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Living in Kalamazoo

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Art | Attractions | Entertainment | Museums

Arts Council Gallery/Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo
Founded in 1966, the Arts Council exists to support, promote and fund the arts in Kalamazoo County. Our members include arts organizations, individual artists and arts lovers. We accomplish our mission through a variety of programs.

Ballet Arts - School of Dance
BALLET ARTS BELIEVES that Dance is a special aid in developing the mind, body and emotions. It is an educational process, a physical activity, and at its height, an art. Classical Ballet forms the base from which the total dancer is created. Our goal is to help children find their own creative abilities while gaining these basic techniques.

Barbershop Harmony Society
Formed as a national society in 1938 and as Kalamazoo chapter in 1941, we seek to perpetuate this American art form of four-part a cappella singing in barbershop harmony. We encourage vocal harmony and good fellowship among our members and music appreciation of barbershop quartet and chorus singing in our communities.

Barn Theatre
We are Michigan's oldest professional Equity summer stock theatre company. And, we may also be one of the oldest theatres of this type in the nation. Located on a picturesque rolling hillside on M-96 one mile west of the village of Augusta, The Barn Theatre has been in continuous operation for 52 years under the guidance and direction of its founder, producer/director Jack Ragotzy.

Blue Heaven
Blue Heaven is a regional Christian Gospel Blues group performing original Blues that will energize your soul. Our first CD is titled "Blues No More". Blue Heaven is a must see act, with smoking-hot blues and a powerful message of hope for the lost.

Celery Flats Interpretive Center
Tours, museums, and artifacts depict the region's celery farming heritage at this center. In addition, the center features an 1856, one-room schoolhouse, a 1931 grain elevator, playground facilities, a picnic area, biking and walking trails, the Hayloft Theatre, and summer festivals such as Family Festival, New Orleans Festival, and Michigan Shakespeare Festival.

Center Stage Theatre
Bringing to the stage a world alove in color and sound, this community theater strives to present a variety of events geared toward family entertainment.

Chenery Auditorium
The auditorium, seating 1900 patrons comfortably, is busy over 200 days a year bringing the finest in family entertainment to the Kalamazoo community.

The Civic
The Civic has provided Southwest Michigan with quality entertainment for over 70 years. We invite you to join us as a patron, a volunteer, or as a contributor, as we continue to present award-winning productions.

Crawlspace Eviction
Known by many names: Impro, Improv, Comedy Improv, Improv Comedy. No matter what you call it though, it comes down to this: theatre that is created instantly, without the use of a script, by actors working within a given set of guidelines. You are invited to experience the thrill of Improv with Crawlspace Eviction.

DJs In Kalamazoo
Let DJs in Kalamazoo handle the entertainment for your next wedding, corporate event, or party in the Kalamazoo, MI area.

Farmers Alley Theatre
The Farmers Alley Theatre is a professional ensemble based non-profit performance company dedicated to producing popular and new work in the Downtown Kalamazoo area in a unique and intimate setting.

Fontana Chamber Arts
Fontana Chamber Arts seeks to enrich the human spirit by supporting the creation and performance of high quality chamber music and visual arts within the diverse communities we serve.

The Gilmore
The Gilmore is an organization that fosters and supports a passion for keyboard music and artistry. Through a world-class festival, noncompetitive artist awards, year-round education programs, special performances and commissioning new music, The Gilmore makes great music a treasure for everyone to share.

Gilmore Car Museum
The Gilmore Car Museum welcomes you to enjoy a unique experience among automobile museums in the United States. We hope the information that follows will illustrate the scope of the vehicles, automobilia, antique buildings and pristine rural countryside that await the visitor to this special museum.

Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association
The Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association mission is to preserve, promote and perform acoustic music. Workshops, Jams and and other community based events such as The Cooper's Glen Music festival is sponsored through the efforts of "GLAMA".

Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra
This southwest Michigan 18 piece jazz band, Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra, is considered one of the premier big bands in the Midwest. Established in 2005, the ensemble is an eclectic mix of professional musicians, music educators and devoted big band "junkies." The band draws from a vast library of classic big band literature and faithfully reproduces the power and excitement of the leading bands of yesteryear, like Stan Kenton, Woody Herman and Count Basie. The GLJO also showcases the sounds of more contemporary ensembles like Frank Mantooth and Maynard Ferguson.

Hayloft Theatre
The Hayloft Theatre is a unique an intimate performance space with an equally unique history.

Historic Districts
In formation on various areas of Kalamazoo such as Bronson Park, Stuart Avenue and South Westnedge Neighborhoods.

Island Fest
The home of Island Festival. Kalamazoo's fastest growing summer celebration.

John E. Gray Memorial Museum
Housed in Alamo Township's oldest building, this museum is filled with antiques and memorabilia, including old farm machinery, old tools, an antique kitchen, and special changing exhibits.

Kalamazoo Air Zoo
Relive the excitement of a simpler time when dashing young men and their flying machines took to the skies. Climb into authentic aircraft procedures trainers and imagine the thrill of flying amongst the clouds. Take a simulated flight in a Corsair and hang onto your seat as you loop and roll over the landscape. Over 70 beautifully restored vintage aircraft on display.

Kalamazoo Bach Festival
The Kalamazoo Bach Festival was founded in 1947 by Dr. Henry Overley, Professor of Music at Kalamazoo College. One of the oldest arts organizations in the area, the Bach Festival has consistently delivered high quality music to the Southwest Michigan area.

Kalamazoo Children's Chorus
The KCC was formed in 1981 by Jeanne Frey who wanted to give Kalamazoo-area children an opportunity to explore and develop choral music of all sorts. Starting as a single choir, we now have five choirs for children of most ages and experience. We’re always looking for new ways to expose our singers to new music. We’ve sung with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, The Kalamazoo Singers and the Kalamazoo Oratorio Society. We have sung in four operas and we sing in the “Nutcracker” ballet every two years. Since 1993 we’ve traveled the world from Japan to Ireland and London to Vienna. We sing at many festivals and we’re always looking for new musical and cultural experiences for our singers. We provide a challenging musical environment for our choristers and give a rich heritage of choral signing in the Kalamazoo area.

Kalamazoo Concert Band
The The Kalamazoo Concert Band invites you to join us for our new exciting season, featuring music concerts in Kalamazoo, Michigan the whole family will enjoy! All regular season performances will be held at WMU Miller Auditorium at 8:00 P.M. and are free admission.

Kalamazoo County Fair
A variety of activities, including auto shows, dog shows, gem shows, and county fair events, are held here.

Kalamazoo Dance
Kalamazoo Dance (USABDA) is a community ballroom dance for couples, singles, college students and dancers of all skill levels. A lesson is provided.

Kalamazoo Film Society
The finest alternative film-going experience in Southwestern Michigan featuring the newest independent, foreign and alternative films from around the world at rock-bottom admission prices.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
There are more than 3,000 prints, photographs, paintings, sculptures and ceramic pieces in the KIA's permanent collection, with emphasis on 20th Century American art and German expressionistic art. Among the artists represented: Rembrandt Van Rijn, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Andrew Wyeth and Alexander Calder. Admission is free; donations requested.

Kalamazoo Living History Show
Largest, nationally recognized, juried living history show in the Midwest devoted to pre-1890 original or reproduction living history supplies, accouterments and related crafts. More than 10,000 historical re-enactors from pre-Revolutionary through the Civil War, history buffs, collectors, and the general public from 18 states and Canada come together for a festive weekend to buy, sell and trade. The event attracts over 270 of the finest craftsman and dealers of living history supplies and related crafts from throughout the United States.

Kalamazoo Nature Center
The Kalamazoo Nature Center is recognized as one of the nation's best nature centers. Since 1960, the Kalamazoo Nature Center has been inspiring people to care about the environment by providing experiences that lead them to understand their connection to the natural world. The Nature Center reaches nearly 250,000 people each year through extensive programs in education, research, and conservation.

Kalamazoo Pipe Band
The Kalamazoo Pipe Band is a non-profit Scottish Bagpipe and Drum band with a teaching program through the Portage Community Education Center. We share our love of the music through teaching and performance and have been part of the area's cultural diversity since 1963. Our website provides more information about getting involved with the band or learning to play.

Kalamazoo Speedway
Now under the ownership of the Howe Family, the 2001 season will begin with the annual "Sneak Preview" car show to be held at Wings Stadium March 23-25. The season will open with a pair of practices on Saturday, March 31 and Saturday, April 7.

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
For more than 78 years, the musicians of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra have brought the highest level of artistic excellence to our community. Your Orchestra has evolved into a unique and integral component of Kalamazoo's cultural life.

Kalamazoo Valley Blues Assn.
The Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association (KVBA) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization staffed entirely by volunteers. Dedicated To The Preservation And Presentation Of The American Blues Tradition.

Kalamazoo Valley Museum
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is located at 230 North Rose Street in downtown Kalamazoo. We are one block north of the Radisson Plaza Hotel on Rose Street.

Kids Play ETC
Kids Play ETC is an adult supervised child play center that offers a series of activities devoted to the physical, emotional and social development of children. We offer a play area for toddlers, a manipulative toys and games area, an interactive play area and play structures for older children. Kids Playhouse, Interactive Toys, Fun Activities, Improve Motor Skills, Large Play Area, Birthday Parties, Open Year Round, Special Events, Free WIFI available, Snacks & Beverages for sale.

Lazer Land
If you are looking for an exciting, fast-paced, action-packed game of laser tag, a challenging round of miniature golf, or simply want to hang out in our arcade room, Lazer Land is the place for you! Located in Portage, Michigan, Lazer Land offers the latest in laser tag technology with a whopping 2,000 square foot of playing room, an originally-designed 18-hole miniature golf course, and a 1,000 square foot arcade room.

LOBO THE CLOWN
LoBo the HoBo Clown Over 35yrs. of "Miles of Smiles" Face Painting ,Balloons,Puppets & Puppet making.

Miller Auditorium
The premier auditorium in southwestern Michigan for touring Broadway shows, such as "Les Miserables" and "CATS", as well as concerts, conventions and special programs. Seats 3,500. Home of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and numerous WMU School of Music programs.

The New Vic Theatre
The New Vic has added to the vibrant Kalamazoo theater scene for more than 30 years with plays and musicials ranging from the experimental to the traditional, as well as occasional concert performances in cabaret setting.

The Otsego Jazz Ensemble
The Otsego Jazz Ensemble is a 17-piece swing band with a male vocalist. Two of us actually live in Otsego! Our director is Chuck Lund. We perform for concerts, fund raisers, and celebrations of all sorts in Southwestern Lower Michigan.

Pirate's Island
Pirate's Island Aquatic Park features a huge, interactive pirate-ship as well as three 200 ft. waterslides, two spectacular Jacuzzis, a lazy river, warm pool and lap pool.

Southwest Michigan Events and Attractions
A source for information about events and attractions in southwest Michigan featuring monthly calendars listing local fairs, festivals and other events.

State Theatre
Welcome to West Michigan's premier live entertainment venue, The State Theatre in Kalamazoo.

The Taste of Kalamazoo
Now entering is 16th year, the Taste of Kalamazoo is the premier event for families to enjoy food, fun, and music! Held at the Arcadia Festival Site, the Taste of Kalamazoo is the perfect way to experience what our city has to offer.

Team U.S. Hot-Air Nationals and Air Show
Hundreds of balloon pilots and a million plus spectators make the Battle Creek Hot-Air Balloon Championship and Air Show an 'annual' stop.

The Train Barn
This museum includes a model railroad exhibit, a hobby shop with trains dating back to the late 1800s, and a 2800 S.F. Lionel Train layout.

Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers
founded in 1981 under the artistic direction of Cori Terry. Wellspring is a professional modern dance company comprised of six company members based in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The West Michigan Glass Society
Founded in 2002 by a local group of glass artists. Our current membership includes 175 area emerging and professional glass artists, students and friends of glass who love the magical material of glass and the mysterious process of learning to shape glass to reflect our creativity. We sponsor public events designed to increase the community awareness and exposure to glass art. We offer glass art classes and workshops in glass blowing, lampworking, stained glass, mosaics, fused glass and sandblasting.

West Michigan Jazz Society
WMJS is a non-profit organization devoted to the perpetuation of live and recorded jazz in the West Michigan community.

Whiskey Rhythm Band
Whiskey Rhythm Band plays classic rock and blues in the Kalamazoo area and Southern Michigan.

Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Visitor Center
This center features a state-of-the-art fish hatchery, where visitors can feed fish in the show pond and learn about hatchery production and management.