Old Town - Lansing, MI

Projects

Festivals & Events

Festival of the Sun & Moon
This is the OTCA’s largest fundraiser – accounting for nearly 60 percent of OTCA’s operating budget. Visitors from across the state swarm to Lansing to spend a summer weekend in the heart of Old Town, sampling beer and wine, dancing, eating great local food and listening to live local music. The Festival of the Sun and Moon take place annually the weekend closest to the summer solstice.

Old Town Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is OTCA’s newest addition to the festival line-up. Old Town’s take on the traditional German festival with authentic German beers, traditional and modern polka music, dancing and German food attracts thousands of people to the neighborhood.

First Sunday Gallery Walk
On the first Sunday of every month, the Gallery Walk helps to promote Old Town galleries, artists, and Old Town as a whole. First Sundays feature new artists, exhibits and gallery receptions. Old Town’s many boutiques are also open for First Sunday Gallery Walk guests. During the summer months, Old Town hosts a Farmers Market in conjunction with the Gallery Walk.

Art Market (in conjunction with Be a Tourist in Your Own Town)
Artists from around the Greater Lansing Area display their artwork on the streets of Old Town. Artists of all skill levels are invited to participate and take part. Patrons are able to view many different talents as well as purchase art.

Taste & Tour of Old Town
This annual progressive food sampler gives Old Town’s restaurants the chance to shine. Participants take a punch-card ticket to participating restaurants and sample the local specialties. This is not only a great way to introduce people to Old Town’s many restaurants, but also gives the participant the opportunity to sample nearly a dozen restaurants in one day! A new addition to this event includes loft tours, where residents can view the trendy living spaces and newly renovated lofts in Old Town.

Farmers Market
The OTCA launched a monthly farmers market in May, 2007 with fresh produce, plants and food items - all locally grown. The market currently takes place on First Sundays and Third Fridays from May to October. In order to accommodate low-income neighbors, Old Town is working to accept Bridge Cards and Project Fresh coupons for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in the future.

Pickin’ in the Park
Local acoustic musicians are invited to take part in a jam session every Tuesday and Thursday evening from June until October. Musicians of all skill levels gather on the corner of Turner Street and Grand River Avenue to cover Old Town with bluegrass, folk and jazz.

Dickens Village
Old Town is transformed into a Victorian wonderland the first Saturday of December. Carolers, bell choirs and characters from Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” appear throughout Old Town. Be sure to watch for roasted chestnuts and Tiny Tim!

Rubber Ducky Derby
In an effort to show off our great river and award-winning bridge, Rubber Ducky Derby participants race ducks from the Robert P. Busby Memorial Bridge down the river to win great prizes.

Education & Networking

Wake Up Old Town
OTCA holds a free monthly meeting the first Friday of the month from 9a.m. to 10a.m. for residents, businesses and merchants in the Old Town neighborhoods. This forum serves as a networking and educational stage. A speaker is selected to discuss relevant issues such as small business investments, façade design, media relations and advertising.

Community Newsletters
A citywide monthly newsletter in Lansing’s City Pulse keeps residents and visitors in the Lansing area updated about upcoming events in Old Town. In addition to the City Pulse, a neighborhood newsletter is distributed to inform merchants and businesses of projects, grants, promotions and meetings in Old Town.

Career Exploration Field Trips
Local high-risk elementary and middle school students tour Old Town businesses to learn about entrepreneurship and creative careers, such as public relations, video production, architecture and graphic design. This program demonstrates a number of career options open to students, as opposed to the popular choices of pro-athlete or rock star, and hopefully sparks their interest in new creative areas.

Michigan Works Program
Through the Michigan Works program, the OTCA employs a high-risk or special needs high-school student. He or she does a variety of projects from neighborhood beautification to clerical help in the office, preparing for later employment.

Internship Programs
Students from Michigan State University and Lansing Community College are housed as interns with the OTCA. Opportunities range from public relations, event planning, graphic design, marketing, grant writing and other areas. Students are allowed hands-on experience that they would otherwise not have available.

Speaking Engagements
Old Town staff members present to local groups, including speaking at MSU classes, conferences, civic groups and other meetings, educating them on Old Town’s many programs and methods of revitalization.

Educational Tours
Local planners, urban development students, politicians and others are toured through Old Town, showcasing Old Town’s transformation through the Main Street initiative.

Historic Tours
OTCA receives requests to provide tours of Old Town from various groups. Though this is not a regularly scheduled event, we provide brochures, photographs and other useful handouts to the visitors. In conjunction with Turner Dodge House and Kresge Art Museum we have a self-guided tour booklet that allows visitors to take tours on their own time and we are currently working on a downloadable audio version.

Community Outreach

Paint Blitz
When appropriate, OTCA teams up with Franklin Community Housing Corporation, MSU students and other organizations to provide volunteers to paint the houses of North Lansing residents. OTCA provides paint and paint supplies, as well as food for the volunteers.

Compassionate Feast
This annual event supplies more than 100 families with complete Thanksgiving dinners. Volunteers prepare baskets containing the food and recipes needed to prepare a full meal on Thanksgiving Day for local families in-need.

Annual Plantings
Volunteers spend time planting flowers and small plants in and around Old Town. A schedule is set up to maintain the flowers and plants throughout the season. The majority of plants and supplies are donated from local businesses, including VanAtta’s Greenhouse, Smith Floral, Meijer, Hammond Farms, Gee Farms, Landmark Landscaping and Old Town citizens sharing from their own gardens.

Neighborhood Clean-ups
Clean-ups are scheduled throughout the year to keep the streets, sidewalks, lots and buildings of Old Town inviting to pedestrians and safe for residents. Volunteers from MSU, LCC, area high schools, residents and others participate in trash pick-up, raking and painting.

The Old Town Commercial Association always has plans underway for several new and exciting projects to enhance the Old Town community. If you have a great idea, or are interested in helping with any of our projects, please contact the OTCA office.