Director of Marketing and Special Events for Legends Global Mindy Biladeau said this event is the "annual kickoff to the holiday season each year in Mid-Michigan."

Since its start, the celebration has turned into an event that attendees look forward to every year. 

"It started back in 1984 with a simple community thing around luminaries on Washington Square, and it has transformed into the event that it is today throughout the years," Biladeau said. "We're in our 41st year, so it has become a tradition that spans generations of families."

Today, the celebration has expanded to include the 28th annual Electric Light Parade, a drone show, fireworks, the lighting of the state tree and the Silver Bells Village.

This year, Grand Marshal of the Electric Light Parade Herman Moore and singer/songwriter Zach Seabaugh were also present to help kick off the holiday season and festivities.

In order to execute the event as smoothly as possible, Biladeau said "It takes months of planning, and a lot goes into it for the actual event in November," starting with fundraising in the spring.

With the event being a Lansing tradition, Biladeau said the celebration is a significant part of the community.

"It's super important to bring the community together for such a joyous celebration and to kick off the holidays. It is tradition, it's ingrained in the community. It's part of our identity and who we are, and it has spanned throughout the state (and has) become a statewide event," Biladeau said. "And actually, people come not only from all over the state, but beyond, now throughout the Midwest, which is pretty amazing. It also has an economic impact to our local economy. So in 2024, over $1.4 million in economic impact was generated from Silver Bells. So that is wonderful for all of our businesses in the region to see that impact from this event as well."

Attendee Jay Spicuzza said the event is personally meaningful to him and his family. This year Spicuzza and his family attended Silver Bells in the City for the second time, Spicuzza said one aspect stands out to him the most.

"The music, also lighting up the tree, obviously, but mostly the music," Spicuzza said. "My kids love singing and dancing, so that’s their favorite part as well."

For attendee SaRiyah Jones, the event has been a part of her life since she was two years old and said it’s "magical" to attend yearly.

"Just like the Christmas spirit coming in, (and it’s) snowing sometimes, but not now, but you get the idea, like all the drones and lights, it just feel kind of magical around here," Jones said. 

Similarly, for attendee Raevyn Goode, attending the event is a staple in her family.

"Every year, we have a family tradition that we go to the peanut store over there and we buy a piece of candy (and) it’s been going on for our family for a long, long time," Goode said.

Spending time with her sister, Raevyn Goode said, is her favorite part of the event, and she even looks forward to it every year.

"(I like) having my sister's friends and having her smile. I like when my sister smiles, sometimes she doesn’t or sometimes she does," Raevyn Goode said. "So this is my favorite time, because she's always smiling this (time of) year."

Raevyn Goode’s sister and attendee Jeliyah Goode said others may have chosen to attend the event for one main reason.

"I think that they know that (they are) starting to get into Christmas spirit, and they just want to, like, feel the joy and be blessed and have a good Christmas," Jeliyah Goode said. "The lights really are bright (and a) part of bringing everybody together."

With the event providing many different attractions for guests, attendee Marcella Hudson said getting into "the Christmas spirit" and "spending time with friends and family" was her favorite part of the event.

Biladeau said watching the event bring the community together is something that she enjoys.

"It’s exciting. I know I have two kids, they look forward to it every year, and it's just great to see people fill the downtown, gather together and just experience (the) magic and joy that the holidays bring," Biladeau said.