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56th Annual East Lansing Art Festival to Take Place May 18-19 in Downtown East Lansing

The 56th Annual East Lansing Art Festival (ELAF) will bring 178 artists and tens of thousands of visitors to downtown East Lansing on the weekend of May 18-19. Festival hours are from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 19.

The event will take place on M.A.C. Avenue, from Grand River Avenue to Albert Avenue, and Albert Avenue, from M.A.C. Avenue to Bailey Street. The festival site will also include Ann Street Plaza, Fountain Square and the Bailey Parking Lot (139 Bailey St.).

Juried fine art and craft exhibitors from across North America will make their way to East Lansing to showcase and sell various types of artwork during the festival. There will be 171 artists and seven emerging artists. Emerging artists are up-and-coming talents who have never exhibited at a juried festival before. In addition to the art, the ELAF Main Stage will feature live music performances in the Bailey Parking Lot, 139 Bailey St. The music lineup for this year's festival can be viewed here.

Other features of this year's festival will include an Artist Demonstration Area, children's activities, eat-on-site food and a Sensory 2.0 interactive installation by the American Institute of Architects Mid-Michigan Professionals.

Community members can learn more about street/lot closures and how to get to the festival here. Additional information is available at www.elartfest.com.

Recycle! East Lansing to Take Place June 1

Community members are encouraged to start getting their stuff ready for the 2019 Recycle! East Lansing event, which will take place Saturday, June 1 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Abbott Center, 1400-1500 Abbot Road. It is a rain-or-shine event.

Recycle! East Lansing is a community recycling event geared toward helping East Lansing residents clean up their homes and yards by dropping off unwanted household items for recycling, reuse or proper disposal. All East Lansing residents are eligible to participate and should bring proof of residency to the event. Items accepted free of charge this year will include: air conditioners and dehumidifiers ($25 rebates for BWL customers; limit two per household), small appliances, automotive batteries, bikes, books, boxboard, cell phones, clothing/shoes, corrugated cardboard, eye glasses, freezers, usable furniture (no mattress, box springs or couches), usable household items (i.e. utensils, pillows, blankets, toys, pictures, frames, lamps, etc.), lawn mowers, medications, plastics #1-7, polystyrene (no packing peanuts, foam insulation), scrap metal, stoves, electronics, textiles and working vacuum cleaners. It’s important to note that, due to the rising costs for recycling, printers, copiers, televisions, computers and computer monitors will require a fee ($20). Other items that will be accepted for a fee include: tires, unusable items (refuse) and lumber. Residents can visit www.cityofeastlansing.com/RecycleEL for additional details.

Curbside collection is available for seniors and disabled residents. To schedule a collection, call (517) 337-1113 by Wednesday, May 29. All items should be at the curb on the day of the event.

Volunteers are always needed for this event! Those interested in lending a hand can call (517) 337-9459, send an email to cdesham@cityofeastlansing.com or sign up online. All volunteers receive a t-shirt, food and beverages.

City Participates in Ribbon-Cutting Celebration for Campbell's Market Basket

On Friday, May 10, City of East Lansing officials were honored to participate in the ribbon-cutting celebration for Campbell's Market Basket - a new, locally-owned urban market located at 547 E. Grand River Ave. in downtown East Lansing.

After noticing that East Lansing was missing a place to buy fresh food, fourth generation East Lansing resident Ken Campbell took matters into his own hands. In March, he opened Campbell’s Market Basket in downtown East Lansing and hopes it can become a staple in the community.

This affordable, healthy market features a salad and soup bar, fresh produce, baked goods, coffee, sandwiches, grocery items, beverages, specialty diet foods and much, much more! Whether a resident or student, Campbell wants the East Lansing community to know that premium, fresh food is just steps away from campus and nearby neighborhoods. Learn more about Campbell's Market Basket at https://www.campbellsmarketbasket.com/.

Changes to Local Fireworks Regulations

With Memorial Day just around the corner, community members are encouraged to take note of changes to the dates when fireworks can be used in the City of East Lansing. For more information, including fireworks safety tips and a link to the City's new fireworks ordinance, click here.

No-Fee Yard Waste Collection Reminder

Community members are reminded that the second and final no-fee yard waste collection day of spring 2019 will take place next Monday, May 13. Yard waste can be placed at the curb without a prior collection request or the use of City bags/stickers. All other guidelines apply. Learn more.

Aquatic Center to Open for 2019 Season

Save the date! The East Lansing Family Aquatic Center (ELFAC) will open for its 2019 season on Saturday, June 1. The ELFAC is an interactive, outdoor water facility with slides, play features, a sunbathing deck, concessions and more. Click here for more information, including hours and rates.

East Lansing Farmers Market to Open June 2

Opening day of the East Lansing Farmers Market's 2019 season is Sunday, June 2. There will be a reusable market bag giveaway to the first 150 customers! This year's market will run June 2-Oct. 27 on Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Valley Court Park. Visit the ELFM webpage to learn more about the market.