Free events in Portage, MI

Serving as an informal afterparty to Beats on Bates, this event features local artist Peyton Bohl performing an acoustic set. The show is free, and food and drinks are available so the celebration can continue after the main event.

Enjoy complimentary admission with extended hours on Thursdays, made possible by support from Art Bridges Foundation's Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund.

At LFG Gaming Bar Kalamazoo, four Michigan comedians take the table for a live tabletop role playing adventure packed with spellcraft, curious creatures, and chaotic fun. Nicole Melnyk, Lucky Lee, Lisa Green, and Sammi McCrorey navigate the story together in real time, turning every decision into a punchline or a plot twist. Drinks and light bites are available from the bar. There is no admission charge, and gratuities for the bartenders are appreciated.

Celebrate summer at Celery Flats with August Friday at the Flats: Block Party, a community gathering featuring free live music, dinner options from local food trucks and vendors, and opportunities to browse art booths and local businesses. Performers include Mad Hat Mojo, Kinpins Drumline, and Mister Tim. Food and refreshments will be available from The Little Scoop, Specialty Cheesecake, Cousins Main Lobster, Ibisions, Kalako Street Cuisine, and Teresa's Kitchen. Pack a blanket or lawn chair for comfortable seating on the grass. Admission is free, and the series is supported by sponsor T-Fiber.

Spring Valley Park hosts a free drive-in screening of Jurassic Park (1993) as part of a summer series of three free movie nights. Before the film, enjoy music, face painting, and a Youth Entrepreneur Fair with products for sale from Kalamazoo youth. The screen will be set up on the soccer field at the southeast end of the park. Watch from your car parked on the field, or settle in on the lawn with chairs and blankets. Everyone is welcome.

A large collectors show fills the Kalamazoo Expo Center with more than 180 exhibitor tables featuring sports cards, trading card games such as Pokémon, comics, memorabilia, and other collectibles. Attendees can look forward to raffles, free admission and parking, and concessions available on site. Open gaming tables are offered at no cost for all TCG players and guests. Exhibitor registration is available for those interested in securing a table.

Returnable bottles and cans can support Kalamazoo Animal Rescue. The organization collects them year-round to provide a reliable source of funding for its programs, and this fundraiser helps cover medical care so cats and dogs adopted through the rescue are healthy and happy. Only containers eligible for the 10 cent deposit under Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law can be accepted.