Silver Bells in the City is back on Lansing, Michigan, on Friday, November 22. The event ushers in the holiday season with the lighting of the state Christmas tree outside the Capitol.
Silver Bells in the City is a Lansing tradition. Each year, the event brings around 40,000 people to downtown Lansing. It always takes place on the Friday before Thanksgiving. If you’re going this year, note that Silver Bells is a rain or shine event.
This year’s Silver Bells in the City is presented by the Lansing Board of Water and Light and the City of Lansing and is coordinated by a dedicated Coordinating Committee under the direction of the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority.
“The entire city will glow with thousands of lights for the Silver Bells in the City celebration, bringing together family and friends from across the state of Michigan and beyond to kick-off the holiday season,” the event’s website states.
Silver Bells in the City Event Details
The Silver Bells Village runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the event. It’s a great place to start your holiday shopping, get some refreshments and purchase your Silver Bells commemorative ornament. The village will also have vendors and food trucks. It’s located on the 100 E. Block of
Allegan Street between South Washington Square and Grand Avenue.
The famed Electric Light Parade has been a big part of this event since 1997. This year’s parade starts at 6 p.m. at the corner of Lenawee Street and South Washington Square. The parade features more than 70 entries with thousands of lights. Santa will be there, too.
Finally, the tree lighting will take place at 7:30 p.m. “Following the parade, the festivities continue with the annual state Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the capitol building,” organizers promise. “Dignitaries will flip the switch that sets it aglow.”
The evening concludes with a fireworks display over the Capitol.
Michigan State Christmas Tree
The official 2024 state Christmas tree, a 60-foot spruce from Eagle in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Rich and Dorcas Albertson of Eagle donated the tree. They say giving up their beloved tree is a “bittersweet” thing, but they know it will go to good use.
“The decision to donate our tree is bittersweet – it’s a beautiful tree, and we love it. We have enjoyed it in our front yard for over 27 years, but it’s overgrowing its spot and encroaching on our driveway. We will sure miss it,” the Albertsons said in a statement. “When we first moved in, we hung lights on the tree each Christmas before it got too big. It will be nice to see it adorned with lights one more time this holiday season.”
The spruce arrived in downtown Lansing to sit at the Capitol lawn for the 2024 holiday season Saturday, November 2.
The Michigan Christmas trees usually come from the Upper Peninsula, but not this time.
“This is the second tree from Clinton County, and the 14th from Michigan’s Lower Peninsula since an official tree began being placed at the Capitol each holiday season in 1987,” officials noted.