Kalamazoo
Around Kalamazoo
Photo: User Mxobe on en.wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Michigan · 264k people
Kalamazoo
“K-Zoo”, “The Mall City”
Kalamazoo · Portage
Where the river runs and the hops flow.
Western Michigan University goldWestern Michigan University brown
Welcome to Kalamazoo, where the beer is hoppy, the river is calm, and the college spirit runs deep. Whether you're here for a Bronco game or a stroll through downtown, you'll find a friendly wave and a good story.
Clubs for Kalamazoo
No clubs for Kalamazoo yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Kalamazoo. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Kalamazoo. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Bell's Eccentric Café Iconic taproom and live music venue.
- Kalamazoo State Theatre Historic downtown theater for concerts and shows.
- Western Michigan University Large public university with a lively campus and sports.
- Kalamazoo River Valley Trail Paved multi-use trail along the Kalamazoo River.
- Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum Interactive aviation and space museum.
- Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Regional art museum with notable collections.
- Outdoors Kayak or float the Kalamazoo River
- Outdoors Bike the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail
- With kids Visit the Air Zoo
- With kids Explore the Kalamazoo Valley Museum
- Evenings Catch a show at the Kalamazoo State Theatre
- Evenings Bar-hop downtown Kalamazoo
- Locals love Breweries and taprooms
- Locals love Wineries on the Paw Paw wine trail
Through the year
- Kalamazoo Ribfest Summer BBQ, music, and family fun downtown.
- Kalamazoo Art Fair June Outdoor art show with local and regional artists.
- Kalamazoo Marathon May Road race winding through the city and nearby trails.
- Kalamazoo County Fair August Classic county fair with rides, animals, and food.
- Bell's Eccentric Day Fall Annual beer celebration at the brewery with special releases.
Four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Best: Late spring (May-June) and early fall (Sept-Oct) are ideal for being outside.
Talk like a local
- “Kzoo”
- Short for Kalamazoo.
- “The K”
- Another shorthand for the city.
- “Bronco”
- A WMU student or fan.
- “Up north”
- Referring to northern Michigan.
Getaways
- Grand Rapids Bigger city with a booming brewery scene and museums.
- Holland Lake Michigan beaches, dunes, and charming downtown.
- Battle Creek Cereal City with historic sites and the Linear Park trail.
- South Bend Notre Dame campus, college town energy, and river walks.
Local flavour
Teams
- Kalamazoo Wings ECHL
- Western Michigan Broncos NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- craft beer (Bell's Brewery) Bell's Brewery is an iconic local craft beer producer
- wine from Paw Paw wineries Paw Paw is known for its vineyards and wineries
- Michigan cherries State fruit, popular in local pies and jams.
- Locally roasted coffee Cafes like Water Street Coffee roast beans.
- Farm-to-table produce Abundant from surrounding farms.
Where people go
- breweries and taprooms Kalamazoo is known for its thriving craft beer scene
- wineries The surrounding area, especially Paw Paw, is home to many wineries
- riverfront parks and trails The Kalamazoo River runs through the city, offering outdoor recreation
- college campuses Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College shape the local character
Heritage and traditions
Kalamazoo is proud of its friendly, creative spirit—home to the Kalamazoo Promise, a vibrant arts scene, and a deep history of craft beer and innovation.
Say it like a local: “up north” — referring to northern Michigan, a common getaway
Festivals
- St. Patrick's Day Parade March One of the Midwest's largest, with a lively downtown celebration.
- Kalamazoo Blues Festival July A weekend of blues performances in Arcadia Creek Festival Place.
- Kalamazoo Art Hop Monthly First Friday gallery strolls across downtown studios and venues.
- Kalamazoo Polish Festival August Polish food, music, and dancing in the downtown area.
- Kalamazoo Greek Festival August Greek cuisine and culture at the Greek Orthodox Church.
- Gilmore International Keyboard Festival Every other year, winter/spring A world-class piano festival held at venues around town.
Landmarks with a story
- Henderson Castle A Queen Anne-style mansion offering tours and a glimpse into Kalamazoo's Gilded Age.
- Kalamazoo Mall The first outdoor pedestrian mall in the US, opened in 1959.
- Gilmore Car Museum A collection of classic cars in nearby Hickory Corners, a short drive from Kalamazoo.
- Kalamazoo College campus Founded in 1833, with beautiful architecture and a historic quad.
- Kalamazoo County Courthouse A stately courthouse in the downtown area, built in 1936.
- Kalamazoo State Hospital Once a major psychiatric hospital, now repurposed as office space, with a storied past.
Food traditions
- Celery City heritage Kalamazoo was once the celery capital, and local dishes sometimes celebrate this with celery-based soups and salads.
- Corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day A nod to the strong Irish community, with many bars and homes serving it.
- Farm-to-table at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market Locals shop for seasonal produce and artisanal goods every Saturday.
- Craft beer and brewery tours Bell's and others have made Kalamazoo a beer destination, with locals enjoying fresh brews at taprooms.
- Michigan cherries Locals love cherry pies and dried cherries from nearby orchards.
Music and arts
- Gilmore International Keyboard Festival A prestigious piano festival held every other year, attracting world-class pianists.
- Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra The city's professional orchestra, performing at Miller Auditorium and other venues.
- Kalamazoo Art Hop A monthly event where local artists open their studios and galleries to the public.
- Kalamazoo Blues Scene A vibrant blues community with regular jams and the annual Blues Festival.
A little history
- 1829 Kalamazoo founded as a village, named after the Kalamazoo River.
- 1902 Gibson Guitar Company founded in Kalamazoo, producing iconic instruments.
- 1959 Kalamazoo Mall opens as the first pedestrian mall in the US.
- 2005 The Kalamazoo Promise is announced, offering free college tuition to local graduates.
- 1880s Kalamazoo becomes the celery capital of the world, with extensive celery farms.
Rivalries
- Western Michigan vs. Central Michigan Fierce college football rivalry.
- Western Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan Another heated MAC conference matchup.
- Kalamazoo Wings vs. Fort Wayne Komets Hockey rivalry with a long history.
- Kalamazoo vs. Grand Rapids Friendly regional competition for events and bragging rights.
- Game day WMU football tailgating
- Game day Kalamazoo Wings Teddy Bear Toss
- Outdoors Bike the Kal-Haven Trail
- Outdoors Walk the Kalamazoo Mall
- With kids Kalamazoo Public Library
- With kids Kalamazoo State Theatre
Locals speak with a friendly Midwestern accent, saying 'pop' for soda and pronouncing Kalamazoo as 'KAL-uh-muh-zoo.' You might hear 'Michigan left' for a U-turn at intersections.
Only here
- The Kalamazoo Promise - A unique program offering free college tuition to graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools.
- First pedestrian mall - The Kalamazoo Mall was the first in the US.
- Gibson Guitar heritage - Though the factory moved, Kalamazoo is still proud of its guitar-making history.
- Celery capital - Kalamazoo once dominated celery production, earning the nickname 'Celery City.'
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the weather: winters are cold and snowy; invest in a good coat and boots.
- Try the local beer: Bell's and other breweries are a point of pride.
- Visit the Kalamazoo Farmers Market on Saturday mornings for local produce and crafts.
- Learn to pronounce 'Kalamazoo' (KAL-uh-muh-zoo) and say 'pop' instead of soda.
- If you have kids in public schools, the Kalamazoo Promise can pay for college tuition.
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Part of Kalamazoo area
Nearby
Every areaBattle CreekMichiganWhere every morning is a traditionHollandMichiganTulips, windmills, and lakeshore sunsets.SturgisMichiganWhere country roads meet small-town charm.Van Buren CountyMichiganWhere blueberries meet the lake.ColdwaterMichiganSmall-town charm on the waterLaGrange CountyIndianaWhere the pace is slow and the pies are sweet.Grand RapidsMichiganWhere craft and community flow like the Grand River.Elkhart–GoshenIndianaWhere the road meets the heartland.
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.