Summer Events 2025

Although the solstice just passed, it feels like Kalamazoo is already fully into Summer.  West Michigan is a great place for biking, canoeing, hiking, and camping, or beachtime at Lake Michigan.  

  

Summer events near Kalamazoo

May 7- October 15 Summer Time Live 125 free concerts Kalamazoo and surroundings

July 2-6 Field of Flight: Air Show and Balloon Festival Battle Creek

July 25- August 3  Coast Guard Festival  Grand Haven

August 7-10  National Blueberry Festival South Haven

August 22-24 Hastings Summerfest Hastings

August 29- September 1 Lawrence Ox Roast Lawrence

Also consider:

50 fun things to do in Michigan this summer

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Michigan Fireworks Displays a comprehensive list of fireworks throughout the state

Kzoo Kids: 101 Summer fun ideas for families.

Gazelle Sports Events page (running and races)

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo's  Event listings

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

Events from West Michigan Tourist Association

Cleveland.com promotes Lake Michigan beach towns.

Beach Freaks guide to Michigan's Best Beaches

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Events calendar from Pure Michigan 

Best Beach Umbrellas from the Wirecutter

 

Summer Events 2024

 

With the fading crackle of fireworks, Kalamazoo is fully into Summer.  West Michigan is a great place for biking, canoeing, hiking, and camping, or beachtime at Lake Michigan.  

  

Summer events near Kalamazoo

May 1- September 25 Summer Time Live 118 free concerts Kalamazoo and surroundings

July 3-7 Field of Flight: Air Show and Balloon Festival Battle Creek

July 26- August 4  Coast Guard Festival  Grand Haven

August 8-11  National Blueberry Festival South Haven

August 23-25 Hastings Summerfest Hastings

August 30- September 3 Lawrence Ox Roast Lawrence

Also consider:

50 fun things to do in Michigan this summer

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Michigan Fireworks Displays a comprehensive list of fireworks throughout the state

Kzoo Kids: 101 Summer fun ideas for families.

Gazelle Sports Events page (running and races)

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo's  Event listings

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

Events from West Michigan Tourist Association

Cleveland.com promotes Lake Michigan beach towns.

Beach Freaks guide to Michigan's Best Beaches

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Events calendar from Pure Michigan 

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

Best Beach Umbrellas from the Wirecutter

 

 

West Side County Park

 

 

Holiday weekends have been really crowded at Lake Michigan.  Last summer, we weren't able to visit our favorite beaches a couple of times since all the parking spots and the overflow parking were full.  On Sunday, of the Fourth of July weekend, we were in Douglas, MI and didn't want to face the congestion at Saugatuck Dunes State Park or Oval Beach, so we drove south to see what we could find.

Driving about 5 miles brought us to West Side County Park, where we easily found a parking space.  The park had a big picnic area with two pavilions and a lot of picnic tables, occupied by several groups.  There was a grassy play area and a fenced playground.

We walked the length of the park to a nice beach overlook, with benches and a small gazebo.  Access to the beach was fenced off and a small sign said to use the north stairs.

We walked the width of the park through the woods and found a steep stairway down to the beach.  A visitor in the parking lot said she had counted 80 steps initially, but only 77 after drinking a few White Claws.

The beach wasn't huge, but it was a nice stretch of sand with a little bit of shade at the edge of the dune.  The sand changed to pebbles at the waterline, making walking less comfortable.  There were plenty of people of all ages using the beach on what I imagine was one of its busiest days of the season.

This was a new beach for me and a nice option when everything else was likely to be full.   It looks like the park had a wheelchair accessible ramp to the beach at one point, but we didn't see any traces of it.  A cooler would be difficult to manage on the current stairs and a wheelchair would be impossible.

 

West Side County Park
2152 Lakeshore Dr,
Fennville, MI 49408

free

Milkweed season

I have three types of milkweed blooming in my yard.  I've let a big patch of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) turn into a jungle near my mailbox. 

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) with its bright orange flowers is more attractive.  I have some blooming in a prairie garden in my backyard.

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) with its brilliant pink flowers is a close contender for showiest milkweed.  It grows naturally near our pond.

All three are great host plants for Monarch butterflies and their caterpillars.

Summer Events 2019

Now that the solstice has passed, Kalamazoo is fully into Summer.  West Michigan is a great place for biking, canoeing, hiking, and camping, or beachtime at Lake Michigan.  

  

Summer events near Kalamazoo

June 26-July 3 Wenke Greenhouse's Cart Sale  Kalamazoo

July 3-7 Balloon Festival Battle Creek

August 8-11  56th annual Blueberry Festival South Haven

August 23-25 Hastings Summerfest Hastings

August 23-25 Kalamazoo Balloon Fest at  Gull Meadow Farms, Kalamazoo

September 2-5 Lawrence Ox Roast Lawrence

Also consider:

Long weekend suggestions from Pure Michigan

50 fun things to do in Michigan this summer

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Michigan Fireworks Displays a comprehensive list of fireworks throughout the state

Kzoo Kids: 101 Summer fun ideas for families.

Ultimate Kalamazoo Summer Fun Guide – 101 Ideas for FamiliesUltimate Kalamazoo Summer Fun Guide – 101 Ideas for FamiliesUltimate Kalamazoo Summer Fun Guide – 101 Ideas for FamGazelle Sports Events page (running and races)

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo's  Event listings

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

Events from West Michigan Tourist Association

Kzoo Kids lists Beaches near Kalamazoo & Battle Creek

Cleveland.com promotes Lake Michigan beach towns.

Beach Freaks guide to Michigan's Best Beaches

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy volunteer workdays

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

Michigan Festivals and Events Association Events browser

Michigan DNR's State Park Events

Paddle boarding at Ramona Park, Portage MI

My daughter was interested in trying standup paddle boarding (SUP) this summer and there are plenty of places to try it in West Michigan.  South Beach in South Haven has a rental spot right on the beach but, when we visited last week, Lake Michigan was really cold (only little kids would stay in the water) and, on an earlier trip, it was much too windy. (Kiteboarders were literally flying.)

I wanted a smaller, calmer, and preferably warmer lake.  Kzoo Kids suggested Ramona Park in Portage, which had the added advantage of being much closer to home.  Park admission was free for Portage residents ($10 per car for non-residents) and board rental was $12 for an hour.

Getting into a standing position on the board was easier than I expected and staying upright wasn't too hard.  I fell off in the first minute but stayed on the board after that.  Perhaps I should have read some Stand Up Paddle Board instructions before we went, but it felt okay figuring it out on our own.

We started by paddling with the wind, which was really easy.  The breeze was strong enough that we'd move along nicely, even without paddling.

The breeze, of course, worked against us when we turned back.  I had been paddling for a few minutes before I realized I was making no progress at all.  To actually go forward required much faster paddling or kneeling down on the board to cut wind resistance.  Kneeling was much less comfortable, but it did work.

That's pretty much how we spent our hour-- great paddling downwind, then struggling upwind.    Overall it was reasonably fun.  My daughter really enjoyed it and I'd do it again, but perhaps on a calmer day.

Summer Events 2018

As the solstice approaches, Michigan moves to full Summer mode with biking, canoeing, hiking, and camping and beachtime at Lake Michigan.  

  

Summer events near Kalamazoo

June 20 Free Parks Day  Kalamazoo County

June 28-July 4 Balloon Festival Battle Creek

July 20-22  Old Tyme Tractor Show Scots

August 9-12  54th annual Blueberry Festival South Haven

August 24-26 Hastings Summerfest Hastings


Also consider:

Long weekend suggestions from Pure Michigan

50 fun things to do in Michigan this summer

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Michigan Fireworks Displays a comprehensive list of fireworks throughout the state
Gazelle Sports Events page (running and races)

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo's  Event listings

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

Events from West Michigan Tourist Association

Kzoo Kids lists Beaches near Kalamazoo & Battle Creek

Cleveland.com promotes Lake Michigan beach towns.

Beach Freaks guide to Michigan's Best Beaches

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy volunteer workdays

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

Michigan Festivals and Events Association Events browser

Michigan DNR's State Park Events 

Summer Events 2017

 Summer is a great time for biking, canoeing, hiking, and camping near Kalamazoo, or going to a beach on Lake Michigan.  

  

Summer events near Kalamazoo

June 9-10 CerealFest Battle Creek

June 10-11 Michigan Free Fishing Weekend

June 15-17 Water Festival Three Rivers

June 16-18 Harborfest South Haven

June 29-July 4 Balloon Festival Battle Creek

July 12-16 Kindleberger Summer Festival Parchment

July 21-23  Old Tyme Tractor Show Scots

August 10-13  54th annual Blueberry Festival South Haven

August 25-27 Hastings Summerfest Hastings

Also consider:

Long weekend suggestions from Pure Michigan

50 fun things to do in Michigan this summer

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Michigan Fireworks Displays a comprehensive list of fireworks throughout the state

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

Events from West Michigan Tourist Association

Kzoo Kids lists Beaches near Kalamazoo & Battle Creek

Cleveland.com promotes Lake Michigan beach towns.

Beach Freaks guide to Michigan's Best Beaches

Gazelle Sports' calendar of West Michigan events  

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy volunteer workdays

State park events from Michigan's DNR

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

Michigan Festivals and Events Association Events browser

Summer Events 2016

Summer is a great time to be in Kalamazoo for biking, canoeing, hiking, and camping or going to a beach on Lake Michigan.  

  

Summer events near Kalamazoo

June 11-12 Michigan Free Fishing Weekend

June 16-19 Harborfest South Haven

June 29-July 4 Balloon Festival Battle Creek

July 6-10 Kindleberger Summer Festival Parchment

July 15-17  Old Tyme Tractor Show Scots

August 11-14  50th annual Blueberry Festival South Haven


Also consider:

Long weekend suggestions from Pure Michigan

50 fun things to do in Michigan this summer

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Michigan Fireworks Displays a comprehensive list of fireworks throughout the state

Events at Kalamazoo's Arcadia Creek Festival Place

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

Events from West Michigan Tourist Association

Kzoo Kids lists Beaches near Kalamazoo & Battle Creek

Cleveland.com promotes Lake Michigan beach towns.

Beach Freaks guide to Michigan's Best Beaches

Gazelle Sports' calendar of West Michigan events  

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy volunteer workdays

State park events from Michigan's DNR

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

Michigan Festivals and Events Association Events browser

Summer Events 2015

Summer is a great time to be in Kalamazoo for biking, canoeing, hiking, and camping or taking a short drive to Lake Michigan.  

  

Summer events near Kalamazoo

June 13-14 Michigan Free Fishing Weekend

June 18-21 Harborfest South Haven

July 1-5 Balloon Festival Battle Creek

July 8-13 Kindleberger Summer Festival Parchment

July 17-19  Old Tyme Tractor Show Scots

August 6-9  50th annual Blueberry Festival South Haven


Also consider:

Long weekend suggestions from Pure Michigan

50 fun things to do in Michigan this summer

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Michigan Fireworks Displays a comprehensive list of fireworks throughout the state

Events at Kalamazoo's Arcadia Creek Festival Place

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

Events from West Michigan Tourist Association

Kzoo Kids lists Beaches near Kalamazoo & Battle Creek

Cleveland.com promotes Lake Michigan beach towns.

Beach Freaks guide to Michigan's Best Beaches

Gazelle Sports' calendar of West Michigan events  

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy volunteer workdays

State park events for June, July, and August 2015 from Michigan's DNR

Michigan Festivals and Events Association Events browser

Prairie flowers

While the spring ephemerals are long dormant, the long days of summer have brought lots of flowers to Asylum Lake's restored prairie.

Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) attracted lots of honey bees to its purple blossoms.

We didn't see any butterflies on this Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) although we did see Monarchs on some Common Milkweed.

Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) inspired, according to some, Western Michigan University's school colors.

Summer Events 2014

Summer's warm weather creates a wide variety of outdoor activities in west Michigan: biking, canoeing, hiking, camping or swimming in Lake Michigan.  Many area communities celebrate summer with festivals.

 Summer events near Kalamazoo

June 6-8 Cerulean Warbler Weekend Hastings

June 7 National Trails Day

June 7-8 Michigan Free Fishing Weekend

June 12-14 56th Annual Waterfest Three Rivers

June 19-22 Harborfest South Haven

July 2-6 Balloon Festival Battle Creek

July 9-14 Kindleberger Summer Festival Parchment

July 18-20  Old Tyme Tractor Show Scots

July  19-21  Rogue River Expedition 2014 Sparta

August 7-10  50th annual Blueberry Festival South Haven


Also consider:

Long weekend suggestions from Pure Michigan

50 fun things to do in Michigan this summer

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Michigan Fireworks Displays a comprehensive list of fireworks throughout the state

Events at Kalamazoo's Arcadia Creek Festival Place

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

Events from West Michigan Tourist Association

Kzoo Kids lists Beaches near Kalamazoo & Battle Creek

Cleveland.com promotes Lake Michigan beach towns.

Gazelle Sports' calendar of West Michigan Races and Running Workshops

Open Roads Fixapalooza

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Outdoor Athlete has lists for Michigan running, biking and triathlon events. 

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy volunteer workdays

State park events for June, July, and August 2014 from Michigan's DNR

Michigan Festivals and Events Association Events browser

Summer Events 2013

Summer in Kalamazoo is a great time for  biking, canoeing, hiking, camping or swimming in Lake Michigan.  It's also time for a variety of summer festivals in the area.

 Summer events near Kalamazoo

May 31-June 2 Cerulean Warbler Weekend Hastings

June 1 2013 Kalamazoo Bicycle Film Festival  Kalamazoo

June 1 National Trails Day

June 8-9 Michigan Free Fishing Weekend

June 9 Kalamazoo River Trail Grand Opening noon-4pm South Wenke Park, Comstock

June 13-15 56th Annual Waterfest Three Rivers

June 20-23 Harborfest South Haven

June 22  Paddle to Pedal Event on the Flat River Belding


July 3-7 Balloon Festival Battle Creek

July 10-15 Kindleberger Summer Festival Parchment

July 19-21  Old Tyme Tractor Show Scots

July 21 Southwest Michigan Bicycle Expo Kalamazoo 10am-4pm (county fairgrounds)

August 8-11  50th annual Blueberry Festival South Haven


Also consider:

Long weekend suggestions from Pure Michigan

Sand Sculpting 101 various dates at State Parks on Lake Michigan

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Michigan Fireworks Displays a comprehensive list of fireworks throughout the state

Events at Kalamazoo's Arcadia Creek Festival Place

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

Gazelle Sports' calendar of West Michigan Races and Running Workshops

Open Roads Fixapalooza

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Outdoor Athlete has lists for Michigan running, biking and triathlon events. 

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy volunteer workdays

State park events for June, July, and August 2013 from Michigan's DNR

Michigan Festivals and Events Association Events browser

Compass Plant

Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum ) is an impressive prairie wildflower, with yellow flowers growing on stalks that can be over 8 feet high.  The flowers are similar to those of other Silphiums, like the Cup Plant, but the Compass Plants leaves are distinctive.  The two-foot long, deeply cut leaves create a striking profile for this plant even without its tall flowerstalk.  The leaves also give the Compass Plant its name since they tend to align on a north-south axis.  Research by botanists at Iowa State provides evidence that this leaf orientation uses sunlight and water most efficiently.  Deep roots (over 12 feet long [pdf]) allow the compass plant to thrive even during dry summers. 

Compass Plant is listed as a Threatened species in Michigan.  It is more widely distributed in the central and plains states.  The plants pictured here were blooming at the Kalamazoo Nature Center's restored prairie.

Summer 2012 Events

Summer in Kalamazoo offers many options: biking, canoeing, hiking, or camping.  Lake Michigan is a short drive (or a long bike ride) away.  Lots of small towns (and bigger ones) offer summer festivals.

 Summer events near Kalamazoo

June 1-3 Cerulean Warbler Weekend Hastings

June 2 National Trails Day

June 9-10 Michigan Free Fishing Weekend

June 14-16 Harborfest South Haven

June 14-16 56th Annual Waterfest Three Rivers

June 16 Breakfast on the Farm  free tickets Scotts 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

June 30-July 1 Balloon Festival Battle Creek

July 11-15 Kindleberger Summer Festival Parchment

July 21 Southwest Michigan Bicycle Expo Kalamazoo 10am-4pm (county fairgrounds)

August 6-11 Thornapple River Expedition Potterville to Ada

August 9-12 Blueberry Festival South Haven


Also consider:

West Michigan Summer Weekends

Events at Kalamazoo's Arcadia Creek Festival Place

Event listings from Discover Kalamazoo

West Michigan Weekly has a list of W. Michigan bike trails and scheduled bike rides

Gazelle Sports' calendar of West Michigan Races and Running Workshops

League of Michigan Bicyclist's Michigan Ride Calendar

West Michigan Coastal Kayaker's Association Event Calendar

Outdoor Athlete has lists for Michigan running, biking and triathlon events. 

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy volunteer workdays

Pure Michigan has a list of June events throughout Michigan and August events

State park events for June, July, and August 2012 from Michigan's DNR.

Brown-Eyed Susan

Brown-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) are blooming in Kalamazoo, well after their better-known cousins, the Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). Brown-Eyed Susan are widely distributed throughout the Central and Eastern states, but are only found in scattered counties in Michigan.

Great Blue Lobelia

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) are now in flower in Kalamazoo. Like their showier relatives the Cardinal Flower, these perennial wildflowers need moist soil and tolerate partial shade. The flower spike grows about three feet high and they are often found along streams and rivers. They're a widely distributed plant, found throughout Michigan and most Eastern, Midwestern, and Great Plains states.

Beach Freaks' Guide to Michigan's Best Beaches

Beach Freaks' Guide to Michigan's Best Beaches Joan & Bob Elmouchi 1999 This guidebook reviews 20 beaches near Detroit, 57 on Michigan's west Coast, 16 on its East Coast, and 4 in the Upper Peninsula. Each beach's features are described and most are illustrated with black & white photos. Directions (complete with keys for the DeLorme and Universal Michigan County Atlases) are given for each location. Best Beaches near Kalamazoo

1. New Buffalo Beach, New Buffalo
2. Warren Dunes State Park Sawyer
3. Weko Beach Park Bridgman
4. Silver Beach County Park, St Joseph
5. Van Buren State Park, South Haven
6. South Beach, South Haven
7. North Beach, South Haven
8. West Side Park, Allegan County
9. Douglas Beach, Douglas
10. Oval Beach Saugatuck
11. Laketown Township Beach Holland
12. Holland State Park Holland
13. Tunnel Park Holland
14. Kirk Park West Olive
15. Grand Haven State Park, Grand Haven
16. Grand Haven City Beach, Grand Haven
17. North Beach Park, Ferrysburg
18. PJ Hoffmaster State Park Muskegon
19. Bronson Park [Kruse Park], Muskegon
20. Pere Marquette Park, Muskegon
21. Muskegon State Park Muskegon
22. Pioneer Park, Muskegon
23. Duck Lake State Park Muskegon
24. Meinert Park, Muskegon
25. Silver Lake State Park Mears
26. Charles Mears State Park Pentwater

Available from Amazon, other booksellers, and libraries.

Milkweed

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) doesn't have the show-stopping flowers of the Butterfly Milkweed but the pale pink flowers are attractive enough. They're particularly attractive to butterflies, most famously the Monarch.

Milkweed is named for its thick white sap, which protects the plant from many herbivores since it contains bitter cardiac glycosides that are toxic in large doses. Certain insects, like the Monarch Butterfly, have adapted to tolerate this poison and, in fact, are able to incorporate it as their own chemical defense against predators.

The USDA has an informative pdf on the Common Milkweed.

Prairie Flowers

While the Kalamazoo Nature Center is my favorite spot for Spring wildflowers, I don't always think of it for summer blooms. I visited earlier this week and the prairie flowers were spectacular. Black-eyed Susan were at their peak. Monarch butterflies were drinking nectar from the Wild Bergamot. Butterfly Milkweed and Common Milkweed were in flower, along with both purple and yellow coneflowers.
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta


Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea



Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea



Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa


The prairie flowers can be easily seen from the Prairie View parking lot (on Westnedge about a half mile south of the main entrance) and from the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. To walk the prairie, start at the Interpretive Center, cross the bridge over Trout Run stream, then head uphill. The bright colors of the prairie make quite a contrast from the cool dark woods.



Kalamazoo Nature Center
7000 N. Westnedge Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49009