The spirit of Dally in the Alley is something not easily defined. Belonging to just a few blocks of Midtown for one day each year, a kind of self-perpetuated microcosm comes into existence to celebrate the art, culture and hope that fuels the city of Detroit.

“I’m most excited about the eclectic mix of people that always turns out for Dally. It’s like a reunion of a lot of my friends,” said the event’s spokesman, Adriel Thornton.

Organized by the North Cass Community Union, the 34th annual Dally in the Alley, claimed the area between Forest St. and Hancock, and Second and Third streets as festival grounds.

Beginning at 11 a.m. on Sept. 10, thousands of patrons along with vendors, musicians and artists dallied through the grounds until midnight, enjoying several new and revived features of the event. The electronic music stage, a series of art installations and an eco-conscious sorting and recycling system were among the event’s noteworthy modifications and additions.

Preservation and creativity are principles upon which the inner-city art festival was founded, and those ideals still lingered in the air more than thirty years later. However, they’ve been rethought and repurposed for a new generation of Detroit hopefuls.

Vendors Marta Dwaihy and Stephanie Selvaggio came back this year after their enjoyment at 2010’s Dally in the Alley. Selvaggio, 28, owner of vintage clothing line Millie Bea’s, rushed around the small booth she shared with Dwaihy and two others, making sure to greet visitors with a smile and debriefing them on her collection of clothing and hand-made feather accessories. While each woman’s line was distinct, the booth shared one major feature: do-it-yourself repurposing done with imagination and care.

“The Dally represents a lot of what’s going on in Detroit; a handmade movement that is exciting and fresh. Being a vendor is fun but just being a part of this on any level is amazing,” Dwaihy said.

This year, Dally in the Alley went one step further—or rather a few carbon footprints back—to ensure that the festival is the greenest in Detroit. In an effort led by Patience Young, Recycle Here and Fourth Street Farm worked with the NCCU, who required that all food vendors use biodegradable packaging sorted by Fourth Street Farm members and recycled at Recycle Here after the festival ended. Additionally, compost boxes for remaining food scraps were set up alongside bins designated for recyclables and trash throughout the grounds.

Social media also played a large role in updating the event this year. Creating pre-Dally excitement while still keeping it community-driven and authentic was one of the most important missions for this year’s Co-Directors, Cass Higden and Jenny Calhoun. Patrons were encouraged to join in the conversation via Twitter prior to the event and those who “checked in” to Dally with Foursquare received a limited edition Dally in the Alley sticker.

“I’m really excited about our online activity this year, our website was completely redesigned, it’s up to date and easy to access which is really important,” Calhoun said.

As Calhoun, Higden and many others took care in solidifying the order, planning and infrastructure of the event, hundreds of unabashed patrons came with one mission: to shake their groove thing. Organized by Jen David, Josh Dahlberg and Jenna Cook, the musical portion of the Dally was an endeavor all its own, especially with the celebrated return of the electronic music stage.

Electronic artists including Watsui, Gin & and Tronic and Madis One all took to the stage while more than 30 other acts performed on the Alley, Forest and Garden stages. Cook, Dahlberg and David went through more than 180 submissions before selecting just 41 acts to perform.

As the stages and vendors were placed throughout the buzzing affair, so were several art installations that focused on light as a medium. Curator Lauren Smith worked with College for Creative Studies graduates on the diverse series.

The food was conveniently located on Forest where tables and chairs were set up among lines of hungry Dalliers. Mario’s, Turkey Tom, Kola’s Kitchen, Taste of Ethiopia, Oslo, Alinosi Ice Cream and newcomer Greengo’s all set up shop to feed patrons and partake in the unique event.

“It’s become a neighborhood tradition (that) so many people want to see continue. We try to be cooperative with our neighbors and make Dally a street fair that everyone wants to have happen every year,” said Calhoun.