It’s hard to imagine anyone feeling good about the numbers on gas station signs these days. However, proprietors of Lansing’s local community organizations, businesses and events are noticing a similar upward trend in their attendance numbers.
As local business leaders evaluate the correlation between the two increases, one thing is certain: they’re celebrating an influx of people who appear to be finding new reasons to enjoy what Lansing has to offer.
Keeping it Close to Home“I definitely believe there is a connection,” says Jamie Schriner-Hooper of the
Old Town Commercial Association, who is amazed at the difference a few gas dollars make to
Old Town businesses. “People are trying to find things to do without going the distance.”
It seems local events have been inspiring what Schriner-Hooper refers to as “stay-cations”—people finding fun, relaxing things to do without leaving their hometown.
“We’ve had many more folks walking around on the weekends instead of leaving town,” she says. “Old Town provides unique shops and fun events that have become real tourist attractions, even to people who live here.”
Although it is impossible to tell if it is gas prices or just fun that is on the Lansing tourist’s minds, the numbers appear to tell a story. Old Town’s
Festival of the Moon attracted upwards of 700 more attendees then last year, bringing this year’s total to 2,200.
Schriner-Hooper also noticed an increase in online Festival of the Moon ticket sales purchased by people from outside Lansing. “We’ve tried to market outside the Tri-county area and also
Metro Detroit. I think we’ve been very successful because people flock to special events that aren’t that far away.”
“I’ve barely left town this summer,” says Becky Harrington, a long-time Lansing resident living in the
Eastside neighborhood. “There is so much to do around here and it’s not really worth the price of gas to leave.”
She rattles off the events she’s attended in the last couple of months: Festivals of the Sun and Moon; the Michigan Avenue Car Show; Jazz Fest; and Blues on the Square.
“I love it,” she says. “I can ride my bike or walk to everything. My car hasn’t been out of the driveway in a while.”
“Gas prices have definitely been a great localizer for festivals, events and even shopping in Lansing,” says Bob Trezise with the
Lansing Economic Development Corporation.
Trezise is ecstatic about the influx of people attending Blues on the Square, a series of free concerts on Thursday nights on Washington Square in Downtown Lansing. Tresize co-directed the program throughout the warm summer months.
“We’ve seen a definite spike in numbers from last year,” he says. “We had around 1500 visitors on average. Now we are to well over 3000 people attending each concert.”
A survey distributed by event organizers shows that the majority of festival goers are local, although a few travel from outside the area to see what’s rocking in Lansing. Trezise suggests these concerts cater to the need for entertainment at a low travel rate.
“I think there was a big clampdown at first in June when the prices peaked and no one was spending any money,” he says. “But as the summer went on, people began going out more without their cars. It proves that we need more things like this in Lansing. It was the only downtown event and such a huge success this year.”
Beyond the FestivalsFestivals and outdoor events aren’t the only local attractions helping people sidestep the rise in fuel costs.
Impression 5 Science Center in Downtown Lansing has reported an increase of nearly 5,000 visitors for their Life Science exhibit since last year, and a 15,000 visitor increase since 2006. Attendance has increased so much in fact, that Impression 5 has expanded its hours to meet the demand.
“This is the most significant growth we've seen, frankly,” says Erik Larson, who directs the Science Center. “People are looking to do things closer to home and they’re looking for the best value.”
Although school group numbers are dropping because of gas costs, Larson says they’re they're making up for it with family business and event attendance. "We've absolutely seen an increase in that local, traditional family visitor,” Larson says. “We have the opportunity to connect with parents that may not have used our services in the past."
“We're on our way to getting rid of that myth that Lansing dies at five,” Larson says. “It really doesn't. There's a lot of stuff going on after five all over. This is just one of them.”
Sue Hill, of the
Capital Area District Library, has also witnessed firsthand what happens when Lansing residents take to the streets without their cars.
“Absolutely, we’ve definitely seen a peak in the number of items checked out,” Hill responds when asked if she’s seen a significant increase in library usage.
“Since the winter we’ve had an average of 10 percent increase in checked out items, peaking at 22 percent in July. This is the highest usage for the library, ever.”
“Since May, we’ve had over 6,000 patrons attend library events, and it’s been the most successful year for our summer reading program,” she adds.
Hill sees the correlation not only to the cost in fuel but to the overall condition of the economy. “In general people are more careful about where they spend their money,” she says. “The library is a good place to take the kids or just sit and read. There are no additional fees, so I think it’s very important to people these days.”
A walk down Michigan Avenue or through Old Town around 7 p.m. quickly suggests that Larson and Hill are right. Whether its gas prices or a renewed sense of what Lansing has to offer, more people are clearly out and about, taking their own tour of Lansing and all that it has to offer without using a stop at the gas pump.
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Allie Gruner lives in Lansing and has written for college radio and creative writing publications.
Dave Trumpie is the managing photographer for Capital Gains. He is a freelance photographer and owner of Trumpie Photography.
Photos:
Common Ground Festival
Larry McCray playing Blues on the Square
Impression 5 Science Museum
Those Delta Rhythm Kings at The Old Town Blues Festival
Capital Area District Library Director Sue Hill
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie