There are dozens of festivals planned across greater Lansing this summer. This year some of your favorites may not be around, but this doesn’t mean you can’t find something new to check out and enjoy.

“My heart’s kind of broken, it’s literally been such a community builder for so many years,” said Vanessa Sharfer.  

Shafer is sad to hear the Great Lakes Folk Festival isn’t coming back this year. It’s been East Lansing staple since 2002 for dancing, music and culture from across the world.

“it’s a little disappointing,” said Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau President Jack Schripsema. “That was one of our signature events for our region, the folk festival.”

But Schripsema said there is good news because more than 60 other festivals are taking place this year.

“There’s hardly a weekend that goes by that there is one or more to choose from,” Schripsema said.

Another festival not coming back this year is the Taste of Country and it took over the Cooley law school stadium each summer since 2015.

“We’ve celebrated country music here in Lansing for many years,” said Shafer. “And just because it’s not going to be here this year doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a place here and being able to experience something else to see if that’s where the community want’s to go in the future. Just because one happens doesn’t mean next year both can’t.”

The East Lansing Art Festival is sticking around, but not without changes. Last week the festival no longer had a director. The hope is to have one by next week says art festival spokesperson Allison Alfredson.

“The goal is that it will have no impact that we’ve been working without one for just about a week now,” said Alfredson. “The board of directors has stepped up along with the assistant festival director and together we’re just keeping things going, checking the email, making the phone calls securing the contracts.”

Even with all the changes happening, Shafer isn’t worried.

“Lansing’s resilient,” said Shafer. “We will come up with a festival that continues to celebrate community, but maybe showcases a different side of it.”

To find out which festival are planned here.