Silver Bells in the City is almost here. Here's what you need to know
LANSING — It will be 39 years and counting for Silver Bells in the City, when crowds gather downtown Friday for the traditional kickoff of the holiday season in Greater Lansing.
The 26th annual Electric Light Parade steps off at 6 p.m. and will feature dozens of lighted floats and several area high school marching bands. The annual lighting of the state Christmas tree and community sing follow immediately afterward.
The featured performer is Detroit-born country pop artist Grace West, the runner-up on Season 23 of NBC's "The Voice." There also will be fireworks and a 200-drone light show synchronized to West's performance, organizers said.
The Silver Bells 5K Race happens Saturday morning.
The celebration typically draws about 45,000 people, officials said.
Here's what you need to know about Silver Bells 2023:
Schedule and location for shopping, watching, and running
Silver Bells Village hosts vendors from across the state. It opens at 5 p.m. Friday in the 100 block of East Allegan Street, between South Washington Square and Grand Avenue. The Silver Bells commemorative ornament and refreshments will be available there.
The Electric Light Parade steps off at 6 p.m from the corner of Lenawee Street and South Washington Square.
Immediately following the parade is the tree-lighting ceremony at the state Capitol grounds, as well as the community sing and fireworks show.
The chip-timed 5K race celebrating Silver Bells begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and follows a marked course through downtown. Participants can either walk or run the course.
Where did this year's state Christmas tree come from?
The official state Christmas tree is a 60-foot spruce donated by Onaway resident Vic Ruppert and his family in honor of Vic's late wife, Shirley Ruppert.
It's the first official state tree to come from Presque Isle County and the 13th from the Lower Peninsula since the tradition began in 1987.
Most years, the state tree comes from the Upper Peninsula, but last year's tree came from St. Johns.
Road closures and traffic notes for visitors
Street closures and lane restrictions for Silver Bells will start Wednesday, and many downtown streets will be affected.
A lane will be closed on northbound Capitol Avenue from 7 a.m. Wednesday to noon Saturday to accommodate the Showmobile.
Allegan Street will be closed between Washington Square and Grand Avenue for Silver Bells Village from 6 a.m. Friday until about 1 p.m. Saturday. Walnut Street, from Allegan Street to Ottawa Street, will be closed for the drone light show staging area, beginning at 10 a.m. Friday.
More streets will be closed for the parade and other events during the day Friday, city officals said.
A full schedule of lane and street closures can be found on the city's website.
Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Silver Bells in the City is almost here. Here's what you need to know
