The Kalamazoo festival dedicated to spotlighting the creativity and heritage of blacks in the Kalamazoo area gets under way Thursday, July 28, at the Arcadia Creek Festival Site and continues at various downtown locations through Sunday, July 3, with events in Bronson Park.
The Black Arts Festival, put on by the
Black Arts & Culture Center, starts with Children's Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to participate in carnival games, face painting, an instrument petting zoo and live entertainment.
Friday, the focus is on exploring creativity. A free storytelling workshop and creative writing workshop in the afternoon will give people a chance to express themselves at the Kalamazoo Public Library. (Storytelling will be for third grade age youth and older. Creative Writing is for middle school age youth and adults.) In the evening, more free storytelling and poetry readings are planned at the Epic Center. Dancing, instrumental music and other performing arts will be featured. (For those 16 and up.)
The live entertainment begins at noon on Saturday in Bronson Park. A fashion show, family fun and arts and crafts are planned for the day. At 8 p.m. the attention turns to the Epic Center where under one roof three separate events take place -- live jazz, music by a DJ and card game tournaments. (For ages 25 and older. Tickets are $25.)
From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, a mini-film fest takes place at the downtown Kalamazoo Public Library in the Van Duesen Room.
The weekend events conclude Sunday with Gospel in the Park -- local Christian dancers, musicians, soloists and choirs in Bronson Park. All free.
The event got its start in 1985 and organizers say they believe they are one of the longest running African American festivals in Michigan.
Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Black Arts & Cultural Center
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.