July is here, and summer is heating up! If you and your family are looking for activities to make the most of this summer, you’ve come to the right place. Check out these upcoming events for you and your family, and use the links below to learn more and register where required.
Campus Events
Wednesdays in July – MSU Summer Carillon Concert Series: Bring a picnic, chair, or blanket to Beaumont Tower to experience musical talent in one of the most beautiful locations on MSU’s campus! This series is open to the public, and will go through the first week of August.
Most Wednesdays in July – Move in the Garden: Need a midday recharge? This free outdoor movement program combines stretching, strengthening, flow, and relaxation movements to support overall mobility. Classes meet in the Beal Botanical Garden, and you can meet your instructor by the pond. Class will not be held on July 1, 2026.
July 5, 12, 19 and 26 – Abrams Planetarium Family Show: Under the Weather: Visit the Abrams Planetarium this July to join The Zula Patrol on an adventure through space as they collect weather samples and search for their missing friend, Gorga, and learn fascinating facts about weather on Earth and beyond!
July 9 – Beal Botanical Garden Tour: Botany by Bethany: Join Head Horticulturalist and avid plant lover, Bethany Troy to learn about her favorite plants at Beal, covering her tips and tricks of the trade for healthy vibrant plants.
July 11 – Chill Out with Art: If you are looking for a fun and relaxing summer event, come to the MSU Broad Art Museum for their “Chill Out with Art” event. Come explore exhibitions, explore your artistic side, and celebrate art, food, and community.
July 22 – Beal Footprints: Marvelous Malvaceae (Mallows): Meet at the garden pond and join Beal Head Horticulturist, Bethany Troy, on a tour of plants in the mallow family. Learn about care, uses, and how to identify plants in this diverse and surprising plant family.
Learning Opportunities
Fridays in July – Spartan Legacies Retirement Transition Program: Starting July 10, MSU’s free virtual Spartan Legacies retirement transition program will be offered every Friday through August 14. Led by Dr. Darryl Steele, the six-week discussion series helps employees and recent retirees navigate the emotional, social, and practical aspects of retirement. Questions can be directed to eap@msu.edu.
Available in July – SPARTANfit Summer Deal: SPARTANfit is celebrating summer with a limited time offer for MSU faculty, staff, and their partners. From June 1 to July 31, these Spartans can receive a Comprehensive Fitness Assessment for only $20 (50% off). These supportive assessments offer a snapshot of one’s physical health through resting and exercising tests, personalized fitness profiles, and support with goal setting. Book your fitness assessment in Microsoft Bookings no later than July 31 to score this deal.
July 7 – Investing for Beginners: Start Your Wealth Journey: Starting your career can be both very exciting and overwhelming. In this webinar, you will learn what to look for in job-related benefits packages, how short-term spending plans support long-term goals, the importance of building an emergency fund, and more.
July 9 – Quarterly Economic and Market Update: Hear from TIAA’s experts in the Wealth Chief Investment Office about key drivers of the markets and economy that are impacting investors.
July 9 – Managing Meetings: This in-person course is designed to help you plan and lead more effective, professional meetings in today’s fast-paced workplace. Here, you will learn how to reduce unproductive meetings, improve coordination and follow-through, and strengthen team productivity and engagement.
July 9 – Fidelity Webinar: Making Early Retirement a Reality: Join the Insights from Fidelity Wealth Management team on July 9 to explore the key financial, social, and emotional aspects of early retirement. Learn how to evaluate your savings, plan for healthcare before Medicare, prepare for unexpected life changes, and build a fulfilling retirement lifestyle.
July 16 – Fidelity Webinar: Starting Small: How To Start Investing for the Price of a Coffee: Discover simple ways to start investing with just a few dollars. Learn about Fidelity account options, beginner-friendly investment strategies, and tools that can help you research investments and place trades as you build your portfolio.
July 22 – Steps to help secure your income in retirement: A mid career check-in: Take stock of where you are at this critical checkpoint and use retirement-saving strategies to better balance competing financial priorities.
July 22 – Introduction to Process Mapping: This course introduces the fundamentals of process improvement, helping learners build the knowledge and confidence to get started. Participants will learn key terminology, process mapping basics, best practices for success, and how to create a process map.
July 23 – Promapp, Interactive Process Creation: This course builds on the foundations of process mapping, helping learners create and manage processes in Nintex Promapp. Participants will also learn process standards and writing best practices for developing clear, consistent, and engaging documentation.
July 29 and 30 – Spartan Excellence Learning Series: This two day series equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to improve processes, strengthen accountability, and build a culture of continuous improvement. Grounded in the principles of Operational Excellence, the program emphasizes aligning improvements with MSU’s mission, values, and the 2030 Strategic Plan.
July 30 – Grammar Refresher: This in-person course is here to help you improve your grammar and usage skills to communicate more clearly and professionally. Here, you will learn how to avoid common errors, use pronouns and verb forms correctly, and apply punctuation with confidence.
Family-Friendly Events
July 7 and 8 – Zoo Days at Potter Park: Don’t miss this special Zoo Days promotion at Potter Park Zoo, where admission is just $2 and parking is free for visitors from any county. Enjoy animal encounters, family-friendly character meet-and-greets, hands-on activities, and more while making summer memories with your family and friends.
July 10, 17, and 24 – Family Art Studio Days at the Broad Art Museum: Family Art Studio is a free drop-in art experience held every Friday this summer, inviting families to create, explore, and experiment together. Enjoy hands-on art stations and creative activities in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Greater Lansing Area Events
Wednesdays in June – Meridian Township Summer Concert Series: Soak in the warm summer nights and visit Marketplace on the Green for the Meridian Township Summer Concert Series! Visit the website to see who is playing and when, every Wednesday in July.
Various Dates in July – Lansing Lugnuts Home Game: Head to Jackson Field and “Go Nuts” cheering on the Lansing Lugnuts, where every game brings a fun and lively atmosphere. There’s always something exciting happening at the ballpark for fans of all ages.
July 3 – City of Lansing Fourth of July Parade: Visit Downtown Lansing for a day of Independence Day festivities featuring the Independence Day Parade, Concert on the Capitol Steps, Block Party at Lugnuts Stadium, and a patriotic concert at Adado Riverfront Park. The celebration concludes with a spectacular fireworks display.
July 10, 11, & 12 – Capital City Comic Con: Capital City Comic Con is a three-day celebration of comics, collectibles, cosplay, gaming, and pop culture. Join fellow fans in downtown Lansing for panels, family activities, special events, and more.
Recurring Tuesdays – DeWitt Farmers Market: The 2026 Downtown DeWitt Farmer’s Market is being held every Tuesday until October! Here you will find the freshest produce, locally farmed meats, fresh eggs, delicious baked goods, and locally produced foods.
Recurring Saturdays – Holt Farmers Market: Visit the Delhi Township Fire Department for one of Michigan’s premiere indoor farmers markets. The Holt Farmers market serves as a space to support local farmers and food growers, local artisans, and provide locals the opportunity to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods.
Saturdays in July – Meridian Farmers’Market: The summer schedule is here for the Meridian Farmers Market! Stop by every Saturday this month for farm-fresh ingredients, specialty foods, handmade crafts and more.
Recurring Wednesdays – The Allen Farmer’s Market: Visit the Allen Farmers Market in Lansing for seasonal produce, artisan baked goods, gluten-free baked goods, pasture raised eggs, dry beans, fresh, delectable cheeses, hot and ready-to-eat foods, local meat and fish and fun activities.
Looking to cool off from the hot July sun? Check out these nearby swimming pools and lakes to dive into summer!
- Hunter Park Pool and Splashpad (Lansing)
- East Lansing Family Aquatic Center (Lansing)
- Hawk Island County Park (South Lansing)
- Lake Lansing Park South (Haslett)