Lansing tradition to ring in holiday season with 25th annual Silver Bells celebration

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Lansing residents know how to not only welcome the holidays, but how to decorate the entire city accordingly.

The 25th annual Silver Bells in the City will Christmas-ize downtown Lansing into a North Pole-esque town from 5-9 p.m. today and is free to the general public.

Although the festive event now is a statewide draw, it wasn’t always this way.

In 1985, the event, in which 2,500 luminaries were lit and a community sing was led by former Mayor Terry McKane, was small.

In 1987, the official state tree was lit for the first time during the Silver Bells ceremony, foreshadowing the larger festival of today.

Currently, Silver Bells is the anchor in kicking off Michigan’s Christmas season with camaraderie and spirit.

The event garners anywhere from 100,000 to 120,000 attendees — enough to almost fill up Spartan Stadium one and a half times.

Festivities begin around 5 p.m., and the Silver Bells Electric Light Parade departs from Lenawee Street and South Washington Avenue at 6:10 p.m., with 62 local and national parade participants, including the Capital Area Transportation Authority, the Michigan Army National Guard, Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital and the Lansing Board of Water and Light.

In addition to putting all of the lights on the state Christmas tree and lighting the wreaths in downtown Lansing, the Lansing Board of Water and Light is one of the of the event’s two signature sponsors.

Mark Nixon, communications director for the Lansing Board of Water and Light, said Silver Bells goes hand-in-hand with the company’s mission.

“Our slogan is hometown people, hometown power,” Nixon said.

“We truly are trying to live out what we say. We’re owned by the residents of Lansing — it is incumbent on us to be good neighbors whenever we can and certainly we think Silver Bells is being a good neighbor to the entire community.”

Immediately following the Electric Light Parade is the annual lighting of Michigan’s official state tree — a 63-foot spruce — and a five-minute firework display over the Capitol Building, weather permitting.

Joni Rainbolt, Silver Bells media and promotions manager, has been to all 24 of the Silver Bells gatherings and hopes residents will participate in addition to watching.

“My main hope is that the residents will really take advantage of it,” Rainbolt said. “There are over 20 free events to go to, and it’s a great time to really get to know the city and all that it has to offer. It’s a great night to really spend that time enjoying family time together — I hope people will do more than just go to the parade.”

All East Lansing parking ramps are offering free parking after 5 p.m. for the event, and the Linking Lansing & U student organization will be providing free shuttles for MSU students to and from the event.

The first shuttle will be departing at 4 p.m. from Valley Court Park, located on Hillside Court behind Grand River Avenue.

Civil engineering and environmental engineering junior Kelly McElroy, who went to the event last year, enjoys the change of scenery the event brings and plans on attending this year as well.

“I really liked the community feel,” she said. “Since we’re usually surrounded by kids our age, it’s nice because you get to see all of the families watching the parade and the Christmas tree lighting.”

All the holiday staples will be offered to those in attendance, including free horse-drawn carriage rides are available at Washington Square in these holly-jolly hours.

And with this being the 25th Silver Bells in the City, surprises — much like those of Christmas morning — await attendees.

“The very first float (in the parade) is kind of a secret but it’s going to be something very unique and very exciting, so you don’t want to miss it,” Rainbolt said.

“It’s the 25th anniversary float, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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