30+ Amazing Family Things to Do in the City of Kalamazoo

What to do in Kalamazoo With Kids

^{Cover photo: City of Kalamazoo}

Yes, there really is a Kalamazoo.

While catchy for song lyrics (ask Bob Seger), Kalamazoo is also a real place with a vibrant, diverse community. Whether looking to get outside, visit a museum or find a new place to eat or play, this college town offers a welcoming place for families to live.

The city of Kalamazoo is bursting with fun family activities across a wide variety of experiences:

Whether you live in this awesome city or are just visiting, this article features the best of the best for families in the city of Kalamazoo.

Things to Do in the City of Kalamazoo

Opened in 1957, the Kalamazoo Mall was the first outdoor pedestrian mall in the United States. Take a leisurely stroll downtown and stop for a coffee, dine outdoors for lunch, or shop the many locally-owned boutiques.

The Kalamazoo Mall hosts Art on the Mall each summer, where pottery, painting, sculptures, and other media are on display from local and regional artists.

Cool off in the only 50-meter outdoor swimming pool in the Kalamazoo area, offering water play, aqua fitness, swimming lessons and birthday parties. The Kik Pool is named after the former head of the Kalamazoo Parks Department, Nicholas Kik Jr.

After you’ve dried off, head over to Upjohn Park’s boundless playground, where all ages and abilities are welcome to play on their rubber-turfed surfaces. Upjohn Park also includes a skatepark, basketball courts, tennis courts and covered picnic tables.

Immerse yourself in the local arts on the first Friday of every month with Art Hop downtown.

The Kalamazoo Arts Council organizes this free, public event where local artists display their work and patrons can “hop” from booth to booth to enjoy live music, vendors, and interact with many creative minds.

The KVM is a local favorite for so many reasons: free admission, children’s area, regularly rotating exhibits, and a planetarium all in one, multi-level, magnificent museum. Families will move from one hands-on station to the next, learning geography, mathematics, history and other disciplines.

The planetarium features more than just stars: a variety of educational and seasonal shows play regularly on their domed ceiling.

Stop into Sweetwater’s Donut Mill for a yummy, frosting-laden treat! Home to some of the most amazing donuts in Michigan, with original flavors like the grasshopper and classics from plain glazed to Bavarian crème, we guarantee you’ll have a difficult time choosing just one.

This independently-owned bookstore is for kids only. Find all of your favorite titles here, and be sure to stay for their weekly morning
story times. Kids will also love exploring the little house in the back of the store.

If you need books for grown-ups too, stop by This is a Bookstore next door and grab food from their Table of Contents Café too.

Splash the summer days away at the free splash pad on Florence Street, featuring squirting frogs and a new, rubberized surface..

The Kalamazoo Candle Company offers drop-in times at their marketplace to pour your own candle. Your personal wax creation includes scent selection and a custom label. Kids will love making sand candles, which do not have any drying timel.

The popular shop also offers convenient locations in Portage and Byron Center.

Transport yourself into a Willa Wonka-inspired daydream at Rocket Fizz Kalamazoo, where sugary sweets, sodas, puzzles, and toys create an atmosphere sure to entertain kids of all ages. 

For social media fans, their Facebook page is one to follow on their latest products and silly shenanigans.

VerHage provides everything you need to experience a quintessential Michigan autumn day: apple cider, fresh donuts, u-pick apples, pumpkins, and a zip line. 

Bring the family on weekends for fun, fall activities including hayrides, jumping pad, animal barn, and a ride on Andy the Apple Train.

Since 1984, the annual Do-Dah Parade is a Kalamazoo tradition built around satire and entertainment. Every June, head downtown and collect candy as local businesses show off their funny bones and dance through the streets.

#12
Paint Pottery at Art Bayou

Art Bayou
3306 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Art Bayou offers a drop-in style studio for painting pottery on Stadium Drive, featuring over 400 pottery pieces. Whether it’s a gift for a special family member or a personal keepsake, this studio is open six days a week to stop by and create your next masterpiece on a flexible schedule.

#13
Listen to Some Beats on Bates Alley

Beats on Bates
Bates Alley, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Grab dinner downtown and settle in for some live music every Wednesday evening with Beats on Bates. This event features new artists weekly, from June through September.

Music is not the only form of art on Bates Alley; in 2018, local artist Patrick Hershberger designed the Bates Alley Street Mural, which covers the street in beautiful, watery waves.

Visit the KIA and browse their vast collection; over 4700 pieces of art are included in their permanent collection. The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts also teaches classes and camps for all ages in a variety of media.

Kids will want to head downstairs to the Upjohn Mason Grandchildren Interactive Gallery, where hand-on activities with pegboards, magnets and books encourage learning through play.

Living in a college town has its benefits. Whether it’s football, hockey or another sport, Western Michigan University offers a number of fun opportunities to watch sporting events together as a family. Be sure to snag a photo with Buster Bronco if you see him!

The Kalamazoo Nature Center offers 14 miles of trails for families to explore. Trails are labeled for ease of use with both distances and difficulty levels. In the warmer weather, stop by Nature’s Playground after your hike to cool off with some water play.

The KNC is also a fantastic source for nature education; check their schedule for children’s story times and programs.

Test your rock climbing skills at the indoor mountain climbing gym in the city of Kalamazoo.

Climbers of all aptitudes and ages are welcome, starting at just three years old.

For over 30 years, Kalamazoo Ribfest pairs great food with live music downtown at Arcadia Creek Festival Place. Local and national vendors provide ribs and sides to fill your belly, while live bands perform on stage.

This three-day event is a city of Kalamazoo tradition since 1985.

Your local library is a fantastic spot for story times; many have ones geared to toddlers or preschoolers to foster a love of reading for all ages.

After story time finishes, be sure to visit each branch’s unique play area.

Kalamazoo Farmers Market features over 100 vendors offering fresh produce, plants, flowers and local goods. The market runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from June through November.

Airborne Adventure Park provides trampolines, a foam pit, obstacle courses and a zip line in this indoor park to engage your family in a number of different fun, physical activities.

Santa and Mrs. Claus make an annual trip to visit local families in Downtown Kalamazoo.

This free visit includes writing Santa letters, cookie decorating, craft making and taking photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The Metro Toyota SkeleTour is an autumn spectacular throughout the entire month of October, 60+ one-of-a-kind, life-size skeletons that reflect local businesses and organizations in the city of Kalamazoo.

Located on Western Michigan University’s campus, Miller Auditorium features shows for families or a date night away: Broadway productions, comedy events, family shows, and live concerts are on the schedule at this performing arts venue.

The Kalamazoo Growlers baseball team offers fun and excitement from the Northwoods League, a premier summer collegiate baseball league.

Fans can expect a lot of games in a short season: the Growlers play 72 games in 77 days, giving many opportunities to catch a game at Homer Stryker Field.

Families will enjoy FREE rides downtown on this old fashioned trolley, decked out for the Christmas season in the city of Kalamazoo.

n addition to selling 24 flavors of Plainwell ice cream, The Spirit of Kalamazoo is a must-stop for Kalamazoo attire.

Whether celebrating a new baby with a Kalamazoo onesie or picking up a Western hoodie for your college student, this shop has all of the local gear.

Open since 1938, Little Chick Shoe Shop is a shoe store for kids only that will transport you back in time with handwritten receipts and shopping history on index cards.

All of this history comes with a long-standing policy: all shoes are guaranteed to fit. If a child outgrows his shoes within their policy’s time frame, the replacement pair is pro-rated.

Revel and Roll West is a one-stop shop for arcade games, bowling, ax throwing and laser tag.

Families will also enjoy their lane-side service, featuring scratch dishes (including specialty Detroit-style pizzas) and a full bar. When the weather permits, try out their patio dining outside.

Open since June 2022, this Oakwood Plaza newbie invites visitors to buy new, sell and trade their favorite brick-shaped toys- including rare or retired sets! For true LEGO enthusiasts, be sure to celebrate with them for your next birthday party.

Open in 2021, Dinosaur Park is FREE to visit on Western’s Campus and features some massive prehistoric friends, including a 15-foot Brachiosaurus.

At The Aroma Labs, visitors can craft their own personalized scent into a fun product to take home: perfume, bath salts and beard oil are all options for showcasing your new creation.

The Aroma Labs is located on the mall, in Downtown Kalamazoo. Grand Rapids shoppers will find a second location on Monroe Center Street.

Ever play ping pong outside? Kzoo Parks’ Henderson Tot Lot received a major upgrade in 2018, with resurfaced basketball courts, a pickleball court, new playground structures and an outdoor ping pong table.

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