6 Popular Festivals In Kalamazoo, Michigan

festivals in kalamazoo
Tenissa
Tenissa 
Updated
| 3 min read

The state of Michigan is indeed one of the prioritized states to visit when traveling in the United States. Michigan is filled with tons of beautiful cities, and since you may find it hard to decide which cities to visit first, we will just tell you right away. Head to the southern part of the state to arrive in Kalamazoo—where top-notch attractions await you. For example, Kalamazoo Valley Museum cannot wait to amaze you with its exhibits on technology, science, and history. What’s more, there is a planetarium that will let you explore the stars and beyond. You will also enjoy Air Zoo Museum. It is not a zoo where you can meet animals but a place in which you can admire a collection of flight simulators and vintage planes. Kalamazoo is home to amazing festivals which you should definitely attend while you stay in one of the best hotels with pools in town. Keep reading to learn about popular festivals in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

1. Gilmore Keyboard Festival


There will always be festivals about music around the world—and that includes Kalamazoo. If you are fond of music, then you would not want to miss taking part in Gilmore Keyboard Festival. This Kalamazoo festival is one of the most popular festivals in the summer, and for the whole three weeks, you will completely enjoy the pleasure of watching classical and jazz keyboard shows. You will be presented with a range of piano performances—including solo, orchestral, and chamber—by some of the world’s renowned musicians.

Gilmore Keyboard Festival

Address: 359 S Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 101, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, USA

Website: Gilmore Keyboard Festival

Takes place: April to May

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2. Geek Fest

If you entered the Cosplay Contest on Saturday, here's the complete gallery! https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QnW_LJPwCS7MW6B9VkGi5icN_r5hgfXs

Posted by Geek Fest on Tuesday, 2 October 2018

You may say that you do not have a geek in you, but in fact, everyone has a geek in themselves—even if many are not very much aware of it. That is why you are cordially invited to participate in Geek Fest, so you can embrace your own geek, then meet and socialize with other geeks. There will be plenty of exciting activities featured, including cosplay, robotics, gaming, technology, crafts, and a list of illustrators and artists. Bring all of your loved ones with you and have some fun time with each other.

Geek Fest

Address: 2747 S 11th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA

Website: Geek Fest

Takes place: October

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3. Black Arts Festival

Posted by Black Arts Festival on Sunday, 6 January 2019

The United States is all about diversity, and Black Arts Festival is an event that lets you appreciate the diversity in Kalamazoo. Aiming at preserving the heritage of black culture, the festival showcases entertainment, crafts, dancing, and music, among others. All performances are performed by the African American people residing in the city. There will also be food vendors standing by to keep your stomach happy at all times.

Black Arts Festival

Address: 535 W Paterson, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, USA

Website: Black Arts Festival

Takes place: July

Price: Free

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4. Ribfest

Posted by Kalamazoo Ribfest on Saturday, 3 August 2019

Taking place in downtown Kalamazoo, Ribfest is probably one of the most anticipated events in the city—because this Kalamazoo music festival where you can enjoy the most delectable barbecues along with the best musical performances. You would not have to worry about your stomach complaining when you are dancing to the music because the barbecue food vendors are more than happy to satisfy your appetite.

Ribfest

Address: 145 E Water St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, USA

Website: Ribfest

Takes place: August

Price: From 10 USD

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5. Hippie Fest

Hippie Fest (14939527481)
Source: Photo by user Walter used under CC BY 2.0

Come to Kalamazoo County Fairground at the end of May to take part in one of the most Bohemian festivals around—called Hippie Fest. Compared to the other festivals in Kalamazoo, this festival is relatively new as it has only been entertaining visitors since 2018. It does not matter if you are a small kid, a teenager, an adult, or an elderly because this entertaining event is for people of all ages. It’s even better if you visit with the children because kids 10 and under can enter for free. Expect to indulge in family-friendly activities and musical performances. With this event in Kalamazoo coming into existence, the city cannot get any groovier.

Hippie Fest

Address: Kalamazoo County Fairground, 2900 Lake St, Kalamazoo, MI 49048, USA

Website: Hippie Fest

Takes place: May

Price: 12 USD

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6. Fall Craft Show

Posted by Melly Belly Creations on Monday, 2 September 2019

Kalamazoo entertainment is not complete without the Fall Craft Show that takes place in September. This free event lets you explore a myriad of booths that showcase crafts and goodies. Which art pieces do you like? You can buy them immediately. Are you into vintage objects? You will turn into a shopaholic here. Fun time awaits at Kalamazoo County Expo Center.

Fall Craft Show

Address: Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St, Kalamazoo, MI 49048, USA

Website: Fall Craft Show

Takes place: September

Price: Free

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Enjoy Kalamazoo and all of its festivals

Now that you have read through the article, you understand that there are some festivals that you can participate in while visiting Kalamazoo. If you do decide to travel to this beautiful city, make sure to mark your calendar and add the festivals to your itinerary. You are always welcome to come back to Kalamazoo as many times as you can, for a vacation is not complete if you do not enjoy the whole thing—not just the attractions and food but also the festivals.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Tenissa is a content writer, translator and editor. She enjoys being a globetrotter and has traveled to many countries around the world. So far, her favourite destination is Switzerland. She looks...Read more

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