money Silver Bells draws thousands of spectators for parade, tree lighting in downtown Lansing
LANSING — The city's famed holiday tradition is back after last year's celebration was virtual-only.
Olympian and East Lansing native Taylor Manson led the light parade along Capitol and Washington avenues Friday night. Thousands of people lined the streets to welcome the holiday season.
Returning to an in person celebration helped small businesses in downtown gain extra revenue as some had customers lined up out the door.
A major change this year was a drone light show instead of fireworks after the lighting of the state Christmas tree.
Friends Jodi Root and Brinda Ridenour came over from Charlotte to experience the drone show in person. They said it's a novel idea and saw a sample of drone shows on New Year's Day.
" My uncle owns Insty-Prints down the road," Ridenour said. "She comes every year, my sister, and she said it just gets her going."
Ridenour experienced Silver Bells in person for the first time after she viewed past celebrations on TV. This was Root's second year at the parade.
Downtown Dazzled: Silver Bells in the City returns to downtown Lansing Friday
About that state holiday tree
Kenneth Gosier, of the State Christmas Tree Crew, said the spruce came to Lansing on Oct. 31 from a town just north of Watersmeet in the Upper Peninsula.
He traveled from Alpena and has been on the crew since 2011 after a friend asked him to join him on a tree cut.
Emmanuel Eubanks brought his girlfriend and kids to Silver Bells from Jackson. He'd been promising to bring her to a light show all season. Like Silver Bells' return, Eubanks hopes to gather with family this season after not being able to last year.
He said he hopes this parade will inspire his family to put up Christmas decorations.
"I'm kind of sad about that, but we're working on that for sure," he said.
Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at (517) 267-1344 or knurse@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrystalRNurse.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Silver Bells signals start of holiday season with parade, tree lighting
