Top Things to Do in Lansing This Summer

Find over $100 in savings using the Greater Lansing Experience Pass. Use this digital passport to find the top attractions, each with their own special discount for you.

The park is open to BMX riders of all ages and abilities. Races are held weekly throughout the summer. Open to the public, weather permitting. Free admission. Proper gear recommended.
Newly built is the Pump Track, a thrilling experience for riders of all ages!

While it's not quite seven swans a-swimming, it is the perfect couple's outing or fun for the whole family. The swan pedal boats are ready and waiting and you can find them docked at both at Burchfield Park and also at Hawk Island Park.

Greater Lansing boasts the title of "Festival Capital of Michigan" for a reason! Don't miss out - find a list of Festivals that will keep your toes tapping and hands clapping!

Is there anything more classic than watching a baseball game on a summer night? We didn't think so. There are fireworks evenings, thirsty Thursdays and Dog Days of Summer on Wednesdays. Check out all the fun themed game days at Jackson Field.

If you haven't been to the zoo in a while, summer is the perfect time to get reacquainted. There is always something new at the zoo! Like Elombe, the Okapi and Canadian lynx brothers Ragnar and Rollo.

Whether you choose to walk, bike, or paddle, the Lansing River Trail is one of the most fun things to do in Michigan. It is over 20 scenic miles long and winds next to attractions like the Impression 5 Science Center, R.E. Olds Transportation Museum, Potter Park Zoo, and Michigan State University.

Don't miss the Farmers Market at the Capitol on July 22, August 26, and September 23, 2025. Shoppers have a cornucopia of products to choose from including fresh produce, jams, jellies, baked goods, honey, maple syrup, meat, salsas, dips, pickled products, soaps, and more. Visitors can also take advantage of numerous food trucks throughout the market day parked along Capitol Avenue.
With over 20 other farmers markets in the Greater Lansing area, you are sure to find one that's nearby.

Taste-testing locally made wines, brews, and liquors is a classic interest of many. Sign up for the 2025 Lansing Craft Beverage Pass and take some time this summer to check in to some, or all, of Greater Lansing's breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Accumulate points and find some great discounts. Most have great patios allowing you to enjoy sipping your beverage outside in the warm summer breeze. Sip, sip, hooray!

A day spent in Lansing is not complete without an ice cream treat. Favorites include Capital City Sweets, the MSU Dairy Store and local Quality Dairy Food Stores. A stop at Park Lake Creamery can not only score you some ice cream and hand made chocolates, but maybe even a kayak, canoe or water trike rental!

There's nothing cooler on a hot day than to wander the gardens at Michigan State University! The 4-H Children's Garden has over 55 themes like the Pizza Garden, Peter Rabbit Herb Garden, and the ABC Garden, and it is a great place to go to take in the beauty of nature.

This isn't the mini golf course you're used to. This one-of-a-kind bent-grass 18-hole course allows you to hone your putting skills with actual sand traps, waterfalls and water hazards. Perfect for all ages, no matter your golfing ability.

Whether you paddle the Red Cedar, the Grand or the Looking Glass rivers, there's a whole new way to discover the region. Find dozens of accessible launches throughout and kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals at River Town Adventures (located along the River Trail between the Lansing Center and Lansing Shuffle.) Your journey can be a quick paddle about or an hours long adventure. Any time spent on the water is never a waste of time.

Whether you want to play, paddle or picnic, Lansing's Rotary Park is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. And the Urban Beach is great for games of cornhole, catching some rays and digging your toes in the sand. Find artwork, a fire pit, lighted forest and spectacular views of the downtown Lansing skyline. Tucked behind the Lansing Center and across Cedar Street from Jackson Field, you can grab food and drinks at the Lansing Shuffle or at MP Social. This is THE place to be this summer!