Fireworks explode over the Capitol Building after the lighting of the tree during Silver Bells on Nov. 23, 2013, in downtown Lansing. Community members gathered from across the greater Lansing area to view the lighting of the tree. Danyelle Morrow/The State News
The 35th annual Silver Bells in the City is scheduled to take place this Friday in downtown Lansing from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
This is a Lansing tradition that has been loved by generations of friends and families, attracting more than 65,000 people to Michigan’s capital city each year for the celebration on the Friday before Thanksgiving.
This year's celebration
Lansing will be lit up with 15,000 linear feet of wiring and approximately 85,000 lamps outlining the city's buildings. 50 lighted wreaths are hung at intersections throughout downtown.
Silver Bells banners with more than 200 red bows and 3,320 feet of fresh cedar garland will be features on Capitol, Michigan, and Washington Avenues.
The center of Washington Circle at Michigan Avenue will feature four giant red ornaments that will be placed after having received a makeover last season.
The official 2019 state Christmas tree has been harvested from Iron Mountain, donated by Jordan and Sarah Wolfenberg.
"Our family is greatly honored to have our tree selected to represent the holiday season this year in Lansing," said Sarah Wolfenberg. "Regardless of beliefs, it inspires the masses and brings a bipartisan joy to so many."
Dignitaries will flip the switch at approximately 7:45 p.m. to turn on thousands of twinkling lights.
Santa’s arrival is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the corner of Lenawee Street South Washington Square.
The parade is made up of more than 80 units, 10 local high school marching bands, and three carriages decorated to sparkle with thousands of lights - the minimum requirement for entry is 5,000 lights, with the exception of marching bands and banners. The participating local high school marching bands will be competing for the Best Illuminated Band awards during the parade.
Lansing will host Dan Petry and David Rozema from the 1984 Detroit Tigers World Series Championship team as the parade Grand Marshals. The special guest will be PAWS, the Tigers' mascot.
Downtown cultural institutions and venues will be open with no charge to the public, featuring nearly 50 arts and cultural entertainers. Free cookies and cider will be available at five of these locations across Lansing.
There will be an eight minute firework display, the most intense in the history of the festival.
The evening will conclude with a concert at the Lansing Center by legendary pop star and 80's icon Tiffany, along with the Mega 80's.
Silver Bells in the City has been presented by the Lansing Board of Water & Light, or BWL, since 1998, along with a dedicated 25-member coordinating committee under the direction of the Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority, or LEPFA, and many passionate volunteers.
The rain or shine event remains free to the public through the support of many generous sponsors, as well as the State of Michigan and the city of Lansing themselves.
How it came to be
Silver Bells in the City started in 1984 by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing and WKAR Radio with 2,500 luminaries framed along Washington Square Mall and Michigan Avenue.
Over the years, it began growing to be the full-blown extravaganza that it is today, adding ice sculptures, carriage rides and local venues open to the public for free.
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In 1986, free candy that was donated by Woolworths was distributed, along with cookies and cider, along the Washington Square Mall. One year later, then-Gov. James Blanchard joined in on the festivities, lighting the sesquicentennial tree for the first time during Silver Bells.
In 1997, the first electric light parade boosted attendance significantly. In 2012, the first broadcast of the parade aired on FOX 47, WKAR and local station Channel 12. Today, more than 52,000 households tune in to watch the festivities live.
