Guest Writer: Jay Krammes
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Downtown Lansing and its surrounding Lansing communities will come alive to celebrate 517 Day, an annual event that honors the region’s area code and the vibrant culture it represents. The day promises a variety of activities, including art festivals, craft shows, live music, and family-friendly events. Here’s a roundup of the key happenings:
Festivals and Community Events
- The Best of Lansing Festival: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Michigan State Capitol Building. Experience the best of Lansing with artists, creatives, retail shops, and restaurants. This free event features over 100 vendors, inflatable games, public art, and live music.
- 517 Day at Lansing Shuffle: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM | 325 Riverfront Drive. An all-day celebration featuring live music, food and drink specials, shuffleboard games, and a vendor market along the riverfront.
- The 517-Day Patio Party at Lansing Brewing Company: starts at 5:17 PM at 518 E Shiawassee Street. Enjoy live music, Lansing-inspired food and drink specials, and the release of the brewery’s “Love Lansing” beer.
- Lansing Lugnuts vs. South Bend Cubs with LAFCU Fireworks: First pitch at 7:05 PM | Jackson® Field Catch a home game as the Lugnuts take on the South Bend Cubs. The evening features special ticket deals and a post-game fireworks show presented by LAFC.
- Ignition Maker Fest: 11:00 AM—5:00 PM | Impression 5 Science Center. This free outdoor event combines a mega-science fair with a creative marketplace, encouraging innovative thinking and inventive ideas for curious minds of all ages.
- Over the Edge: 9:00 AM | Boji Tower. Participants can rappel down the Boji Tower to raise money and awareness for the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing!
- The Jump Off: APPARATUS EDITION: 12:00 PM | All of the Above Hip Hop Academy. The battle is back and bigger than ever. Join AOTA for a high-impact day of hip hop, community, and competition at 303 S. Washington Square.
For more information, visit our 517 Day in Downtown Lansing guide.
No
