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<strong>2017</strong><br />
lansingfestivals.org
The greater Lansing region is home to more than<br />
100 local festivals and annual events, attracting<br />
nearly half a million people from near and far.<br />
These popular festivals and events, some of which<br />
are nationally recognized, make greater Lansing<br />
an attractive and vibrant place to live, work<br />
and play. Through performances, cultural activities,<br />
educational opportunities and more, these events<br />
celebrate arts and culture and traditions old and new.<br />
To spotlight and support these many festivals and<br />
placemaking events, and their legacies, the Greater<br />
Lansing <strong>Festival</strong> <strong>Alliance</strong> was formed as a separate<br />
entity in 2009 with the help of the Arts Council.<br />
In 2014, the <strong>Festival</strong> <strong>Alliance</strong> was incorporated into<br />
the Arts Council's full membership, and it now<br />
has its largest number of collaborative alliance<br />
members ever, with nearly 40 local festivals and<br />
their organizers coming together to celebrate<br />
in the greater Lansing area.<br />
517.372.4636 lansingarts.org
ART & CRAFT BEER FEST<br />
January 27-28, <strong>2017</strong><br />
MICHIGAN NORDIC FIRE FESTIVAL<br />
February 24-26, <strong>2017</strong><br />
Michigan Nordic<br />
Fire <strong>Festival</strong><br />
michigannordicfirefestival.com<br />
A winter festival in Charlotte<br />
celebrating Nordic and Viking<br />
culture aimed at getting<br />
people outside in a fun &<br />
family-friendly environment.<br />
Featuring a community bonfire,<br />
entertainment, a historic<br />
Viking encampment, costume contests, cardboard<br />
long-ship sled races, games of strength &<br />
chance and more!<br />
RED CEDAR FESTIVAL OF<br />
COMMUNITY BANDS<br />
artandcraftbeerfest.com<br />
The fifth annual Art & Craft<br />
BeerFest is an indoor art,<br />
beer and music festival where you can go back<br />
and forth between four venues. All venues are<br />
located on the same block, just a short walk<br />
from one another.<br />
March 4, <strong>2017</strong><br />
redcedarfestival.org<br />
In its 22nd year, this festival<br />
is a day-long event of free<br />
community band concerts,<br />
instrumental master classes and networking<br />
opportunities at Okemos High School. Nationally<br />
renowned clinicians work with bands to improve<br />
musicianship. Master-class clinicians teach<br />
techniques to individual musicians.<br />
All events are free of charge.<br />
MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL<br />
March 18, <strong>2017</strong><br />
mynaturecenter.org<br />
Celebrate nature’s own<br />
“Liquid Gold” at Fenner Nature<br />
Center’s Maple Syrup <strong>Festival</strong>!<br />
Participate in demonstrations in<br />
our Sugar Bush, try your hand at tapping a tree<br />
and treat your taste buds to savory treats like<br />
maple crème and maple cotton candy!
CAPITAL CITY FILM FESTIVAL<br />
April 5-9, <strong>2017</strong><br />
CapitalCityFilmFest.com<br />
The Capital City Film <strong>Festival</strong><br />
(CCFF) is a multimedia showcase<br />
of independent films and live<br />
touring bands with engaging<br />
audiences in Michigan’s capital city. It celebrates<br />
artists from around the world who share their craft<br />
while promoting and building on the cultural assets<br />
of our diverse locale.<br />
BEERFEST AT THE BALLPARK-SPRING<br />
April 29, <strong>2017</strong><br />
beerfestattheballpark.net<br />
This spring festival is held<br />
in the concourse and front<br />
lawn of Cooley Law School<br />
Stadium and provides<br />
attendees the opportunity to taste more than<br />
200 craft beers, ciders, meads, spirits, and wine<br />
from over 80 Michigan breweries while enjoying<br />
the ballpark atmosphere.<br />
MIGHTY UKE DAY 7<br />
May 12-14, <strong>2017</strong><br />
mightyukeday.com<br />
Mighty Uke Day is<br />
a celebration of the<br />
diminutive yet dynamic<br />
ukulele, honoring its<br />
unique ties to Michigan culture. Activities include<br />
performances, workshops, children’s activities<br />
and more, with profits supporting Music is<br />
the Foundation programs in Mid-Michigan<br />
classrooms and communities.<br />
EAST LANSING ART FESTIVAL<br />
May 20-21, <strong>2017</strong><br />
elartfest.com<br />
Fine artists and<br />
traditional craft artisans from<br />
Michigan and beyond line<br />
the downtown streets of<br />
East Lansing to exhibit and sell their original<br />
works. Free live music, children’s activities,<br />
food vendors and more!
BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN<br />
June 3, <strong>2017</strong><br />
23rd ANNUAL<br />
•<br />
BE A<br />
T O U RIST •<br />
I N Y O U R O W N T O W N • G R E A T E R L A N S I N G<br />
T O W N<br />
June 3, <strong>2017</strong><br />
•<br />
G R E A T E R<br />
L A N S<br />
lansing.org/batyot<br />
Explore a world of possibilities<br />
in Greater Lansing from<br />
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Purchase a $1<br />
“Passport” for free admission<br />
to more than 80 attractions. Enjoy interactive<br />
activities and giveaways for the kids! CATA Be A<br />
Tourist bus routes provide transportation to most<br />
attractions for just 50 cents. Collect ten stamps in<br />
the “Passport” to win great prizes!<br />
LANSING JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION<br />
June 15-17, <strong>2017</strong><br />
LansingJuneteenthCelebration.org<br />
Commemorating the end<br />
of slavery in the U.S., the<br />
24th annual Juneteenth<br />
Celebration celebrates the<br />
joys of liberty while educating<br />
the community about our African-American<br />
heritage and promoting positive cultural<br />
interaction. This three-day festival includes<br />
multiple venues, entertainment, music, food,<br />
educational exhibits, a health fair, children<br />
activities, and a community parade.<br />
Enjoy activities for the entire family.<br />
LANSING BEER FEST<br />
June 17, <strong>2017</strong><br />
lansingbeerfest.com<br />
The fifth annual<br />
Lansing Beer Fest is an<br />
outdoor beer festival on<br />
Washington Ave. in REO<br />
Town featuring 25 Michigan breweries and 100+<br />
craft beers. Also find cider, mead, spirits, wine, a<br />
food truck court, live music, vendors and more!
LCC SUMMER STAGE UNDER<br />
THE STARS<br />
June 21 - July 28, <strong>2017</strong><br />
lcc.edu/summerstage<br />
Lansing Community<br />
College’s Summer Stage<br />
Under the Stars is a free<br />
festival featuring familyfriendly<br />
and entertaining<br />
plays and concerts at the lovely amphitheatre<br />
in the heart of campus. DANCE Lansing ends the<br />
festival in Dart Auditorium with four nights of<br />
exciting new dance. Indoors or on the lawn,<br />
enjoy a perfect summer evening!<br />
CHARLOTTE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL<br />
June 22-24, <strong>2017</strong><br />
charlottebluegrassfestival.com<br />
This three-day Michigan<br />
Bluegrass <strong>Festival</strong> is a family<br />
festival full of local and national acts. There<br />
are corn hole and card tournaments, jamming<br />
sessions throughout the campground, raffles,<br />
guitar and banjo workshops, food vendors and a<br />
bounce house for the kids! Bring your chairs,<br />
picks and instruments!<br />
FESTIVAL OF THE MOON & SUN<br />
June 23-24, <strong>2017</strong><br />
festivalofthemoonandsun.com<br />
Make the most of the shortest<br />
night and longest day of the<br />
year at the <strong>Festival</strong> of the Moon<br />
and Sun in Old Town Lansing!<br />
Enjoy great music, cocktails and<br />
wines from around the world<br />
plus delicious local cuisine.
SUMMER SOLSTICE JAZZ FESTIVAL<br />
June 23-24, <strong>2017</strong><br />
eljazzfest.com<br />
A free, two-day musical event<br />
in the heart of downtown<br />
East Lansing featuring the<br />
best in local, regional<br />
and national artists, a New<br />
Orleans-style Second Line<br />
Parade, an avant-garde jazz<br />
picnic and children’s activities. Presented by<br />
the City of East Lansing, Wharton Center for<br />
Performing Arts and the MSU College of Music,<br />
with artistic direction by Rodney Whitaker.<br />
COMMON GROUND MUSIC FESTIVAL<br />
July 6-9, <strong>2017</strong><br />
commongroundfest.com<br />
The 18th annual<br />
multiple-day music festival<br />
has highlighted more than 450 artists over the<br />
years, including 38 Grammy Award winners in<br />
contemporary and classic rock, pop, alternative,<br />
country, hip hop, R&B, blues and more.<br />
OLD TOWN SCRAPFEST<br />
July 14-15, <strong>2017</strong><br />
oldtownscrapfest.com<br />
Experience art and<br />
recycling in a whole new<br />
way! 20 teams have one hour<br />
to collect up to 500 pounds of scrap metal<br />
and just two weeks to create sculptural<br />
masterpieces. Now in its 9th year, Old Town<br />
ScrapFest puts these sculptures on display<br />
alongside art vendors, music and free family art<br />
activities. You could even walk away with one<br />
of the awesome sculptures if you are the<br />
highest bidder at the live auction!
WILLIAMSTON ARTFEST<br />
July 22, <strong>2017</strong><br />
CAR CAPITAL AUTO SHOW<br />
July 29, <strong>2017</strong><br />
williamstonartfest.weebly.com<br />
Williamston ArtFest is<br />
a day-long festival<br />
celebrating art,<br />
music and dance in<br />
McCormick Park on the beautiful Red Cedar<br />
River. Enjoy the children’s activity tent, local<br />
musicians and lots of arts and food venders.<br />
carcapitalautoshow.org<br />
The R.E. Olds Transportation<br />
Museum’s 25th annual<br />
car show is open to all<br />
makes of cars, trucks and<br />
motorcycles. See vehicles<br />
from the 1900’s to 2016.<br />
Free family fun with live music, car rides and<br />
vendors on the streets of downtown Lansing<br />
in front of the Michigan State Capitol.<br />
BATH DAYS FESTIVAL<br />
August 4-5, <strong>2017</strong><br />
bathdays.com<br />
Home of the International<br />
Bathtub Races. Bath Days<br />
is a two-day family festival<br />
full of “good clean fun,” including Bathtub Races,<br />
silent auction, music, car show, arts and crafts, kids<br />
area, food vendors, parade, fireworks display and<br />
more. Feeling adventuresome — build a bathtub<br />
racer and join the race!<br />
LANSING JAZZ FEST<br />
August 4-5, <strong>2017</strong><br />
jazzlansing.com<br />
The 23rd annual<br />
Lansing JazzFest takes place in the streets of<br />
Old Town, surrounded by the best of the Capital<br />
City’s art galleries, unique stores and grand<br />
architecture. Its stages offer outstanding talent,<br />
from local favorites, regional and national acts.<br />
Join nearly 7,000 people from across Michigan<br />
and nearby states for music great food, craft<br />
vendors, expansive beverage tent, children’s<br />
activities, river boat rides and more!
RENEGADE THEATRE FESTIVAL<br />
August 10-12 & 17-19, <strong>2017</strong><br />
renegadetheatrefestival.org<br />
Two weekends of free<br />
theatre showcased in<br />
some of Lansing’s most<br />
artistic and eclectic venues. Weekend one<br />
showcases Renegade N.O.W., featuring new and<br />
original theatrical works. Weekend two features<br />
a wide range of performance styles, including<br />
comedy, drama, musicals, improv, staged<br />
readings and more!<br />
GREAT LAKES FOLK FESTIVAL<br />
August 11-13, <strong>2017</strong><br />
greatlakesfolkfest.net<br />
The MSU Museum presents<br />
this three-day celebration<br />
of culture, tradition and<br />
community in downtown<br />
East Lansing. Find music,<br />
dance, food, a marketplace and more. Discover<br />
the roots, rhythms and richness of cultures<br />
from across America and around the world.<br />
ST. JOHNS MINT FESTIVAL<br />
August 11-13, <strong>2017</strong><br />
PHIL DENNY’S ARMORY<br />
SMOOTH JAZZ FETE<br />
clintoncountychamber.org/mint<br />
In its 33rd year, this<br />
three-day family festival celebrates more than<br />
100 years of local mint farming with arts and<br />
crafts, flea market, free entertainment, Grand<br />
Mint Parade, quilt show, Kids World, carnival,<br />
rodeo, Jeep obstacle course, senior citizens<br />
day and much more.<br />
August 12, <strong>2017</strong><br />
smoothjazzfete.com<br />
Inaugural outdoor music event<br />
welcoming nationally and internationally acclaimed<br />
cross-genre jazz musicians with an emphasis on<br />
smooth, contemporary, modern, pop and R&B.<br />
The one-day ticketed Fete will take place at the<br />
historic Armory in Lansing’s burgeoning Eastside<br />
community and welcomes festival goers of<br />
all adult ages.
ARTFEAST<br />
August 19, <strong>2017</strong><br />
iloveoldtown.org<br />
Coinciding with the<br />
Renegade Theatre <strong>Festival</strong>,<br />
Old Town ArtFeast celebrates<br />
mobile vendors! Artists from<br />
across the state rally on Turner<br />
Street with a wide variety of<br />
handmade goods. When you<br />
get hungry from shopping, a mouth-watering stop<br />
at the Food Court will fill your belly with delicious<br />
eats brought to you by the best local food<br />
trucks and carts.<br />
MICHIGAN BLUESFEST<br />
September 15-16, <strong>2017</strong><br />
oldtownbluesfest.com<br />
This two-day<br />
Michigan blues music<br />
festival includes local, regional and national<br />
performers on three stages. In addition to great<br />
music, enjoy artist booths, food vendors and a<br />
variety of children’s activities. The Turnaround<br />
Lounge (beer tent) will offer craft and domestic<br />
beers and select wines. This festival is in the<br />
center of historic Old Town Lansing surrounded<br />
by art galleries, shops and restaurants.<br />
BWL CHILI COOK OFF<br />
September 29, <strong>2017</strong><br />
lbwl.com/cco<br />
The BWL Chili Cook-off<br />
features over 1,200<br />
gallons of the very best<br />
chili from nearly 40 restaurants. Sample them all<br />
and vote for your favorite! This family-friendly<br />
event also features a chili-dog-eating contest, live<br />
music on two stages, kids’ activities, and more.<br />
OLD TOWN OKTOBERFEST<br />
September 29-30, <strong>2017</strong><br />
oldtownoktoberfest.com<br />
Oom Pa Pa! Celebrate Old Town<br />
Lansing’s German heritage with<br />
the 12th annual Oktoberfest!<br />
Enjoy German and fall beers in your souvenir stein,<br />
nosh on some authentic Essen, and dance the<br />
night away to live music. Proßt!ss
APPLE BUTTER FESTIVAL<br />
October 14-15, <strong>2017</strong><br />
mynaturecenter.org<br />
Help stir the apple butter,<br />
cooked the old-fashioned<br />
way in a copper kettle over<br />
the fire, or try your hand at the cider press. The<br />
beauty of nature in autumn, coupled with heritage<br />
artisans, local musicians and savory food is sure to<br />
be a memorable event!<br />
TRICK-OR-TREAT ON THE SQUARE<br />
October 23, <strong>2017</strong><br />
(Rain Date October 24, <strong>2017</strong>)<br />
trickortreatonthesquare.org<br />
A family-friendly event filled with spook-tacular<br />
fall fun! This free event celebrates Halloween<br />
in a safe environment featuring a hay maze,<br />
trick-or-treating, donut-eating contest, stilt<br />
walkers, fire dancers and more!<br />
WOMEN IN THE ARTS<br />
November 10-11, <strong>2017</strong><br />
witafestival.com<br />
In its 32nd year, this<br />
annual celebration of regional women artists<br />
takes place the second weekend of November.<br />
This volunteer-run festival features a huge artist<br />
market, musicians, poets and other creative arts<br />
as a symbol of our commitment to support<br />
women in the creative pursuits.<br />
GLOBAL FESTIVAL<br />
November 12, <strong>2017</strong><br />
cvip.isp.msu.edu/globalfestival/<br />
See the world in a day!<br />
International students at<br />
Michigan State University<br />
showcase their home countries<br />
with exhibits, performances<br />
and interactive workshops at the MSU Union.<br />
Explore art, music, clothing languages and more<br />
from around the globe at this free family event!
SILVER BELLS IN THE CITY<br />
November 17, <strong>2017</strong><br />
silverbellsinthecity.org<br />
Ring in the holidays in<br />
downtown Lansing with<br />
the Electric Light Parade,<br />
state Christmas tree lighting and fireworks show<br />
cascading over the Capitol dome! Shop at the<br />
Silver Bells Village and enjoy live performances<br />
at arts and cultural venues throughout<br />
downtown Lansing.<br />
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL<br />
December 1, <strong>2017</strong><br />
clintoncountychamber.org/events<br />
In its 15th year, the<br />
St. Johns annual Christmas <strong>Festival</strong> promises fun<br />
for the whole family! Enjoy Breakfast with Santa,<br />
visit the <strong>Festival</strong> of Trees and the Craft Show with<br />
more than 85 vendors, plus Kids Crafts, a raffle<br />
with more than 80 prizes and so much more.<br />
Celebrate the holidays in St. Johns!<br />
TASTE OF DOWNTOWN<br />
Date TBD<br />
tasteofdowntown.org<br />
Enjoy a summer<br />
afternoon in downtown<br />
Lansing by sampling various cuisines and food<br />
specialties from downtown restaurants.<br />
There is plenty of wine tasting with more than<br />
100 varieties from around the world and live<br />
music on an outdoor stage!