In Pictures: Alley Fest 2023 in Flint's Buckham Alley

FLINT, Michigan — Hundreds of people flocked to Alley Fest, a popular annual summer event, as it returned to Flint’s Buckham Alley on Saturday, July 8, 2023. During the outside event, attendees listened to live music, browsed vendor booths, and sampled food from food trucks and small businesses. 

Flint native Talia Dunn, who owns The Flintstone Candle Co., brought her handcrafted soy candles and bath and body products to the event once again after attending last year’s Alley Fest. “I really just enjoy being with the community,” said Dunn. “The name of my business is Flintstone, so I’m paying homage to the people of Flint. I thought that it would be perfect for me to be here,” she added.

Dunn hopes to expand her business in the future, with a goal of having a brick-and-mortar store in the city of Flint.

Flint resident Tiffany Hughes came to the event hoping to support another small business owned by a friend of hers, Dymond Hill, called DK Sweet Shop. “She sells apple pie egg rolls, peach cobbler egg rolls, funnel cakes. I wanted to make sure that I came here to support her,” Hughes said. 

In addition to enjoying food options, crowds listened to live music by 16 different performing artists, including Danlinian, Space King, Jonae Ikise, Low Phase, and Caleb Robinson.

Alley Fest was hosted by Friends of the Alley, a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2010 with a mission to beautify and activate the alleys of Downtown Flint. The nonprofit is set to host the upcoming 'Dinner Under the Lights 2023' which is scheduled for Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.

Scroll below to see highlights from this year's Alley Fest

Caleb Robinson + Reaching perform as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)
Steve Reddy of Flint, center right, and Lyn Pruett of Grand Blanc, center left, pose for a photo as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Kristin Stevenson, president of local nonprofit Friends of the Alley, left, places a wristband onto the wrist of an attendee as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Kaitlyn Werkheiser of Grand Blanc laughs while listening to Caleb Robinson + Reaching's performance as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)
Eric the Cosplay Guy, left, and Lorna Lewis, right, dress in costume to promote Fett's Toy Depot as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest, an annual event hosted by nonprofit Friends of the Alley featuring live music, food, and vendors, on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Gidget Arcand of Burton flips through records as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Grand Rapids band Low Phase performs as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside) Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Jon Davis of Flint, right, sells a bottle of his homemade barbecue sauce, called Brotha J's, to Kyle Nicolay of Davison, left, as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Lauren Hilliard of Beecher, 4, relaxes in a wagon as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside) Andrea Guerrero of Flint, right, chats with a friend as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside) Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside) Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside) Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)Caleb Robinson + Reaching perform as hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside) Hundreds of people gather in downtown Flint's Buckham Alley for Alley Fest on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Katy Kildee | Flintside)