Our story
The Heart Behind the Lantern
Every tradition begins somewhere. Ours started with family, community, and a dream to bring people together. Today, The Social Lantern creates unforgettable gatherings where local businesses, artists, musicians, and neighbors come together—and new traditions begin.
Where it all began
Our Story
Long before there was The Social Lantern, there were three kids growing up just a few blocks from Corktown in Detroit. We were raised in a family that believed in hard work, creativity, and finding opportunity wherever you could. As kids, we parked cars during Tigers games, sold four-leaf clovers at Detroit's St. Patrick's Day Parade, and carried flowers through the Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Mexicantown. Entrepreneurship wasn't something we learned—it was simply how we grew up. As adults, our paths looked very different. Rick built successful businesses, Christina embraced her creative side while working in the family business, and Mikey discovered her calling as a psychic medium, hosting intimate community events in Detroit. Years later, we came together to create a Día de los Muertos celebration. We poured our hearts into it, never imagining it would spark something much bigger. One afternoon, while gathered in Rick's living room tossing around ideas for the future, The Social Lantern was born. We realized we didn't just want to host another event—we wanted to create experiences where local businesses, artists, musicians, families, and neighbors could come together and build lasting traditions. Today, every event we create is inspired by the same values we grew up with: community, creativity, and supporting one another. Welcome to The Social Lantern. This is only the beginning.
Our values
What We Believe
Community is the event
The vendors, performers, and guests aren't the backdrop — they're the whole point. We build spaces where people can actually connect.
Local first, always
Every booth, every plate, every act is rooted in Southeast Michigan. We're not booking national brands. We're amplifying the people already here.
Atmosphere matters
We obsess over the details — the lighting, the layout, the music between sets. A great event should feel like stepping into somewhere special.
Accessible and welcoming
Our events are designed for everyone. Families, first-timers, regulars. If you've never been to something like this, we want your first time to feel like coming home.
Meet the team
Meet the Lantern Keepers
We're a small, passionate team of event producers, community organizers, and Southeast Michigan locals who care deeply about what we're building.
Rick Galan
Co-Founder & Operations Lead
Rick is passionate about bringing people together through unforgettable events. He oversees event planning, vendor coordination, logistics, and operations, helping turn big ideas into experiences that strengthen local businesses and build lasting community traditions.
Christina Galan
Co-Founder & Creative Diretor
Christina brings The Social Lantern's vision to life through branding, marketing, décor, and guest experience. She loves transforming ordinary spaces into memorable gatherings where every detail feels intentional, welcoming, and full of wonder.
Mikey Somes
Community & Partnerships
Mikey helps grow The Social Lantern through community connections, partnerships, and creative collaboration. From brainstorming new ideas to promoting events and building relationships with vendors and guests, she helps create experiences that make everyone feel welcome.
Come Find Us
Our next event is coming up soon. Bring someone you've been meaning to catch up with.