Things to do in Lansing Thanksgiving weekend

Sarah Atwood, Lansing State Journal
·2 min read

LANSING — Looking for something to do this Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some of my recommendations in the Greater Lansing area.

See a movie

Several highly anticipated films are out this month. I’m looking forward to seeing the Hunger Games prequel, Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, out Nov. 17. The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Marvels, is in theaters beginning Nov. 10. On Nov. 24, Disney’s newest film, Wish, is in theaters and features Disney’s first Afro-Hispanic princess.

Movie theaters in the Lansing area: Celebration Cinema Lansing, Regal Lansing Mall, NCG Eastwood Cinema.

Check out Lansing Shuffle

A peek at the ongoing transformation of the former Lansing City Market building into Lansing Shuffle in downtown Lansing on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. The venue will feature seven independent eateries, two bars, shuffleboard, rotating art exhibits, and live music.
A peek at the ongoing transformation of the former Lansing City Market building into Lansing Shuffle in downtown Lansing on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. The venue will feature seven independent eateries, two bars, shuffleboard, rotating art exhibits, and live music.

Opened in Jan. 2023, Lansing Shuffle is a new way to experience dining in Lansing. Home to five diverse restaurants and a full-service bar, there’s something for everyone. My personal favorite is Osteria Vegana, which serves fresh, vegan Italian food.

Get in the holiday spirit

Sisters, Ella, left, 8, and Ava Nelson, 7, from Okemos enjoy the Wonderland of Lights at Potter Park Zoo with their parents Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. The event runs Thursdays through Sundays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. until Dec. 27 with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Sisters, Ella, left, 8, and Ava Nelson, 7, from Okemos enjoy the Wonderland of Lights at Potter Park Zoo with their parents Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. The event runs Thursdays through Sundays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. until Dec. 27 with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Potter Park Zoo will be hosting its annual Wonderland of Lights from through Dec. 23. Although they are closed on Thanksgiving Day, they will be open over the weekend for your family to visit and admire the lights. Santa will also be available for pictures on Fridays and Saturdays.

For those looking to get holiday shopping done, downtown Lansing is home to many local shops for everyone on your list. A Novel Concept opened in Oct. 2021 and is a woman-owned independent bookstore offering a selection of new and used books. Summit Comics and Games has the largest selection of comics and graphic novels in Lansing. The gift shop in Impression 5 Science Center has STEAM-themed toys, books, games and more.

Visit a museum

A student walks past the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing.
A student walks past the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing.

The Greater Lansing area is home to several museums, perfect for visiting when you need to get out of the house in colder weather. The Michigan History Center is one of my favorites, with five stories taking you on a walk through time; beginning with the indigenous people who first lived in what's now Michigan and ending with Michigan's contributions to pop culture today.

For families with young kids, I'd recommend Impression 5 Science Center. Although I grew up in Southeast Michigan, I remember visiting there with my grandparents every summer. This is a perfect place for kids to play and create, while learning a lot about science.

Art lovers should make time to visit The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, located on Michigan State University's campus. The museum features local, national, and international artists, a permanent collection of over 10,000 works, and public events. Current exhibitions can be found here.

Sarah Atwood covers education for the Lansing State Journal and is a recent Michigan State University graduate.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Things to do in Lansing Thanksgiving weekend