, light and helmet. Find Nice Ride stations near some festival locations at niceridemn.org.

What to bring to Northern Spark

A fully charged phone. Some Northern Spark projects require the use of a smartphone. Make sure yours is charged and ready to play! Bring a backup battery for guaranteed access to service all night.

A water bottle, or if you forget… Northern Spark food vendors will not be selling bottled water. Fill up your reusable container or get a one-of-a-kind recycled (washed and sanitized) water bottle at festival Info Tents. Find Tap Mpls stations in Minneapolis and Anthropocene Water Station in St. Paul.

Where to eat and drink

The Northern Spark Launch Party Northern Spark’s 7th year kicks off with the Launch Party from 7 – 9 pm on Saturday, June 10 at Thresher Square. Start your adventure with artful food created by 8 amazing local restaurants, beer from Fulton Brewing, the Northern Spark specialty cocktail “Spark 75” crafted by Crooked Water Spirits, and musical guests ZULUZULUU! Get tickets.

Food trucks and restaurants Check out the many food vendors at Northern Spark in each neighborhood this year, including food trucks, and restaurants like Fasika, Ghebre’s, Golden’s Lowertown, Black Dog, and more.

Fulton Tent
Serving Fulton Beer from 9pm – midnight in The Commons.

Little Mekong Night Market Visit Minnesota’s Original Southeast Asian night market during Northern Spark! Little Mekong Night Market will be open from 5pm – midnight on June 10.

Weather Updates

Northern Spark happens rain or (star) shine. Bring a jacket for later in the night as the temperature cools off. Visit northernspark.org and follow us on social media for night-of changes due to weather.

Northern Spark 2017

From sunset on June 10 to sunrise on June 11, Northern Spark 2017 is a free all-night art festival exploring the effects of climate change through participatory projects.

Festival Background

Since 2011 thousands of Minnesotans and visitors have enjoyed Northern Spark, an annual all-night arts festival illuminating public spaces and streets of Minneapolis and Saint Paul with video projections, temporary installations and experimental performances. Memorable projects from past Northern Spark festivals include Chris Larson’s Celebration/Love/Loss, Jim Campbell’s Scattered Light, Luke Savisky’s Ex-MN, Pramila Vasudevan’s In Habit, and countless other projects from artists such as: Works Progress, Piotr Szyhalski, HOTTEA, Cloud Cult and Futures North’s Phase Change, which won SxSW’s design award in 2016.

Northern Spark is produced by Northern Lights.mn, a Twin Cities arts organization whose work ranges from large-scale public art platforms like Northern Spark to Art(ists) On the Verge, a year­long mentorship program for 5 emerging artists working with innovative uses of technology. We support artists in the creation and presentation of art in the public sphere, such as at Saint Paul’s Union Depot (Amateur Intelligence Radio), “choir karaoke” at the Minnesota State Fair (Giant Sing Along) and most recently Words For Winter, programming poetry into the construction landscape along Nicollet Mall. Through projects such as Ruination: City of Dust, a location-­based environmental mystery game played on bicycles along Minnehaha Creek, and the monthly climate conversation series, Anthropocene Awareness Association, our work helps audiences explore expanded possibilities for civic engagement through art.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Amy Danielson, 612.245.2020, amy@northern.lights.mn
Steve Dietz, 952.994.4118, stevedietz@northern.lights.mn
http://2017.northernspark.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthernSparkMN/
Twitter: @NL_mn
Instagram: @Northern Lights.mn
#northernspark #ClimateCCR

Click here to view Northern Spark 2017 Funders & Sponsors