Happy Hour

In celebration of First Friday, there will be FREE admission to the beverage tent from 4:00-6:00 pm on Friday, for ages 21+. Come out with friends or make new ones and enjoy happy hour with the sounds of jazz on Turner Street.

Kidz Beat

The “Kidz Beat” music tent, open 4-7 pm Friday and 1-7 pm Saturday, is designed to allow interactive music exploration for parents and children from toddlers to early teens.

Activities available include face painting, chalk art, crafting your own musical instruments, an “instrument petting zoo” provided by Meridian Winds on Friday and Elderly Instruments on Saturday, and performances that solicit active audience participation. No musical talent is necessary, just a love of music and a willingness to have a little fun.

Friday at 5 pm, Okemos High School’s drumline will present an interactive drum experience targeted at kids age 3-11, allowing kids to play along in the drumline. Saturday at 3 pm, a drum circle targeted at kids age 3-11 will be presented. Other interactive experiences will be presented throughout the festival.

Ride the river boat taxi to JazzFest on Saturday and take advantage of free rides for children 10 and under.

River Boat Tours

Lansing Metro Marinas will be giving half-hour tours of the Grand River on Friday from 5 to 9 pm. Festival goers can experience the new vibrant downtown Lansing developments and natural surroundings from the water.

Tours are being offered at a discounted rate of $3 per person and will depart from the dock at Burchard Park, next to the Brenke Fish Ladder.

River Boat Taxi

Arrive to JazzFest in style! Lansing Metro Marinas will be running a taxi service Saturday from 2 to 10 pm from the Lansing City Market to Burchard Park, next to the Brenke Fish Ladder. Festival goers can ride to and from the festival on the scenic Grand River for $1. Children 10 and under ride for free.

The taxi will depart from the Lansing City Market on the hour (:00) and from Old Town on the half hour (:30). Parking is available near the City Market at the Lansing Center and surrounding areas.

Green Initiative

In 2009, JazzFest became one of the first festivals in Lansing to make a concerted effort to reduce our overall impact on the environment by implementing a volunteer Green Team and committing to sustainable practices. JazzFest partners with The Sweaty Mouse Green Team & Schupan Recycling Services to provide waste and recycling solutions, water-bottle reduction strategies, and effective planning to reduce printing and single-use or disposable products. All festival attendees are encouraged to bring their own refillable beverage containers and use the free watering stations provided by the Lansing Board of Water & Light.

MICA Stage

JazzFest will offer attendees an educational experience, thanks to the MICA Stage’s performers and instructors. The Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) is a non-profit organization acting as a catalyst for quality arts programming, historic renovation and community development. Educational opportunities in the arts are the focus of the MICA Stage. See more on our performers page!

Clif McChesney Retrospective

MICA Gallery’s August show presents the artwork of the late Clif McChesney. McChesney passed on March 17, at the age of 82. At that time, McChesney was a retired Michigan State University professor of art and recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award for the College of Art and Letters.

With diverse influences from New York to Japan, McChesney explores the relationship between color, culture, and memories. A new combination is crafted from complex and modern layers, giving the art a refreshing boldness. Viewers are left with a visually stunning statement.

This show extends from Creole Gallery (1218 Turner St.) to MICA Gallery (1210 Turner St.). MICA Gallery will be open during the festival for music clinics and viewing of this show. MICA Gallery’s regular hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm.

Old Town Nightlife

After the final note on Turner Street, Old Town invites you to continue to celebrate at one of its nightlife spots. Spiral (Center & Clinton) showcases a DJ, while Grand Café Sir Pizza and the Unicorn Tavern all offer live music within walking distance of the festival on E. Grand River.