Lansing has warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The best time to visit is late spring through early fall, roughly May through October, when the weather is pleasant and the city's many outdoor festivals are in full swing.
The festival calendar is packed. Old Town hosts several of the best events: the Jazzfest in August, the Bluesfest in September, Oktoberfest in October, and the Festival of the Sun in June, one of Michigan's largest beer and wine tasting events. The Common Ground Festival in July brings nationally known musical acts to the banks of the Grand River. In late November, Silver Bells in the City draws over 50,000 people downtown for a holiday light parade. East Lansing adds its own events, including an art festival in May, a film festival in March, and a winter festival in December.