Events in Kalamazoo today

A Mental Health Navigator is available to help community members move through the healthcare system and address barriers to mental health care. Support includes a caring ear, help identifying needs, collaborative short and long term goal setting, and connections to appropriate services and resources. Assistance is offered without an appointment at OutFront Kalamazoo. In accordance with regulations, the service is for individuals ages 14 and older, and those under 14 may participate with permission from a parent or guardian.

Each week, Kalamazoo Gospel Mission brings its mobile shower and laundry trailer to The Dream Center, organized by staff member Ron with help from volunteer Kelly. The trailer provides two showers and one washing machine. Guests receive fresh underwear, a T-shirt, socks, and hygiene supplies. To ensure access for many, showers are limited to 12 minutes, with a two-minute warning at the 10-minute mark. Hot water stays consistent thanks to a tankless on-demand heater. This service runs seasonally through the end of September and may be canceled if bad weather is expected or if the unit experiences a breakdown. Check for last minute updates.

A relaxed social hangout for homeschoolers centers learning around board games in a friendly setting for everyone. Purchase a one day pass for $5.00 and receive a second pass free. Staff are available to teach and explain games, and the experience supports critical thinking, problem solving, memory, teamwork, communication, and learning to handle wins and losses with grace. Connect with other homeschoolers while enjoying board games in a welcoming atmosphere.

Savor authentic homestyle Mexican cooking.

An affinity space welcoming LGBTQIA+ young adults ages 18 through 24, hosted at OutFront Kalamazoo. It offers a place to meet peers and stay connected beyond the gatherings through access to the group’s Discord server.

Compete in a One Piece trading card game tournament using constructed decks and Swiss-style rounds. Bring a tournament-legal deck. Pairings are based on win and loss records, and a loss does not eliminate you. Players may drop by notifying the scorekeeper before the next round is paired. The entry fee is $5. Prizes include official Bandai support, plus one booster pack for each match win, with prizing limited to three rounds. If participation reaches 16 or more players, the last-place finisher receives a consolation pack. New and seasoned players alike are welcome, with a focus on teaching, learning, and fostering a friendly community.

Xtreme Karaoke presents a karaoke event. Enjoy $3 well drinks.

Enjoy a welcoming yoga session at Move with Joy, guided by Joy, whose approach draws from traditional asanas and the Hatha, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga traditions. Classes combine energizing Vinyasa flows with slower, longer held Yin poses. All mats and props are provided, and comfortable, easy-to-move-in clothing is recommended. With over 24 years of teaching experience, Joy offers supportive instruction that invites each participant to open body, mind, and spirit toward peaceful living, love, and gratitude for self and others. The drop-in price is $10, payable by cash, Cash App, or Venmo, and community scholarships for free attendance are available upon request. When the weather cooperates, sessions move to the rooftop, so arriving a few minutes early helps everyone head up together. In case of rain or poor conditions, class takes place indoors at the studio.

Each week, staff member Ron and volunteer Kelly bring the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission shower and laundry trailer to The River church parking lot. The unit includes two showers and one washing machine, and guests receive new underwear, a T-shirt, socks, and hygiene supplies. Showers are limited to 12 minutes, with a two-minute warning after 10 minutes. Hot water remains steady thanks to a tankless, on-demand heater. This service runs seasonally and may be canceled if inclement weather is expected or if the trailer experiences a breakdown.

Enjoy a chair-based yoga session at the Oshtemo Community Center. Movements are adapted to be done seated or with the chair for support, making it a comfortable choice for anyone who would rather not get down to or up from the floor. As with other styles of yoga, it aims to improve flexibility, build strength, enhance balance, and promote relaxation. The cost is a $5 drop-in, paid directly to the instructor. The center is served by Metro Bus Route 11 Stadium/KVCC, the lime green line, and riders can check route maps for exact stops, with Metro Link and Metro Connect offering more direct transportation options. A beginner-focused mat yoga option is also available for a $5 drop-in. Community members who want to share a skill as a volunteer can email parks@oshtemo.org, and the facility can be rented for meetings and celebrations.

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes offers a free, monthly food box distribution at The Salvation Army. Everyone is welcome and no identification is required. Boxes contain a variety of perishable and nonperishable foods, which may include fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, or frozen meat. This giveaway occurs on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Out of Favor Boys appears at Beats on Bates in Bates Alley. Expect a lively, fun-filled atmosphere throughout.

Returnable bottles and cans can make a difference for Kalamazoo Animal Rescue. This fundraiser provides reliable support for the rescue’s programs and helps cover medical care so cats and dogs adopted through the rescue are healthy and happy. Donations are collected year-round. Please bring only bottles and cans that qualify for the 10 cent deposit under Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law. Thank you for contributing to the cause.

Take part in a Yu-Gi-Oh! Advanced Format locals tournament featuring three Swiss paired rounds that follow the Advanced Format Forbidden and Limited List. Entry is $5 and includes an OTS pack, with additional prizes awarded for each match win. Konami requires players to register through the Neuron app before participating.

A Keyforge group meets to play and to help newcomers learn the game. A 1-Day Membership is required, and the fee is credited back for qualifying purchases. Current members can take part at no cost.

Glow Hall presents an evening with Glenn Jones, joined by opening sets from Liam Grant and the Kalamazoo Drone Society. Jones, once a member of the exploratory rock group Cul de Sac, has become a leading figure in American Primitive guitar. His solo work blends melody, physical presence, and precision, drawing deeply from folk roots while keeping the tradition alive and contemporary. Grant, a New England guitarist and improviser, extends that lineage with wide ranging guitar journeys, modal pieces, and lively rags that recall John Fahey, Robbie Basho, Peter Walker, and Jack Rose. The Kalamazoo Drone Society, a rotating local collective of musicians, artists, and magicians, sets the tone with experimental free improvisation that moves between structure and spontaneity. This is a seated performance. Admission is $20 and it is open to all ages.

LFG Bar in downtown Kalamazoo hosts a fun weekly trivia night with food and drinks. Teams compete for points, and the top three finishers take home prizes.

An unofficial afterparty for Beats on Bates features an acoustic set by local artist Peyton Bohl. The show is free. Food and drinks are available, offering a relaxed way to keep the energy going after the main event.

Enjoy a relaxed crafting meetup at the library where participants bring a needle and their current project to work on together. All forms of needlecraft are welcome, including embroidery, knitting, cross stitch, tatting, and crochet, along with paper crafts and plastic canvas. Expect friendly conversation, idea sharing, and a laid back pace where chatting sometimes takes center stage. Open to all ages and experience levels.

Enjoy complimentary admission on Thursdays, with hours extended until 8 in the evening. This access is made possible by support from Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund.

Throughout the summer, Red Cross blood drives take place at Hope Church, providing multiple opportunities to donate blood.

At the Kiln Fusing Studio, craft a custom cheese board and a coordinating cracker tray to elevate your next gathering. This beginner-friendly class covers the fundamentals of kiln-fused glass, including safe cutting, arranging your design, and the firing process that transforms your work into polished serveware. Use clear glass with colorful frit accents to achieve a clean, modern style that reflects your taste. Finished pieces measure approximately 5 by 9 inches for the cheese board and 7 by 10 inches for the cracker tray. Registration is $95 and includes all materials, tools, and instruction for one participant. As part of the Bar Set Series, this class offers a path to build a coordinated bar set by taking classes in each studio. Rated Discovery on the Adventure Meter.

United for the Unsheltered of Kalamazoo hosts a weekly meal. Pleasant weather is anticipated for this gathering.

Connections is a peer space for youth ages 12 to 18 who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, pansexual, or as allies. It offers a welcoming and confidential setting where individuality is respected and ideas are heard. Participants can build friendships, find support and acceptance, and explore educational topics with access to trustworthy information and potential resources. Attendees who are 18 must be currently enrolled in high school. No advance registration is required.

Enjoy a weekly Lorcana play event that follows the current set rotation and Ravensburger Play Rules. Entry is $7. Each participant receives a store-selected promo card and one booster from the newest set. The winner may exchange their promo for a different one. All players are entered into a random drawing, and the selected name picks a prize from the promo box such as a pin, lore counter, dice set, a bundle of three promos, and more. A minimum of four players is required for the event to run. If the minimum is not met, the standard tournament fee still applies and attendees receive the pack and a promo, with the option to choose their promo.

Thursday nights feature karaoke with DJ Keil at 1871 Taproom. Take the mic and sing your favorite songs.

Blue Line Remodeling & Construction is marking 20 years in business with a community-focused celebration that shares appreciation for the people who have supported the company. Customers, vendors, subcontractors, family members, friends, and anyone interested in learning more about the team are welcome to stop by. The gathering features cornhole and other yard games, food and drinks, cozy fire pits, prizes and giveaways, and opportunities to meet the Blue Line crew, all in an atmosphere that is suitable for all ages. For two decades the company has served homeowners across Southwest Michigan with roofing, siding, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and complete home remodeling. The event centers on gratitude, connection, and recognizing everyone who has been part of that journey.

Enjoy classic Cajun flavors with a menu that includes gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and crawfish.

At Latitude 42, this event pairs live music built on a funky groove with craft beer and food. The familiar sound sets an upbeat tone from start to finish.

Sounds of the Zoo is partnering with Old Dog to spotlight local talent and help sustain Kalamazoo’s creative pulse. The gathering focuses on community, offering a friendly setting where artists and music lovers can meet, encourage one another, and keep the city’s musical spirit thriving.

The Park Village Pines Fall Gala offers a dinner featuring Kirk Cameron at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Downtown Kalamazoo. Many know him as Mike Seaver from the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains, and he later focused on faith and family centered films including the Left Behind series, Fireproof, and Monumental, as well as hosting numerous live events on marriage, family, and parenting. He and his wife, Chelsea, met on the set of Growing Pains, have been married for 32 years, are parents of six, and co-host Camp Firefly, a no-cost summer camp for children with terminal illnesses and their families. Each ticket includes general admission to the gala dinner, and proceeds support the ongoing care of Park Village Pines residents. Sponsors helping make this possible include Platinum sponsors Best Way Disposal, DeNooyer Ford, Mall City Mechanical, and Metro Toyota, Gold sponsor Consumers Concrete, Silver sponsors Sackett's Flooring Solutions, SBF Enterprises, SJA Solutions, CT Electrical Services, Mulder's Landscape Supplies, First National Bank of Michigan, Kuipers Advisors, and Acrisure, along with Table sponsors Weed Man Lawn Care & Mosquito Hero and Zuiderveen Realty. Sponsorship opportunities are available at the Crown, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Table levels.

This session honors the full moon with an invigorating yoga sequence shaped by the rhythms of the Sun and Moon. Guided by Ahnee, the practice draws on her astrology expertise to explore the connection between these two celestial bodies. Afterward, participants can enjoy an alcohol-free beverage with a lunar twist and take part in a celestial-themed activity. Comfortable clothing is recommended, and attendees may bring a favorite mug or cup to use for the drink.

At LFG Bar, music bingo features a host who plays songs over the speakers while participants mark the tunes they recognize on their bingo cards. Completing five squares in a row earns a win and prizes. Guests can enjoy the bar’s food and distinctive drink options while the music plays.

This weekly session for the Bandai Gundam trading card game features an $8 entry. Participants receive a base participation booster pack along with a participation event pack, and the winner takes home a winner event pack.

The debut Battle on the Block brings a community fitness competition to Paw Paw, Michigan, hosted by CrossFit on the Block. Open to seasoned competitors and first-time entrants, it features two-person same gender teams with RX and Scaled divisions. Participants can look forward to challenging workouts that spotlight strength, endurance, and teamwork in a lively, encouraging setting alongside a welcoming community. Centered on testing limits, forging friendships, and showing up together, this high-energy event is being introduced with the aim of becoming a tradition the Paw Paw community anticipates each year.

Celebrate the season at a family-friendly fall festival and market featuring an outdoor craft and vendor show with more than 35 handmade artisans and crafters. Browse unique gifts while enjoying free admission, free parking, and live music. Kids can bounce on a giant jump pillow and zoom down a mega slide, and the farm fun continues with an apple cider mill, apple picking, and hayrides. Savor treats from the bakery and concession stand, including cider slushies and donuts, and relax with lunch on the patio. VerHage Fruit Farms & Cider Mill has welcomed visitors since 1960 and has been hosting shows for over 15 years. Vendors are invited to participate, with a $30 fee due on the day of the show, a reservation required in advance, and plenty of room on the farm for hundreds of makers. Inquiries are accepted by phone or email only.

Operation Heaven Sent and the OHS 2nd Hand Store present the Circus Tent, held on the last Saturday of each month from April through September. Food offerings include chili dogs, nachos, chili cheese nachos, popcorn, and cotton candy. Proceeds benefit families in need, restock the blessing pantry, and purchase supplies for a free community event.

Operation Heaven Sent and The OHS 2nd Hand Store present The Circus Tent, offered on the last Saturday of each month from April through September. This gathering marks the final edition for 2026 and features favorites like chili dogs, nachos, chili cheese nachos, popcorn, and cotton candy. Proceeds help families in need, restock the blessing pantry, and cover supplies for a free community event.

Held at Spring Valley Park, this community 5K welcomes walkers and runners and also invites anyone who wishes to come solely for the remembrance after the finish, honoring babies lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. Before and after the event, local organizations and community leaders will be available with perinatal bereavement resources and support. Participants can choose a one-loop walking route of 2 miles or a two-loop running course totaling 3.1 miles. Post-race snacks and water are provided, and parking is available on site with overflow on nearby streets. A family pricing option is offered for up to two adults and four children, and a free race shirt is available with early registration. Proceeds support three organizations that help individuals and families in Southwest Michigan and beyond who face pregnancy, stillbirth, and infant loss. The day includes a remembrance ceremony with brief remarks from the hosts, the reading of babies’ names, a moment of silence, awards for winners, and thanks to sponsors. Organized by Amos’ Anchors and Forever Loved, this event takes place rain or shine and honors Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.

Brunch is on at HighDive Kitchen + Bar with a lineup that blends comforting favorites and lively sips. Enjoy slow-braised corned beef with eggs or satisfy a sweet tooth with Bananas Foster French toast finished with house-made butter rum caramel. Sip espresso martinis crafted with fresh-pulled espresso, explore a Mimosa Mix-Up featuring ten creative variations, or go classic with a bold Bloody Mary. The regular menu is available during brunch, and reservations are not required.

Cousins Maine Lobster rolls into the International Airport Air Fair in Portage, serving fan favorites alongside a day of planes and family-friendly activities. For convenient pickup and rewards, the mobile ordering app includes a loyalty program that earns points toward free food. Orders placed through the app accrue points automatically, or guests can have their barcode scanned at the window. If app ordering is limited or unavailable, walk-up orders at the truck are welcome.

The inaugural Crooked Nook Book Fest brings together more than 80 authors and vendors. In the backyard, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks as well as a variety of food will be available for purchase. Entry costs $3. Further details will be shared.

At the Storytime Stage, a weekly storytime features readings of favorite classics alongside newer tales. After the stories, imaginations take center stage as participants dream up new worlds together.

Glow Hall hosts an all-ages evening of immersive ambient, experimental, dream-infused and electronic sounds featuring Windy & Carl with opening sets from Zelienople and DJ Karl Meier. Windy & Carl have spent three decades shaping mostly instrumental, cinematic music. Centered on guitars, their long-form ambient work intersects with excursions into dreampop and shoegaze. After signing to kranky in 1998 they built an extensive catalog and toured across the United States and Europe, sharing bills with Silver Apples, Tony Conrad and Terry Riley. The recent reissue of Consciousness drew praise from Boomkat for its airy, near-cosmic ambience and lasting impact on drift music, and Pitchfork has included the duo in roundups of landmark ambient and shoegaze albums. After a long pause from the stage, they returned for select live dates in 2025 and 2026. Zelienople brings the quartet of Matt Christensen, Brian Harding, Mike Weis and P.M. Tummala. The project began in Chicago in the late 1990s in rehearsal rooms above an antique shop, moved from loft happenings to clubs like Lounge Ax and the Empty Bottle, and issued early releases on Loosethread Recordings before working with labels including Root Strata, Type and Miasmah. With Tummala on keyboards, synths and vibraphone, the group most recently released Everything is Simple on Shelter Press, and the album is available now. DJ Karl Meier, a lifelong advocate for electronic and experimental music who came up through Chicago House and Detroit Techno, crafts forward-looking sets informed by the past. He has opened for artists such as Surgeon, Monolake and Jeff Mills, exploring the space between movement and reflection with an emphasis on energy, contrast and recontextualization. His collaboration with Jonathan “Stave” Krohn as Talker appears on the Downwards imprint, alongside two releases and remix work for Eye Teeth, Horizontal Ground and Kathexis. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show. All ages are welcome.

Pride Recovery offers a weekly twelve-step meeting for LGBTQIA+ adults, ages 18 and older, who have been impacted by substance use. Sessions take place at OutFront Kalamazoo.

The Kalamazoo/Southwest Michigan Out of the Darkness Walk returns to Milham Park in Kalamazoo for a walk focused on helping save lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. Registration is free and simple. Day-of check-in will be available, followed by a program.

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon at The Vine Barn during a market that celebrates community, creativity, and the best of the local scene. Browse a variety of goods, discover distinctive work from artists and vendors from the area, and take time to unwind while supporting businesses and artists from the community. Freshly made mocktails and savory charcuterie are part of the offerings, and the setting provides a warm, welcoming place to relax and connect. Whether you are searching for a special gift or planning a low key outing with friends, this market offers an easy way to make the day feel special. It is also convenient to reach on foot or by bike from downtown Kalamazoo.

An open-topic, peer support group for trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming adults 18 and older. Discussions are participant-led and shaped by the needs and interests of those in the room. Meetings take place at OutFront Kalamazoo.

Challenge your brain with nerdy-themed trivia featuring fresh rounds every month. The top three teams take home gift certificates, and anyone in cosplay gets 15% off their bill. This event recurs on the last Sunday of each month.

Unroll your mat for a 60-minute vinyasa class on the grass by the Flesher Field gazebo as the Park Yoga Summer Series returns for its fifth season. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Please bring your own yoga mat or a blanket. Advance signups are encouraged for planning, but drop-ins are welcome. The fee is $10, and it is free for unlimited members. Cash and credit cards are accepted, with no Venmo, PayPal, or Apple Pay.

Enjoy karaoke hosted by Xtreme Karaoke every Tuesday and Sunday night.