You can see the Fire Arts Festival from a distance as you approach West Oakland BART station. It's no subdued gallery walk. The Crucible -- a school specializing in metal, fire and glass arts -- has 40-foot monsters and flame shooters to make sure at least a few July nights are fiery and memorable.

The Fire Arts Festival is an open-air exhibit of fire-related installations and performance pieces. From Pyrobats, a fire-dance performance troupe, to spinning flames and the audience-interactive Flamethrower Shooting Gallery, the Crucible offers four nights of a unique Bay Area experience in industrial arts and magic.

Get more details on the 2008 Fire Arts Festival from July 9 to 12, 2008 -- 8p to midnight each night.

^{Image Courtesy of The Crucible}