Get pumped for holiday joy in Lansing! Our guide highlights all the exciting festive happenings. From Lansing natives to visiting explorers, this guide is your companion for festive adventures.
One of the highlights of the season is Silver Bells in the City, where twinkling lights illuminate downtown and the spirit of the holidays fills the air with music and cheer. Featuring a vibrant parade, the Night Lights Christmas Parade showcases dazzling floats and local performances, creating a festive atmosphere for attendees of all ages. And the Día de Los Muertos celebration offers a unique blend of tradition and artistry, honoring loved ones with colorful altars and community festivities. Check out the rest of the page for more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Lansing
- Silver Bells in the City
- Night Lights Christmas Parade (Grand Ledge)
- Día de Los Muertos
- Oktoberfest
- Fall Fest (Grand Ledge)
- Downtown Lansing Zombie Walk
- Uncle John's Cider Mill (St. John's)
- Lansing Foodies Olive Burger Festival
- Church of Resurrection's 89th Ox Roast Festival
- Totally Rad Vintage Fest
See these and even more events listed below!
Lansing Holiday Light Displays
Silver Bells in the City
What to Expect:
Spectacular light displays and live performances.
Description:
Silver Bells in the City is a grand holiday celebration in downtown Lansing, featuring an electric light parade, the lighting of Michigan's official State Christmas tree, a community sing-along, a firefly drone light show, and fireworks.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Silver Bells in the City
Night Lights Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Santa's appearance in a red fire truck.
Description:
The Night Lights Christmas Parade is a spectacular nighttime parade filled with lights and music, starting at the Grand Ledge Fire Department and proceeding down Bridge Street. Santa makes his appearance at the end of the parade, trading his red sleigh for a red fire truck.
Where: Grand Ledge | More Info: Night Lights Christmas Parade
Lansing Other Holiday Activities
Día de Los Muertos
What to Expect:
Traditional Dia de los Muertos face paint and attire encouraged.
Description:
Capital City Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of life and death, honoring the traditions of Latin America with face paint, flowers, and community spirit.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Día de Los Muertos
Oktoberfest
What to Expect:
Immersive celebration of Bavarian culture with beer and traditional food.
Description:
Celebrate Bavarian culture with beer, traditional food, and lively music at the Lansing Oktoberfest Bar Crawl.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Oktoberfest
Downtown Lansing Zombie Walk
What to Expect:
Unique zombie-themed event with a Best Zombie Contest and food bank donation drive.
Description:
The Downtown Lansing Zombie Walk is a family-friendly event where participants, dressed as zombies, gather at Impression 5 Science Center. Registration starts at 3 p.m., and advance tickets are $5 through September, with kids 4 and under walking for free. Donations for the Greater Lansing Food Bank can enter participants into a prize pack drawing, and the Best Zombie Contest offers a chance to win a prize package valued over $200.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Downtown Lansing Zombie Walk
Fall Fest
What to Expect:
Community event with diverse vendors and family-friendly activities.
Description:
The Grand Ledge Fall Festival is a community event featuring crafters and vendors selling pottery, woodwork, candles, and handmade items. It includes free pumpkins for kids, a fall photo booth, pony rides, a petting zoo, food trucks, and live art demonstrations.
Where: Grand Ledge | More Info: Fall Fest
Uncle John's Cider Mill
What to Expect:
Traditional apple cider and donut production with a variety of seasonal activities.
Description:
Uncle John's Cider Mill is a family-owned farm that has been operating since the early 1970s. It offers a variety of seasonal experiences, including fresh apple cider, donuts, and hard ciders. The farm features a cider mill, bakery, gift shop, and taproom, with activities like wagon rides, corn mazes, and gemstone mining.
Where: St. John's | More Info: Uncle John's Cider Mill
Friends of Historic Meridian's Heritage Festival
What to Expect:
Historic buildings open to the public with various activities.
Description:
The Heritage Festival at Meridian Historical Village offers a free event with historic buildings open to the public, featuring demonstrations, exhibits, children's game areas, catch-and-release fishing, and a vintage baseball game.
Where: Okemos | More Info: Friends of Historic Meridian's Heritage Festival
Totally Rad Vintage Fest
What to Expect:
Vintage shopping experience with free-play arcade and diverse record selection.
Description:
Totally Rad Vintage Fest is a curated event celebrating 80's, 90's, and Y2K vintage culture with iconic clothing, accessories, and records.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Totally Rad Vintage Fest
Church of Resurrection's 89th Ox Roast Festival
What to Expect:
Traditional Ox Roast sandwich and homemade soup.
Description:
The Church of Resurrection's 89th Ox Roast Festival features the original Ox Roast sandwich, delicious homemade soup, a pub, DJ entertainment, hourly 50/50 drawings, and raffles.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Church of Resurrection's 89th Ox Roast Festival
Lansing Foodies Olive Burger Festival
What to Expect:
Unique olive burger creations and diverse entertainment options.
Description:
The Olive Burger Festival is a celebration of Lansing, Michigan, featuring a variety of olive burger creations from local restaurants and food trucks. The event includes live music, games, and activities for all ages, with a kids' area offering bounce houses and face painting. Attendees can also enjoy cold beer and wine.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Lansing Foodies Olive Burger Festival
Old Town Krampusnacht
What to Expect:
Traditional Krampus parade and expanded vendor market.
Description:
Old Town Krampusnacht is a festive celebration featuring a traditional Krampus parade, expanded Misfit Vendor Market, Costume Contest, Food & Drink Vendors, Games, Kid's Activities, Art Exhibit, and live entertainment.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Old Town Krampusnacht
Shawhaven Farm A Haven of Fear
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted experience with 3D elements and escape rooms.
Description:
Shawhaven Farm A Haven of Fear offers a terrifying adventure with haunted attractions like Samara's Retirement Home for the Dead, 3D Psycho-path, Circus Zone, and Freak and Oddities Show. The event also features escape rooms and timed tickets to avoid long lines.
Where: Mason | More Info: Shawhaven Farm A Haven of Fear
Jack O' Lanterns Unleashed
What to Expect:
Family-friendly, immersive Halloween experience with elaborate pumpkin displays.
Description:
Jack O' Lanterns Unleashed is an immersive Halloween experience where you stroll down Jack O' Lantern Lane, marveling at the vast array of intricately carved pumpkins.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Jack O' Lanterns Unleashed
Awaken Haunted Attraction
What to Expect:
Physically demanding haunted house experience with intense audio and special effects.
Description:
Awaken Haunted Attraction in Leslie, Michigan, features over 42,000 square feet of terror, including indoor waiting and four linked attractions. It offers a physically demanding environment with intense audio, lighting, and special effects. The event includes side attractions like a 5-minute escape room and zombie paintball. Actor Douglas Tait and his wife Isabel Cueva have been featured guests, debuting their joint movie "Angel Baby" trailer.
Where: Lansing | More Info: Awaken Haunted Attraction
Grand Ledge Fall Festival
What to Expect:
Interactive community event with diverse vendors and family-friendly activities.
Description:
The Grand Ledge Fall Festival is a free event featuring crafters, vendors, artists, and businesses selling handmade items and produce. Enjoy activities like pony rides, a petting zoo, food trucks, and live art demonstrations around three different parks.
Where: Grand Ledge | More Info: Grand Ledge Fall Festival
Michigan State University Fall Events
What to Expect:
Formal ceremonies and interactive college meetings.
Description:
Michigan State University Fall Events offer a comprehensive welcome program for new and returning students, featuring individualized schedules, convocation ceremonies, colloquia with college groups, and various activities to help students transition and engage with campus resources.
Where: East Lansing | More Info: Michigan State University Fall Events
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Waverly (3 miles)
- East Lansing (4 miles)
- Okemos (7 miles)
- Holt (7 miles)
- Jackson (35 miles)