Dear 517 Friends and Colleagues,

This is one of the more difficult messages I’ve had to write, difficult to accept, and even more so to share publicly. The Lansing Made 517 Day Celebration was born out of a desire to uplift what’s truly special about our region: the vibrant events, unique places, and above all, the incredible people who make the 517 great.

After the energy and inspiration from last year’s celebration, I wholeheartedly believed that 2025 would be even more spectacular full of synergy, collaboration, and community pride. But sometimes, despite our best plans and deepest hopes, things take a turn we didn’t anticipate.

A series of unexpected and unfortunate events far too close to the scheduled date to recover undermined the very foundation of this year’s celebration. What I had envisioned as a joyful, family-friendly, community-wide experience, especially in partnership with the Over the Edge event benefiting the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing, simply unraveled. Key collaborative differences and the sudden loss of a major sponsor left me unable to reset in time. It was not only a professional blow, it was a deeply emotional one.

I’ve always taken pride in my ability to adapt and rise from setbacks. But this time, I couldn't. And it’s heartbreaking.

I am incredibly grateful to Downtown Lansing, Inc. for recognizing the value of 517 Day and stepping in to offer support, options, and creative solutions. In that spirit, here’s where we stand:

I will be issuing refunds to all vendors who have already submitted payments.

In the weeks ahead, I will be consulting with trusted partners and supporters to determine what it will take to regroup, rebuild, and return stronger in 2026.

In the meantime, I encourage you to explore and support the many wonderful events Downtown Lansing, Inc. has organized in honor of 517 Day. There is still so much happening throughout the day and evening to celebrate our amazing community. Details can be found at: www.downtownlansing.org

For the love of 517, let’s continue to say good things about Lansing and mean them. Thank you again to Downtown Lansing, Inc., and especially to Cathleen Edgerly and Shakayla Zoss for their unwavering support.

With gratitude and resolve,
Metro Melik
Founder, Lansing Made
517 Day Celebration