Beyond the Bus

Spring is ready to pull into its final stop, but there’s still time to squeeze in some fun before summer takes the wheel. From art festivals and rock concerts to carnival rides and community celebrations, the Capital City region is packed with events you won’t want to miss.

So, ride into the last days of spring with these unforgettable events around the Capital City Region by hopping on the CATA bus to take you to all the action.

First stop: Spring Carnival at Meridian Mall

Location: Meridian Mall
Dates:  Friday, May 2 through Sunday, May 11, times vary

The Spring Carnival is rolling into town with rides, games and snacks for everyone. From tilt-a-whirls to elephant ears, there’s plenty to do and taste. It’s a perfect outing for families, friends or anyone looking to add a little excitement to their week.

Travel tip: Route 1 will take you straight to the mall — no parking required.

Second stop: Rock Lansing

Location: Adado Riverfront Park
Date: Saturday, May 10, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Rock Lansing brings the energy with an all-day outdoor music festival featuring national and regional rock bands. With multiple stages, food trucks and great vibes, it’s the ultimate way to spend a Saturday in the city.

Travel tip: Ride one of our 13 routes to Adado Riverfront Park — we’ll handle the traffic, you just enjoy the show.

Pre-party at Grewal Hall
Date: Friday, May 9, 7 p.m.
The celebration kicks off a day early with a high-energy pre-party at Grewal Hall. The lineup features Of Virtue, Let It Rot, Black Note Graffiti and Accuser of the Brethren. It’s the perfect way to start your rock-filled weekend.

Travel tip: Use any of our 13 routes to downtown Lansing and get dropped off near the venue.

Third stop: East Lansing Art Festival / MSU Arts and Crafts Show

Location: Downtown East Lansing
Dates: Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and  Sunday, May 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For 62 years, the East Lansing Art Festival has brought high-quality art, live entertainment and creative expression to the streets of East Lansing. Whether you’re browsing or buying, it’s a celebration of culture and community.

Travel tip: Route 1 is available to take you to the festival. Park in Lot 89 on Michigan State University’s campus and hop on the shuttle to the festival. Learn more about the shuttle by visiting the Art Shuttle webpage. 

Final stop: Best of Capital City Region Festival

Location: Downtown Lansing, Michigan Capitol Lawn
Date: Saturday, May 17, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This free community celebration takes over the Capitol lawn with more than 100 vendors, inflatables, obstacle courses and performances. It’s all about highlighting the people, places and businesses that make the Capital City region special.

Travel tip: Any of our 13 routes will take you to the Capitol. Pick your stop and leave the driving to us.

These events are the perfect way to close out spring and welcome the warmer months ahead. Avoid letting traffic or parking frustrations hold you back. Let CATA do the work while you enjoy the ride and make the most of your weekend.

Spring is going fast, and you don’t want to miss your stop. Plan your trip today and catch a ride to fun by using the Transit App or visiting the Trip Planner.

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Looking for a fun and unique date idea in the Capital City region? Whether you’re into great food, thrilling adventures or relaxing spots, this area offers a variety of destinations perfect for any time of year. CATA is ready to drive your relationship forward and take you to an unforgettable date.

1. Explore favorite eateries around town

The Capital City region provides some of the best eateries in the state, offering not only sit-down restaurants but entertainment as well. Every couple will surely find a wide variety of options.

• Lansing Shuffle: Hosting six different eateries, the Lansing Shuffle offers a diverse range of cuisines including Mexican, Nepali, Southeast Asian, American and Mediterranean. In addition, they have a couple of bars, shuffleboard courts, live music, an outdoor patio with a view of the river and entertainment events. Hop on Routes 1, 8, 10 and 13 to get there.
• REO Town Clubhouse: Craving some authentic Italian cuisine? Visit one of the best Italian eateries in the city. REO Town Clubhouse not only offers wonderful food, but also lively entertainment. You can take Route 2 to get there easily.
• Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant: Enjoy some delicious Mexican food at Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant in the heart of Old Town. It has been a long-standing family-owned restaurant that provides customers the best Mexican food in town. The atmosphere is sure to brighten up the date as well. Make sure to conveniently take Routes 14 or 16 to get there. 

2. Experience thrilling fun at an indoor adventure

Are you in the mood to go on a thrill-seeking adventure? Look no further than the fun options the city has to offer:

• High Caliber Karting & Entertainment: Offering high-speed go-karting on their indoor tracks, High Caliber will surely provide you with an exhilarating ride. You can also have fun at their arcade, axe throwing, football bowling and more exciting activities. Take Routes 1, 22 and 23 to get to Meridian Mall.   
• Zap Zone XL: Set your inner child free. A lively attraction that will make your date more exciting. Zap Zone XL is located at Lansing Mall, offering more than 15 attractions including go-karting, axe-throwing, laser tag and more. Make sure to take Route 3 to get there with ease.
• Spare Time Entertainment: Boasting a variety of amusing activities, Spare Time Entertainment offers fun activities such as bowling, escape rooms, mini golf, axe throwing and more. Take Routes 13 and 15 to get there hassle-free.

3. Find your groove at Grewal Hall

Do you want to jam out on your date? Grewal Hall is the perfect place for a variety of entertainment options. Enjoy live music or a comedy show to boost your energy and lift your spirits. CATA operates 16 routes that connect to the CATA Transportation Center downtown during the week with 11 routes serving the CTC on weekends. The CTC is just a short walk from Grewal Hall.

4. Test out your skills in the kitchen

Spend your date learning how to make a special meal or treat together. The Capital City region has several restaurants and bakeries that offer cooking classes.

• Social Sloth Café and Bakery: Take a two-hour class at the Café and Bakery to whip up some delicious Turkish delicacies. Take Routes 22, 23 or 48 to get there.
• Saddleback BBQ: Appreciate Southern BBQ with a Midwestern flair by taking a cooking class at Saddleback BBQ. Take Route 2 to get there.
• Sweet Encounter Bakery: Enjoy making homemade pasta or decorating a cake at the Sweet Encounter Bakery in downtown Lansing. CATA operates 16 routes that connect to the CATA Transportation Center downtown during the week with 11 routes serving the CTC on weekends. The CTC is just a short walk from Sweet Encounter Bakery.

5. Enjoy a relaxing activity

A date can also just be about slowing down and enjoying each other’s company in a more relaxed setting. 

• Movie theaters: Catch a movie at some of the best movie theaters in the Capital City region.
  • Celebration Cinema Lansing & IMAX: Route 5
  • NCG Cinema – Lansing + Xtreme: Route 16
  • Regal Lansing Mall: Route 3
  • Studio C Meridian Mall: Route 23
• Constellation Cat Café: Visit the purr-fect place to have a date petting cats and sipping delicious drinks. The Constellation Cat Café offers a cute café and a small shop with an adjoining room to pet cats. Take Route 24 to get there.

• Art Unlimited: Are you in the mood to get creative on your date? Then, look no further than Art Unlimited to unleash your creativity in a peaceful setting. Hop on Routes 1 or 23 to get there.
• Wine and Canvas: Feeling artistic? Enjoy an evening of painting at Wine and Canvas, located in the Frandor Shopping Center in Lansing. Take Route 1 to get there.

Explore the Capital City region with your date! CATA can get you to all these locations with ease. Plan your trip with the trip planner tool for a special experience!

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Steph Joy Hogan, a visual storyteller and a vivid 2D mixed-media artist, illustrates a natural blend of her own imagination and inspiration from other worlds. Even though she always considered herself an artist and studied art at university, it wasn’t until age 40 when she took her work more seriously and became a professional artist.

Hogan brings to life a piece from her Scrapscapes series, inspired by her love of space, science fiction, animals and children’s imaginations. The quirky and whimsy children’s stories fuel her passion to create art that invites curiosity and wonder.

Having previously shown her artwork through the Arts Council of Greater Lansing and their partnership with CATA, she was given the opportunity to feature some of her artwork on the bus.

“Creating connection and sharing joy (it is my middle name after all!) are what drive me to create.  I've been so fortunate in finding opportunities to brighten our community with my work, but even with my over-active imagination I never dreamed I'd see my artwork gliding around town at so large a scale!” Hogan said.

As a Lansing native who grew up riding CATA buses, this collaboration is a dream come true. She hopes her art on wheels inspires the community to widen their imagination and let their sense of wonder lead them to dream.

“My aim is to create connection with artwork that energizes spaces and fuels imaginations. I want the work to spark curiosity in the viewer. Everything moves so fast today. I want them to be left with just a moment of wonder,” Hogan added.

According to Hogan, art has been a comforting and meditative medium that calms her ADHD brain. Through her artistry, she is always on the search for deeper and more meaningful connections.

“I'm a very social person but haven't always found it easy to really connect with people more than superficially. Sharing my artwork at in-person events like art festivals has given me the chance to find real kindred spirits who connect with the stories I'm sharing through my artwork.  I know them immediately when I see them react to my work and it reminds me, I'm not alone!”

Her artwork goes beyond her inner self. She seeks to invite the viewers along for the ride in capturing her unique interpretation of the world as she strives to make sense of it.

“For me, art is not only a means of self-expression, but a way to understand the people and places around me. Art is communication and connection. It's storytelling, our human story, and really the essence of humanity in so many ways,” Hogan said.

Hogan’s creative journey hopes to bring out the quirky, unusual and surprising aspects of life. She envisions her art being a source of inspiration and connection to spark more meaningful and important conversations within the Greater Lansing community.

Escape to an imaginary world by keeping an eye out for Steph Joy Hogan’s out-of-this-world artwork on one of CATA’s buses. The Arts Council of Greater Lansing and CATA’s partnership have helped display Capital City Region’s local art scene through the Art in Motion campaign.  

Related Links: 

• CATA unveils ‘Art in Motion’ initiative in partnership with Arts Council
• Arts Council of Greater Lansing 
  • Art in the Sky Billboard Project 
• Other Art in Motion Stories 
  • Elyse Gambino 
  • Daniel J. Hogan
  • Lucy A. Synk 
  • ​Jennifer Taggart Wilson