For three days this weekend, Lansing is the most important city in roller derby.
The 2026 WFTDA North American Playoffs is rolling into the Lansing Center and bringing a dozen of the best roller derby teams together for a playoff weekend that will draw competitors, officials, and fans from across the continent.
This summer, the community is invited to experience the excitement of Downtown After 5, a new initiative bringing shopping, dining, live music, and local entertainment together in the heart of downtown.
Taking place on the third Thursday of each month from June through August, Downtown After 5 offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy warm summer evenings while supporting local businesses.
As a volunteer-led organization, we know that our volunteers are truly the heart of Downtown Lansing Inc. Volunteers bring vibrancy and a sense of community to our events and initiatives, infusing purpose throughout downtown Lansing. This month’s Volunteer of the Month is Chioma Lewis.
Collaboration Across Community Sectors
When it comes to building a stronger, more active and resilient downtown community, collaboration is critical. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit communities across Ireland, as well as fellow capital city and college town - Madison, Wisconsin. Across each city center, one common theme stood out: thriving downtowns do not happen by accident. They are the result of long-term investment, shared vision, strong partnerships, and a willingness to collaborate across sectors.
Get ready for more growth in Lansing’s restaurant scene!
Lansing’s Restaurant Boom Continues in 2026
Did you know that Downtown is a social district? Wander Downtown with a drink from one of the participating restaurants, as the social district allows patrons to carry their alcoholic drink out of the restaurant and walk about as long as they stay in the designated boundaries.
Tucked inside downtown Lansing at 118 S Washington Square, Kewpee Sandwich Shoppe has been flipping burgers and pouring malted milks for over 100 years. Since 1923, this family-owned diner has kept its old-school charm alive with antique Kewpie dolls, cozy booths, and recipes that have stood the test of time.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)- Lansing Community College is continuing its exhibit honoring the late Malcolm X. The exhibit features Malcolm X as a Black Pioneer from the area, alongside 29 other inaugural trailblazers.
May 19th would have been the 101st birthday of Malcolm X, who spent roughly twelve years of his childhood in the mid-Michigan area.
Photo Credit: WLNS
Downtown Lansing offers some of the best photo backdrops in mid-Michigan. From graduation pictures to engagement shoots and family portraits, the city combines historic landmarks, river views, gardens, and urban scenery all within walking distance.
Downtown Lansing has its own local celebrity — and he’s covered in fur. Regular visitors to the iconic Peanut Shop may already know Kevin, the delightfully chunky squirrel who has made the area around the shop his unofficial headquarters.
Kevin is famous for greeting employees and customers alike, always hoping for a peanut, a snack, or a little attention. In fact, he’s become so comfortable with his fans that he’ll even come right up to the door of The Peanut Shop to ask politely for a treat.
