As snowflakes fell and a frigid wind blew Saturday outside the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, the city of East Lansing’s Children’s Concert Series and Mid-Winter Singing Festival brought a little bit of light to residents of East Lansing with music, laughter and dancing.
The Children’s Concert Series was held earlier in the day in the banquet hall and featured music by folk singers Kim and Reggie Harris. They performed songs ranging from “Day-O” to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and told historical stories through songs of famed Negro League pitcher Satchel Paige and folk hero John Henry.
The Harris’, along with Robert Jones and Joel Mabus, performed during the first day of the Mid-Winter Singing Festival. Musician Dan Chouinard played the second day of the festival, performing songs of various genres from “Piano Man” to “Hello Dolly.”
Chouinard incorporated life stories into his act, bringing both music and laughter to the night.
East Lansing resident Victoria Hall came with her children Wyck, 8, Embeth, 5, and Eloise, 2, and said she’s been coming to the concert series since Wyck was a little boy.
“I think it’s a nice opportunity for all the kids in the community to get together and experience different types of music that they may not get at school,” she said.
Hall said it was fun to see her young children dance without inhibition.
“They don’t care who sees them or what they do or what they look like,” she said. “They’re here to have fun and enjoy themselves.”
Reggie Harris said he enjoyed performing for the children.
“We look at all the issues in the world and all the things that plague society, and I look into the faces of young people and (see) that there is limitless possibility,” he said.
The banquet hall was packed with children dancing and running around the room while singing along to the music.
Laura Freidhoff, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, came with her children Teague, 5, and Gavin, 3.
“I thinks it’s wonderful that it’s a community event and that it’s free because I think that makes it much more accessible,” she said.
Her son Teague said his favorite part of the show was when the Harris’ sang, “This Little Light of Mine.”
Lansing resident Laura Hutzel said she has been coming to the Mid-Winter Singing Festival for the past several years and the draw of singing along with musicians keeps her coming back.
“I just really enjoy being able to sing along with the artist instead of just listening,” she said. “It makes the experience a whole lot more exciting for me.”
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