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january | february | march | april | may | june | july | august | september | october | november | december
Kalamazoo County offers many annual kid-friendly festivals and events throughout the year, many of which have special rates at certain times and/or special kids' activities. Listings include a general time frame, as well as the current or upcoming year's date (if available). These events will also be listed on our Events Calendar.
More listings coming soon. Please contact us to add a listing.
Pinball at the
"Zoo"
Friday April 16th & Saturday April 17 th,
2010; Friday 1pm to 10pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm.
Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds, 2900 Lake St, Kalamazoo, (269) 628-4628,
Kevin@PinballAtTheZoo.com
Rediscover Pinball at the 11th. Annual "Pinball at the 'Zoo". It
will feature a Multiple Pinball Tournaments and Vending Booths with
Parts and Machines for Sale. All games will be set on free play. Auction
will be held on Saturday the 17th. at 10:00 AM. NEW This year will be
our Arcade and Gameroom show.
Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 25, 2009, 10:00 am
Parade starts at Michigan and Church Streets and continues to
Riverside Cemetery. Check events calendar
for parade information for other nearby locations.
Harry Fest
Saturday, May 30th, noon - midnight, 2009
Bittersweet Ski Resort, 6
Art on the Mall
Friday, June 5th noon - 9pm, Saturday June 6th, 2009, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, 2009
Kalamazoo Mall, downtown Kalamazoo, information at (269) 388-2830
Over 70 artists will sell original works of art and fine crafts.
From jewelry to pottery, unique garden art to incredible sculptures,
this event produces the best shopping in Kalamazoo. Downtown merchants
will join in the celebration by hosting a summer in the city sales
event.
Battle Creek Cereal Festival and World's Longest Breakfast Table
Friday, June 12, 2009, 6:30 pm: Cereal
Fest Parade
Saturday June 13, 2009, 8:00 am - noon: World's Longest Breakfast
Table and activities
Battle Creek residents have pulled together to make sure the World's
Longest Breakfast Table event goes on for 2009. Breakfast will be served
between 8:00 and 10:00 am, with entertainment and activities continuing
until noon. We will be setting up 150 tables, one for each year of the
town's history. Activities include live music, various
entertainment (face painting, balloons, Binder Park Zoomobile, karaoke
contest, etc.), youth tennis carnival and adult pickleball, and local food
and arts vendors and exhibitors.
Bronson Park Concerts in the Park Series
Sundays, June 3rd - August 19th, 2009, 4:00 pm
Bronson Park, downtown Kalamazoo
A twelve-week series of free concerts starting the first Sunday
afternoon in June at 4:00 pm and each Sunday through August. Program
features performances by local music and vocal groups. In the event
of rain, the performances are moved to First Baptist Church at 315 W
Michigan Ave.
Dionysos
Greek Festival
Arcadia Creek Festival Place, downtown
Kalamazoo
Thursday - Saturday, June 4th - June 6th, 2009
Thursday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm, Friday 11:00 am - 1:00 am, Saturday 11:00 am - 1:00 am
Food, drink, song and dance fill this three-day authentic Greek
experience, sponsored by Theo and Stacy's. Saturday June 6th is a day for families to come downtown and enjoy the sights, the smells, and the excitement of being Greek for a day. Face painting, balloon sculpting, puppet show, and more.
Admission is free on Saturday from 11:00am - 4:00pm.
Do-Dah Parade
Saturday, June 6, 2009, 11:00
am
Downtown Kalamazoo, (269) 344-0111
It’s the official parody of anything and everything. This is the one
time where silly and satire rules the streets of downtown Kalamazoo.
Join over 80 businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community
individuals as we enjoy the absurd, the goofy, and the downright
un-political nature of a parody.
Downtown Plein Air Event
Sunday, June 21, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Bronson Park & downtown Kalamazoo
Island Fest
Thursday, June 18th - Saturday, June 20th, 2009
Thursday 5:00 pm - midnight, Friday 11:45 am - 1:30 am, Saturday noon -
1:30 am
Arcadia Creek Festival Place, Downtown Kalamazoo
Enjoy the Caribbean style and join 10,000 reggae fans for an eclectic mix of acts such as Toots and
Maytals, Eek-A-Mouse and Kanda Bongo Man. Saturday includes a
special Family Groove Workshop with Carolyn Koebel of Dunuya, from 2:00
- 3:30 pm
Kindleberger
Summer Concert Series
Sundays, June 14th - August 23rd, 2009,
6:30pm
Entrance to the park at the corner of Hubbard and Park
Ave, Parchment, (269) 345-4061
The Stage at Kindleberger offers concerts through the summer, every
Sunday at 6:30 from June 14th through August 23rd. Lawn seating , bring your favorite blanket or lawn
chair. All performances are FREE!
KIA
Art Fair
1st Saturday in
June--June 6th, 2009, 9am - 5pm
Bronson Park, downtown Kalamazoo
More than two hundred artists from across the country participate in the fair, which attracts more than 60,000 people every year. Paintings, prints, drawings, photos, ceramics, sculpture, fiber works and wearable art, jewelry, glass and mixed-media works are all available for purchase.
The KIA Art Fair also has activities for kids of all ages, including a Children's Art Yard, a Face Painting Booth, a Button Factory and other family-oriented activities. Live music fills the air throughout the day, and more than a dozen food vendors offer treats for every taste.
New this year for the grownups - KIA Beer Garden! Enjoy live music by Whiskey Before Breakfast (Friday, June 5th 6-8 p.m.) and toast summer with Bell's Oberon Ale. Friday, June 5th 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, June 6th 12-5 p.m. under the KIA Overhang on the corner of South and Park. Sponsored by Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Portage
Summer Entertainment Series
Overlander Bandshell, Celery Flats
Historical Area & Amphitheater, Hayloft Theater, Millenium Park Amphitheater
Kid's Summer Kick-Off/Outdoor Movie Night is on June
12, 2009, 7:00 pm w/ movie at 9:40 pm or dusk @ Celery Flats, 7335 Garden
Lane, Portage--free! (269) 329-4522
This series includes various concerts and performances,
a movie night, party in the park, story time, an Extreme Teen event, and the Portage Lunch and
Learn programs. View the online abbreviated
brochure of events.
Vicksburg
Old Car Festival and Arts & Crafts Show
Friday & Saturday, June 12th &
13th, 2009 (always 2nd Friday & Saturday in June)
Friday 6:00 - 10:00 pm, Saturday 9:00am - 4:00pm
This is Vicksburg's biggest event of the year. Hundreds of classic
cars and hot rods. Thousands of visitors. Entertainment begins on Friday
evening with 50-60s music and a "cruise". Saturday its the car exhibition
and judging plus live entertainment, a swap meet & flee market, the annual
Clark Park arts & craft show, Library Book sale, Gas & steam engine show
at the Vicksburg Historic Museum grounds and much, much more. They
kick off with a cruise night on Friday night from 6:00-10:00pm. Cars and
friends come to gather and get ready for the big car show on Saturday. A
great night with a DJ and oldies music for old and young alike.
Kalamazoo
Blues Festival
Thursday - Saturday, July
9th - 11th, 2009
Arcadia Creek Festival Place, Downtown Kalamazoo
Thursday 5pm, admission $5; Friday 5pm, admission $10, Saturday
noon, admission $12. Advance tickets available online after June
1st. They usually have a kids' area on Saturday from about noon -
4pm.
Kindleberger
Summer Festival of the Performing Arts
Wednesday, July 8th - Monday, July 13th, 2009
Enjoy community theatre under the cool shady trees of lovely Kindleberger Park. Discover the perfect hand-made gift, for yourself or a friend, at our juried art and craft show. Take the kids on a pony ride! From a 5K run/walk to a book sale, The Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts
offers something for everyone! Lawn seating, bring your favorite lawn chair or
blanket.
Krasl Art
Fair
Saturday & Sunday, July 11 & 12, 2009
Lake Bluff Park, St. Joseph, (269) 983-0271
Annual Krasl Art Fair includes a Kids' Zone where kids can enjoy making
their own art in a variety of creative and fun activities under the
tents at the Krasl Art Center. Five activities will be available both
days. Two dollar donation accepted per activity, per person.
Summer Sidewalk Sales 2009
July 23 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, July 24 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, July 25
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Downtown Kalamazoo Mall
Entertainment, Children's Activities, and Information Booth all located on
the North Kalamazoo Mall by the Radisson
This is our biggest and longest tradition of summer sidewalk sales. Tents
are flanking the Kalamazoo Mall almost end-to-end from Michigan Avenue to
South Street. And, under those tents are dozen(s) of merchants that have
items priced to move. But, the sales are everywhere and many businesses up
and down East and West Michigan, Portage, Edwards, South, and Rose are
hosting great sales. And, when you need a place to take a rest (from all
that shopping) downtown has many great restaurants and coffee shops just
waiting to serve.
Kalamazoo
County Fair
August 10 - 15, 2009
Kalamazoo County Expo Center and Fairgrounds, 2900 Lake St, Kalamazoo
Includes many events, 4-H animal shows and judgings, Miracle of
Birth exhibit, races, music, midway rides, tractor pulls, motorcross,
exhibitors and food vendors from throughout the county. Family
passes are available, and kids 4 & under are free.
SW
Michigan Harvest Fest
Sunday, September 20, 2009, 11:30am to 6:30pm (gates
open at 11am)
Tillers International, 10515 East OP Ave, Scotts
Harvest Fest is hosted by Tillers International in Scotts, Michigan,
a short ride east from Kalamazoo and Portage. Admission is just $10 per
carload (or $1 per person for busloads of ten or more) — and admission
for bicyclists is free. Check out fresh locally-grown produce and
connect with ecologically sound resources in our community. Exhibitors
include farmers, artisans, eco-villagers, and sustainability and natural
wellness experts. Also look forward to hayrides, music, demonstrations
of farming skills and helpful food tips, tasty cooked morsels for lunch
and snacking, kids' activity tent, and more.
More listings coming soon! Please contact us to add a listing.