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26th Annual Silver Bells in the City Rings in Holiday Season

November 11, 2010

Lansing ----- The entire city will be aglow with millions of lights for the 26th Annual Silver Bells in the City. In addition, the tops of the buildings in the downtown district will brightly light the night sky with tiny white lights and the antique light poles will be festively draped with garlands, red bows, and lighted wreaths. This year brings new activities and special outdoor performances all highlighted by the 14th annual Electric Light parade. The parade steps off at 6:10 p.m., Friday, November 19, from the corner of Washington Ave. and Lenawee.

Immediately following the parade, the steps of the State Capitol will sparkle as the State Christmas tree is lighted and then followed by a nine-minute spectacular fireworks display cascading over the capitol dome (weather permitting).

There are four new significant additions to the Silver Bells festivities this year:


  • Silver Bells Village located on E. Allegan St. between S. Washington Ave. and Grand Ave. will house a wide array of Christmas crafts, greenery and other delights.

  • Radio Disney's national touring street team, the Radio Disney Road Crew Show will excite the crowds before the parade starts, from 5:10-6:10 p.m. near the steps of the Capitol Building

  • Josh Golden, a multi talented 16 year old singer-songwriter and Disney star will perform on the steps of the State Capitol immediately following the fireworks.

  • A 26th Annual Silver Bells in the City commemorative holiday ornament is available for purchase. They will be sold at the Silver Bells Village, Lansing City Market or online at silverbellsinthecity.org.

Silver Bells in the City is an evening dedicated to bringing the holidays to Michigan families and friends. Event entertainment includes free admission and entertainment at 20 downtown cultural institutions, free horse-drawn wagon rides on Washington Square provided by the Eaton County Draft Horse and Pony Club, self-guided tours of the State Capitol building, a live big screen telecast of the festivities at the Lansing Center, free cider and cookies at five activity sites and performances by nearly 50 regional arts and cultural organizations, school groups, storytellers,theatrical troupes, clowns, hand bell choirs and many others. Santa and live reindeer will also be at the Lansing City Market.

In addition to the festivities, downtown stores and restaurants will be open late to kick-off holiday shopping and dining. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and stay late to take in all that downtown Lansing has to offer.

Back again this year is the Toy Mill, an interactive water and light exhibit sponsored by the Lansing Board of Water and Light. Patrons are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to the Toy Mill, located in the 200 block of N. Washington Square. Toys will be distributed to underprivileged children through the Marine Corps' Toys-for-Tots program. Students from Waverly Winans Elementary will be singing at the Toy Mill on Friday, November 19 at noon.

Romance will be in the air at this year's Silver Bells. A surprise wedding proposal will occur at 5:30 p.m. by the traffic circle ornaments in Washington Square.
Parking is free after 5 p.m. in all City owned ramps and State of Michigan surface lots. To access the park and ride points, festival goers are encouraged to take 496 to Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd to the State lots off of Kalamazoo, Allegan or Ottawa including the City of Lansing owned parking ramps along with the Lansing Community College ramp, the State of Michigan Roosevelt parking ramp, the lots east of the Hall of Justice, the Lewis Cass lot, and the lots south of the Michigan Historical Museum off of Kalamazoo Street. The Capital Area Transportation Authority's Silver Bells Bus Route will operate from 5-11:30 p.m. and run every 10 minutes. Passengers pay just 50 cents for a round trip fare (riders must have exact change) when they board a Silver Bells Route Bus or they can use their CATA Fixed Route pass. Children 42 inches and under ride for free.

Silver Bells in the City is free and open to the public. A project of Downtown Inc., Silver Bells in the City is produced with the assistance of many dedicated community volunteers from the city, state, downtown businesses, and educational and cultural institutions. More than $100,000 is needed annually to produce the event, made possible through the support of hundreds of area sponsors. The 26th Annual Silver Bells in the City is presented by Signature Sponsor, The Lansing Board of Water and Light. The Electric Light Parade sponsor is the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 665 and the Lansing Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association. The fireworks sponsor is Lake Trust Credit Union.

For more information, please visit www.silverbellsinthecity.org or www.downtownlansing.org.

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