Best of Lansing Festival

Back for a third year, the free Best of Lansing Festival, co-hosted by Lansing 5:01 and Downtown Lansing Inc., invites area residents to celebrate 517 Day among the top artists, creatives, retail shops, restaurants, influencers and changemakers in the area code.

More than 100 vendors, including food trucks, artisans and familiar retailers, will line the Capitol lawn and its surrounding streets. Entertainment includes inflatable games and obstacle courses, roaming performances and educational demonstrations by flow arts troupe Flames ‘N Dames and live music by pop/funk/R&B band Love Effect. Five local artists — Brian Whitfield, Melina Brann, Ryan Holmes, Pretty Fly Chey and PuraDivina Art — will each create a piece of art that celebrates their love of Lansing from 5 to 9 p.m. Once they’re finished, guests can vote for their favorite work, with the top two artists receiving a cash prize. At 5:17 p.m. will be the inflatable 0.0517K dash, a ticketed event in which attendees donning inflatable costumes or otherwise wacky getups will coalesce for a short run in front of the Capitol. Tickets are available at runsignup.com/Race/MI/Lansing/Inflatable0517K.

Lansing Shuffle will host its own 517 Day celebration from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, featuring local vendors, free shuffleboard lessons, refillable commemorative cups for those who purchase drinks at the bar and live music by JP Peters of pop band JP & the Energy, singer-songwriter Aaron Johnson and country musician Evan James.

For even more 517 Day fun, Saturday’s Lugnuts game against the South Bend Cubs, beginning at 7:05 p.m. at Jackson Field, will offer $7 tickets, a $5 hot dog and chips combo, $1 16-ounce sodas and fireworks after the game.