Lansing staycation

This is how it all works:

Participants purchase a $1 passport, which also includes event details and locations, that will grant free access to over 90 local attractions, including Absolute Gallery, Fenner Nature Center, MSU Bug House, R.E. Olds Transportation Museum and Lansing Public Media Center.

Tracy Padot, vice president of marketing for the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, has watched the festival grow from a small, Lansing-focused event to a thriving regional event.

“The event started 21 years ago with just 18 attractions and concentrated on just downtown Lansing,” she said. “Over those years we have grown and expanded to our 21st annual event, which will have over 90 attractions participating spread throughout the Greater Lansing region.”

Historically, crowd favorites include Impression 5 Science Center, Potter Park Zoo and the State Capitol, said Padot, but quite a few new attractions have joined the roster this year. Be A Tourist is family friendly, but there will be attractions for all ages — even some for those 21 and older.

“American Fifth Spirits, which is a new distillery here in downtown Lansing, has joined the tour,” Padot said. “The Runway at the Knapp’s building will be open, and Forest Akers Golf Course is joining us for the first time this year, so we have lots of stuff for various interests.”

You can visit your favorite locations or seek out new favorites, and you can even enter a prize drawing. Each participating location will stamp your passport, and if you collect at least 10 stamps you can submit your passport for the drawing.

“Those prizes range from overnight stays at our local hotels, to gift cards for local restaurants and other great prizes,” Padot said.

Kids will have a chance to learn about the election process this year at special polling stations coordinated by the Lansing City Clerk’s office. Participants can cast their vote for most popular mascot in Lansing (Sparty or Big Lug) using real voting equipment and ballots. Voting “precincts” will be located at REACH Studio Art Center, Michigan Historical Museum and Capitol Area District Library’s downtown branch.

Be A Tourist In Your Own Town

Saturday, May 30 (Various times and locations, see web for details) $1 lansing.org/events/batyot

THURSDAY, MAY 28-31 & JUNE 4-7 >> ‘BEST FRIENDS’ AT RIVERWALK

Riverwalk’s Theatre’s production of “Best Friends” takes a comedic look at the steady decay of a once promising relationship. The play features two married couples who get along swimmingly — until a mishap occurs at a dinner gathering. What ensues is a domino effect of malicious actions as the two couples compete at severing the friendship for good. “Best Friends” is written by actor Jeff Daniels, who recently starred in the HBO drama “The Newsroom” and is the founder of Chelsea’s Purple Rose Theatre. 7 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Fri-Sat; 2 p.m. Sunday. $15/$12 students and seniors. Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Dr., Lansing. (517) 482-5700, riverwalktheatre.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 30 >> REO EATS

Lansing’s mobile eateries will convene in REO Town for the last Saturday of each month this summer in the new REO Eats events. The first installment of the outdoor party will feature such food trucks as Good Truckin’ Food, Good Bites, Saddleback barbeque, MI Pops and more. There will also be an open air bar featuring brews from Sleepwalker Spirits and Ale. To help with digestion, there will be an art activity where guests can paint monsters onto thrift store paintings, or you can kick back and listen to a live performance by the Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle. The party lasts until the food and drink run dry. 3 p.m. 1115 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. reotown.org/reoeats.

SUNDAY, MAY 31 >> QUAKER DASH

Get ready to beat feet to raise money for education at the inaugural Quaker Dash 5K run/walk. The event will begin with a kid’s half-mile fun run, followed by the 5K run/walk through the neighborhood surrounding Lansing Eastern High School. Proceeds from the event will go towards purchasing classroom materials and funding teacher grants. Kid’s race 9:30 a.m., adult 5K 10 a.m. $25 5K/$15 kid’s race. Lansing Eastern High School, 220 Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. runsignup.com/ Race/MI/Lansing/QuakerDash5k.

SUNDAY, MAY 31 >> BOOK SIGNING/POETRY READING

A pair of multi-award winning poets pay a visit to Everybody Reads bookstore for an afternoon of readings. First up is local poet Dennis Hinrichsen. Hinrichsen’s recent releases include his collection of poems, “Skin Music,” co-winner of the 2014 Michael Waters Poetry Prize from Southern Indiana Review Press, and “Electrocution: A Partial History,” winner of the Rachel Wetzsteon Chapbook Prize from Map Literary. Hinrichen will be joined by poet David James. James recently released his third full-length book of poetry, “My Torn Dance Card.” James’ 2010 release, “She Dances like Mussolini,” won him the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Award for poetry. FREE. 2 p.m. Everybody Reads, 2019 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 346-9900, facebook.com/everybodyreads.

THURSDAY JUNE 4-7 >> ‘INVIERNO’ AT LCC

The American Shakespeare Collective presents another original play inspired by the works of the “Bard of Avon” with its production of “Invierno.” The play, which is a take on Shakespeare’s “The Winter Tale,” follows two half-sisters in modern day California who tumble back in time to the 19th century. There they experience a California in the midst of a massive cultural clash between the native Chumash, the Spanish, the Russians and the Finns. The play features several languages and offers a historical look at California before it became part of the United States. On Thursday, at 6:30 p.m., Old Town’s Mica Gallery is hosting a meet-and-greet with the cast of “Invierno,” which includes visiting artist Kristo Salminen of the National Theatre of Finland. In addition to working in theater, Salminen has starred in a number of Finnish sitcoms and films. Not only will the $20 admission to the event grant you an evening of wine, cheese and insight into the production of “Invierno,” but it also gets you one admission ticket to the play itself. 7 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $20/$15 seniors/$12 students. Dart Auditorium, Lansing Community College, 500 N. Capital Ave., Lansing. (517) 483-1488, tickets.americanshakespearecollective.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 4 >> IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME SOUVLAKI DRIVE-THRU

Not only can you get an entire meal featuring foods you might have a hard time pronouncing correctly, but you can also get quick drive-thru service at the “It’s All Greek to Me Souvlaki Drive-Thru” event. For $14, you can get an authentic Greek meal that includes chicken kabobs, tzatziki, spanikopita and more. All meals need to be ordered in advance and can be purchased online. The event is hosted by Lansing’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $14. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1701 E. Saginaw St., Lansing. (517) 482-7341, holytrinity-lansing.org.