ANN ARBOR—As the University of Michigan closes out its bicentennial celebration, the UMich200 Fall Festival turns the spotlight on the next 100 years with the Third Century Expo Friday, Oct. 27.

Designed in the spirit of a world’s fair, the expo unfolds on the U-M Diag and Ingalls Mall with cutting-edge exhibits, technology demonstrations, books, music, live performances, food samples, and more.

The focus: What the University of Michigan will be as it moves forward. The highlight will be HAILstorm!, a uniquely Michigan grand finale of light and sound.

All activities are free and open to the public:

• Third Century Screens, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Alumni Center, Founders Room

Third Century Screens transmits moving images of bodies in motion: dancers, athletes and people from all walks of life captured by cameras and edited by U-M alumni, faculty and student video artists for a multitude of screens. A Pop-Up Projection Pavilion will showcase multi-layered video works by finalists of this yearlong competition. Full details: myumi.ch/6QYyE

• StoryCorps, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Shapiro Library

Share your U-M voice with StoryCorps, which records interviews with Americans of all backgrounds. The organization preserves the recordings in its archive at the Library of Congress, and shares select stories with the public through StoryCorps’ weekly podcast and other platforms. U-M interviews will take place on the library’s first floor on a first-come, first-served basis. Full details: myumi.ch/Lrle8

• Pavilions & Performance, 4-7 p.m., Diag and Ingalls Mall

There will be exhibits, pop-up art and music, demonstrations of new technologies and research, and chats with faculty. Pavilions will feature interactive booths, chef demonstrations, book displays, a pop-up coffee shop, hands-on labs, a tech bar, student design projects, and more from the Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses. The first 500 fairgoers will receive free HAILstorm! T-shirts.

• A-maize-ing SMTD, 6-7:30 p.m., Hill Auditorium

This showcase concert will feature students from the School of Music, Theatre &
Dance performing works in a variety of media. Guests may come and go between performances.

• MAIZEFEST pep rally, 6:30–8 p.m., Ingalls Mall

U-M students, alumni and notable figures will kick off homecoming weekend with a celebration of historic traditions, spirit and community.

• HAILstorm!, 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., 10:45 p.m., Ingalls Mall

A grand finale of 3-D projection mapping will celebrate U-M’s 200 years in a unique show of light and sound. A family-friendly event, HAILstorm! will be projected onto the facade of the Rackham Building. There will be entertainment between shows and food and beverages will be available. Video: myumi.ch/Jy4rn

• IlluMinate!, 8:15 p.m., Ingalls Mall

A glowing processional of handmade luminary sculptures will wind its way through downtown Ann Arbor and the campus and converge on Ingalls Mall, compliments of WonderFool Productions.

The Third Century Expo is part of the UMich200 Fall Festival that runs Oct. 26-28.

More information: 

• U-M Bicentennial
• U-M Fall Festival