Right after Election Day, downtown Lansing transforms from ‘vote for’ into Holiday Shopping Season.
The biggest markers of the coming season were both erected in the last week, a block away from each other.
Lansing’s Big Red Balls, a traditional set of giant fiberglass ornaments, were installed on Nov. 4, 2026, as the kick off to the holiday season. Photo by Mike Ellis/City PulseLansing’s Big Red Balls, a traditional set of giant fiberglass ornaments, were installed on Nov. 4, 2026, as the kick off to the holiday season. Photo by Mike Ellis/City PulseLansing’s Big Red Balls, a traditional set of giant fiberglass ornaments, were installed on Nov. 4, 2026, as the kick off to the holiday season. Photo by Mike Ellis/City PulseLansing’s Big Red Balls, a traditional set of giant fiberglass ornaments, were installed on Nov. 4, 2026, as the kick off to the holiday season. Photo by Mike Ellis/City PulseLansing’s Big Red Balls, a traditional set of giant fiberglass ornaments, were installed on Nov. 4, 2026, as the kick off to the holiday season. Photo by Mike Ellis/City PulseLansing’s Big Red Balls, a traditional set of giant fiberglass ornaments, were installed on Nov. 4, 2026, as the kick off to the holiday season. Photo by Mike Ellis/City PulseLansing’s Big Red Balls, a traditional set of giant fiberglass ornaments, were installed on Nov. 4, 2026, as the kick off to the holiday season. Photo by Mike Ellis/City PulseLansing’s Big Red Balls, a traditional set of giant fiberglass ornaments, were installed on Nov. 4, 2026, as the kick off to the holiday season. Photo by Mike Ellis/City PulseLansing’s Big Red Balls, a traditional set of giant fiberglass ornaments, were installed on Nov. 4, 2026, as the kick off to the holiday season. Photo by Mike Ellis/City Pulse
Lansing’s Big Red Balls were stacked with care on Thursday and Michigan’s 2026 State Christmas Tree was replanted outside the Capitol building on Saturday.
The Balls have become a Lansing tradition and this year spawned offspring: A set of pumpkin-painted balls for Halloween. They’ve been put into storage, expect to see them growing suddenly again next fall. And with the hype of the Pumpkin Set, don’t be surprised if someone else figures out how to fill that space with stacked spheres in spring and fall.
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The Christmas tree is a 60-foot spruce from Iron Mountain, donated by the Larry Riccio family. The tree will be decorated and lit up on Friday, Nov. 20 for Silver Bells in the City.
Silver Bells in the City
Nov. 20
5 p.m.-9 p.m., Village with more food trucks than before
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6 p.m., Light parade starts at Lenawee Street and South Washington Square
7:25 p.m., approximate time for tree lighting
7:30 p.m., community sing-a-long followed by Firefly Drone Show
