Living Here

The “Big Red Balls” are returning to Lansing.

The city of Lansing on Thursday will welcome the return of the big red holiday ornaments, marking the official start of the holiday season.

Michigan’s official Christmas tree is coming to the Capitol this Saturday, November 7.

 

Executive Director Cathleen Edgerly

Dear Friends and Downtown Champions,

What a beautiful Fall season so far! As the crisp autumn air truly settles in, there is an unmistakable energy found throughout the streets of Downtown Lansing.

Small Business Saturday is taking place on Nov. 28th, and Downtown Lansing is getting ready to celebrate the local businesses that make our community special! This annual tradition helps encourage shoppers to support small businesses and discover everything our downtown has to offer. From unique shops and restaurants, Small Business Saturday is the perfect opportunity to visit downtown and get great deals!

Guest Writer Alex Rusek

Located in the heart of Downtown Lansing at 329 S. Washington Square, Devils Day Tattoo has quickly become one of the city’s most distinctive tattoo studios. More than a traditional tattoo shop, Devils Day Tattoo has built a reputation as an inclusive, community-focused space where creativity, self-expression, and local activism come together.

Guest Writer Alex Rusek

Downtown Lansing is undergoing one of the most significant periods of redevelopment in its history. From new residential towers and adaptive reuse projects to public infrastructure investments and affordable housing developments, construction activity is reshaping the city’s skyline and creating new opportunities for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Project: The Ovation

· Building: The Ovation

Guest Writer Melissa Cole

Whether you’re lacing up your running shoes or hanging up your apron, Downtown Lansing has a way to make Thanksgiving a little easier and a lot more fun this year.

Start the Day with the Turkey Trot

Guest Writer Chioma Lewis

Kick off the holiday season at Silver Bells in the City in Downtown Lansing! This beloved annual tradition brings thousands of twinkling lights, festive activities, and holiday cheer to the heart of the city. Approximately 40,000 people gather each year to celebrate with family and friends from across Michigan and beyond.  

Guest Writer Chioma Lewis

The holiday season is the perfect time to find thoughtful gifts for the people who make life special. Whether you’re shopping for family, friends, coworkers, or someone hard to buy for, Downtown Lansing offers ways to find something unique while supporting local businesses.

Skip the usual big-box store routine this year and explore downtown for gifts that feel personal, treats worth sharing, and special finds you won’t see everywhere else. Here are a few ideas to help you check everyone off your holiday shopping list.

This month, we’re proud to recognize Rachel Beatty, a community leader whose passion for art, storytelling, and the places that make up our city has left a mark on Downtown Lansing.

Rachel serves on our Design & Public Spaces Committee and our Legendary Women of Lansing subcommittee. For her, public spaces are more than somewhere to pass through. They reflect who we are as a community, and she treats every project with that in mind.