Festivals and Events to Attend During Summer in Kalamazoo

Robinson Smith
4 min readAug 6, 2021

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Are you planning to visit Kalamazoo this summer? If you are looking to enjoy yourself with your family or friends, this culturally enriched and aesthetically crafted city in Southern Michigan is the best place to visit. Along with friendly people and quality dining, you can enjoy the summer at Kalamazoo with many festivals and events. Let’s explore some details about them.

Festivals to Attend in Kalamazoo During Summer

  1. Gilmore Keyboard Festival

If you are a music lover and planning to visit the city in April-May, you shouldn’t miss this opportunity to attend the live performances of some of the leading world-class renowned musicians. The festival continues for three weeks, and you get the chance to listen to the solo, chamber, and orchestral performances. People who acknowledge such art would love the jazz and classical keyboard sessions for sure.

2. Black Arts Festival

This festival lets you enjoy the USA’s diversity and appreciate it too in the interesting city of Kalamazoo. As the name suggests, the festival is organized to preserve the heritage of the black culture. Generally organized in July, you will enjoy the showcase of entertainment, dance, music, art and craft, and music along with other performances in this festival. The African-American population of the city performs all the activities, and you can enjoy the mouth watering snacks available at the street vendors.

3. Ribfest

If you enjoy barbeque and music both and want to enjoy the most anticipated music fest in downtown Kalamazoo, you must attend the Ribfest music concert. Enjoy the best musical performances with tasty barbeques from the vendors and continue your dance and fun. This most-awaited fest happens in August every year.

4. Hippie Fest

If you are eager to enjoy a bohemian festival in the city of Kalamazoo, come to the country fairground at the end of May every year to enjoy the Hippie Fest. This fest got its recognition worldwide a few years back. Irrespective of your ages, and styles, you can enter and enjoy this fest and participate in family-related activities groove to the hippie music in this city of Michigan, USA.

Festivals and Events to Attend During Summer

5. Dionysos Greek Festival

This three-day festival takes place at the Arcadia Greek Festival Place in June every year. You get to enjoy Greek food, music, culture, and the spirit completely in this festival. People dance, sing, and perform different art forms to share their heritage with the viewers. You get to eat and drink authentic Greek delicacies to be remembered for long.

6. Taste of Portage

You get to enjoy hundreds of delicacies from the participating catering companies and restaurants in this unique festival in summer, around June-July every year at Kalamazoo City. If you are visiting Michigan at this time, enjoy the special Brew lunch at this festival. This happens at Portage, where you can enjoy the entertainment shows at night along with tasty foods.

7. Taste of Kalamazoo

The largest and most anticipated food festival in this cultural heritage city happens at the end of July every year, where more than 30 restaurants participate. You can enjoy food items from different parts of the world at this festival. You can take your entire family to enjoy the program, and they would enjoy the foods and beverages offered, keeping everyone in mind.

8. Island Festival

Enjoy this festival in June every year in the cultural city of Kalamazoo, which includes three days of continuous music programs. The festival includes top local entertainers, talent from award-winning and renowned regional and national artists to perform. You can enjoy diversified music along with Jamaican food and beverages at this festival.

Now explore some exquisite events that you can in enjoy while visiting kalamazoo summer. You can explore the city at night while relaxing in the sunny daytime at Kalamazoo.

Events to attend in Kalamazoo during summer

1. Kalamazoo Scavenger Hunt is a fun-filled activity or game where the participants roam around the downtown to find multi-storied buildings and larger green spaces. It would be best to find out the answers to the question you will be given in this hunt. You can book your participation beforehand through online facilities.

2. You have a list of places to hike with your bicycle or can bike with your two-wheeler even. You can visit the parks and the hardwood forest to enjoy the beautiful summer and nature at this time.

3. You must have heard about Murals; the large wall paintings that offer a different vibe to the viewers is a popular art form at Kalamazoo. Rather it is the hub of a mural in entire Michigan. The city has different places full of such art forms where you can pose for a picture while adoring the art form at its best. You can become a part of these sessions as well.

4. Farmers Ally Theatre organizes shows and events where the participants perform different art forms or entertain the audience. For example- this year, they have organized a Backyard Broadway for the people. You can enjoy these kinds of shows too in the city of Kalamazoo in the summer.

5. Zero Waste Cooking is an event that makes you learn to cook foods from your cooking scraps. You can enjoy this event in mid-June every year in the city. Leading author and renowned chef Lindsay Jean-hard share tips and tricks to not waste food at all. You need to register yourself to attend the event.

You can also attend several other events throughout the summer in this southern city of Michigan in the summer. Sports events like Kalamazoo KIK pool swimming, Ladies Night at the Growlers, other street music shows, and participatory performances make the nightlife interesting and entertaining for the visitors. You can also enjoy dining at leading restaurants at Kalamazoo is quite popular for its quality dining and after-dinner brewing.

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