Downtown Lansing Inc. Announces the Start of Spooky Season in Michigan’s Downtown as it Unveils New Window Murals and Special Event List

DLI announces family-friendly Halloween events Downtown including Trick or Treat on Oct. 25

LANSING, Mich. (September 26, 2024) - Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI), the downtown management agency for Michigan’s Downtown, has declared it Spooky Season in Michigan’s Downtown, unveiling new Halloween window murals as part of its mission to strengthen and nurture the culture and vibrant activity in Downtown Lansing. In addition, the organization has released a list of Halloween-themed, family-friendly activities for all to celebrate the holiday across the downtown neighborhood. 

“Halloween is a special time in Downtown Lansing as we see more and more businesses and organizations come together to bring special events and activities for residents in the Greater Lansing area to enjoy as they celebrate the season,” said Cathleen Edgerly, Executive Director of DLI. “We are so excited to help uplift our businesses and invite the public downtown this Halloween as we celebrate Spooky Season in Michigan’s Downtown.” 

DLI has partnered with six local artists to bring Halloween-themed window murals to downtown windows. Local artists Sam Roe, Dennis Preston, Jen Wilson, Steph Hogan, Sara Pulver, Ryan Holmes and Trisha Kosloski have individual window murals that can be found throughout the 100-300 blocks of South Washington Square. The murals will be on display from September 30 until October 31. 

In addition to the window murals, DLI has announced its official list of Halloween activities in Michigan’s Downtown, including its annual Trick or Treat on the Square event on Friday, October 25 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A spooky Downtown Lansing tradition for the decades, Trick or Treat on the Square invites the Greater Lansing community to come out to the 100-300 blocks of South Washington Square to trick or treat with local businesses. Sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Capital City Market, guests can visit more than 30 vendor tables and participating businesses to receive free candy, engage with fun activities, and more. 

Additional Spooky Season in Michigan’s Downtown activities include:

• Skeleton Invasion at R.E. Olds Museum! On Saturday, October 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., skeletons will take over the museum for a day of family-friendly fun! Guests are invited to participate in the Skeleton Search, gathering clues to uncover a secret message. Enjoy complimentary candy, cider, and donuts while you explore. Admission is free for children 12 and under.
•  How to Halloween: Celebrate 10 years of How-To Halloween on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Impression 5 Science Center! This free outdoor festival brings the lost world of dinosaurs to life with interactive attractions, a dinosaur adventure, trick-or-treating, live entertainment, make-and-take activities, creative vendors, character meet-and-greets, costume contests, and more.
• The 14th annual Downtown Lansing Zombie Walk: The 14th annual Downtown Lansing Zombie Walk returns on Saturday, October 5, 2024, with registration starting at 3 p.m. outside Impression 5 Science Center. Advance tickets are $5 on Eventbrite through September, or $10 on the event date, with kids 4 and under walking for free. Zombies who bring donations for the Greater Lansing Food Bank can enter to win a prize pack, and the Best Zombie Contest offers a chance to win a prize package valued at over $200.
• The Graveyard Shift Cruise-In: On Saturday, October 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., join R.E. Olds Transportation Museum for the final cruise of the season! Open to all makes, models, and years, this event welcomes car enthusiasts for a morning of coffee, cider, and donuts for participating drivers and one guest. After the event, cruise over to REO Town for a delicious lunch.
• Scare on the Square III: Join Capital Hippie and local vendors on October 12, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM for a night of family-friendly Halloween shopping and fun hosted on the 100 and 200 blocks of S. Washington Sq! Explore local vendor booths, enjoy festive treats, and participate in creative activities while supporting small businesses in our community. DLI is proud to sponsor this year’s event along with its retail accelerator program Middle Village. Guests can stop by both vendor tables outside of Middle Village at 215 S. Washington Square.
• Pumpkins & Pints: Head to Bobcat Bonnie's in Downtown Lansing on October 20, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. for a fun-filled evening of pumpkin carving! For $22 per person, enjoy a fun evening featuring pumpkins and pints, stencils and carving tools will be provided, along with delicious Donut Cidar from Blake's Hard Cider Co. Grab your friends or come solo for this festive fall event! 

To view a full list of Halloween events and activities in Downtown Lansing visit https://downtownlansing.org/events/spooky-season. 

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About Downtown Lansing Inc.
Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI) is the downtown management agency dedicated to revitalizing and promoting economic development, urban planning, and community engagement in Michigan’s Downtown. A certified Main Street organization, DLI’s mission is to strengthen and nurture the culture, health, and sustainability of Downtown Lansing. Downtown Lansing is home to nearly 200 unique businesses, offering global dining experiences, wide-ranging retail offerings and unique events and attractions for all ages at all times of the day. In 2024, DLI received recognition as an industry-leading Main Street organization after being named a top 10 semifinalist in the 2024 Great American Main Street Award. Learn more about DLI at DowntownLansing.org.