Silver Bells to Change Hands

Lansing's signature holiday event will be hanging out an "under new management" sign soon.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing announced this morning it will turn over management of the Silver Bells in the City event this year.  The Arts Council, which created and produced the event with the City of Lansing and thousands of volunteers for 25 years, will hand over the baton to the Lansing Principal Shopping District for 2010.

Launched in 1984, Silver Bells has evolved from humble beginnings into a premiere Mid-Michigan event which includes an electric light parade, the lighting of Michigan's official Christmas tree and fireworks over the state Capitol.

"It is with much pride for the success that Silver Bells in the City has achieved and its positive impact on the greater Lansing community that the Arts Council transfers coordination of the event," said Leslie Donaldson, executive director of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. "We plan to focus on the more immediate needs of our constituents who have been affected by recent cuts in public funding to the arts. We are confident the rich tradition of Silver Bells will continue under the leadership of this long-time community partner."

"The Arts Council has done an amazing job of coordinating and growing Silver Bells in the City over the years into the region's signature holiday event," said Mindy Biladeau, executive director of the Lansing PSD. "We are honored to be able to coordinate this event this year and to carry on the tradition for generations to come. We are looking forward to working with a number of community partners and volunteers to make the 26th Annual Silver Bells in the City a night to remember."

The Lansing PSD is committed to creating a thriving world-class capital city by making downtown Lansing and surrounding neighborhoods united, vibrant, economically strong, and culturally dynamic through promotions, design, business development and organization.

"On behalf of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, I would like to express our deepest appreciation for the community's support of Silver Bells in the City during the past 25 years," Donaldson said, "We hope the community will continue to support the success of Silver Bells as an event that defines our region and brings joy to our families and our state."