Community Calendar

Free Admission Day
The Kalamazoo Nature Center is offering free admission in celebration of Juneteenth. We hope to see you on the trails!

Other free admission days in 2026 – please note, some dates trails are open but Visitor Center is closed:

New Year’s Day: January 1, 2026 (Trails open, Visitor Center is closed)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: January 19, 2026
KNC’s Earth Day Celebration: April 18, 2026
Earth Day: April 22, 2026
Juneteenth: June 19, 2026
Independence Day: July 4, 2026 (Trails open, Visitor Center is closed)
Veterans Day: Nov. 11, 2026
Thanksgiving Day: November 26, 2026 (Trails open, Visitor Center is closed)
“Green Friday”: November 27, 2026 (Trails open, Visitor Center is closed)
Buy Local Art & Gift Fair: December 5, 2026
Christmas Eve: December 24, 2026 (Trails open, Visitor Center is closed)
Christmas Day: December 24, 2026 (Trails open, Visitor Center is closed)

Join us for the 48th annual Kalamazoo Klassic: a community tradition that brings people together for fitness, fun, and a great cause.

📍 922 W. Maple Street, Kalamazoo, MI
📅 Saturday, June 20, 2026

Choose your challenge:
🏃‍♀️ 10K Run (7:30 AM)
🏃‍♂️ 5K Walk/Run (9:00 AM)
🏃‍♀️ 10K/5K Combo (7:30 AM)

Not only will you enjoy a scenic, energizing course starting at the top of Maple Street Hill, but you’ll also be making a real impact. The majority of proceeds support MRC Industries and their mission to empower individuals with disabilities through employment and community involvement, while also supporting the Kalamazoo Area Runners and their work to promote healthy living in our community.

Linocut is a great beginner’s step into the world of printmaking, producing beautiful stamps with just a little dedication and patience. Come learn a new art form, and take home something beautiful to print with again and again!

Saturday, June 20 from 10:00 – 11:30AM
Meet: Visitor Center Classroom
Fee: Non-members $15, Members $12 Please Register >
Audience: Adults

boat races

There’s life all around us, finding niches and resources to survive in every corner. We’ll hike through one of our trails and talk about what makes a habitat, which habitats we have here, and how we can encourage healthy habitats in our own homes and neighborhoods!

Meet: Visitor center front desk
Fee: Included in regular KNC admission; KNC Members free!
Audience: All ages & families

Join us for an extraordinary day of connection and rejuvenation as we celebrate the longest day of the year in Downtown Coldwater. The Summer Solstice Festival is a first-of-its-kind local collaboration bringing together the region’s premier wellness brands and top-tier instructors for a full day of holistic experiences—completely free to the public.

Held in honor of the International Day of Yoga, the festival features powerful movement sessions, a special Father’s Day "Dad & Me" workshop, and a curated Holistic Marketplace. Browse local art from Bethany Johnston, handcrafted soaps from Syd’s Suds, and sustainable designs from Cozy Designs by Kait. Enjoy authentic Thai cuisine from Kra-Tib and fresh-pressed juices from Abundant Rock. Whether you are a seasoned mover or stepping onto the mat for the first time, this festival is designed for all ages, all bodies, and all skill levels.

Event Highlights
Summer Solstice Salutations: Celebrate the peak of summer with a powerful flow under the sun.
Father’s Day Workshop: A dedicated session designed for dads and kids to bond through movement and mindfulness.
Holistic Marketplace: Explore a curated street market featuring local artisans, organic skincare, and sustainable apparel.
Learn Your Way: From high-energy sessions to gentle mobility, we offer various styles to fit your personal schedule and needs.
Prizes & Giveaways: Attend sessions for your chance to win high-value wellness bundles, including annual studio memberships and premium gear.

Fuel Your Flow: Food & Refreshments
Kra-Tib Thai & Isaan Cuisine: Authentic, vibrant flavors available 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. @kratibthaifood
Abundant Rock: Refreshing teas and fresh-pressed juices by Megan Laser. @abundantrockyoga
Kona Ice Truck: A cool treat for the whole family, featuring dye-free and sugar-free options. @konaice

The Holistic Marketplace
Browse our curated vendors and partners. New additions are being added to our sanctuary daily:
Bethany Johnston: Featured Local Artist. @drbug0310
Syd’s Suds & Soaps: Handcrafted wellness by Sydney Braden. @syds.suds.soaps
Earthy Alice: Holistic goods by Heather. Earthy Alice on Facebook
Cozy Designs by Kait: Sustainable style by Kaitlyn Weiss. @cozydesignsbykait
Nourish Massage & Health Coaching: With Megan Sparks. Nourish on Facebook
Revivify Metaphysicals: Curated metaphysical goods with Michael Fisher. Revivify on Facebook
The Wellness Hub: Featuring three collaborative booths with Renewed Wellness and Cindy Withrow. @renewed_wellness_ | Renew You To Wellness

During this Artful Evening talk, artist Julia Whitney Barnes will speak about her Planting Utopia series, featured in the Hancock Shaker Museum, the Shaker Heritage Society, and the Albany International Airport. Barnes will also address her larger body of research and her permanent artwork The Botanist’s Mural. On view in Vassar College’s newly-built Vassar Institute, the mural is based on the herbarium that dates back to the founding of the college in 1861.

Born in Newbury, VT, Julia Whitney Barnes spent two decades in Brooklyn and New York City before moving to the Hudson Valley in 2015. She received a BFA from Parsons School of Design and an MFA from Hunter College. Whitney Barnes works in a variety of media, including cyanotypes, watercolor, combined media works on paper, oil paintings, glass, ceramic sculptures, murals, site-specific installations, and limited-edition prints. She has exhibited widely in the United States and internationally.

Whitney Barnes will offer a three-day workshop in the Kirk Newman Art School on June 26-28, entitled Cyanotype: Beyond Blue and White. This workshop is generously supported by the Harold Hope Memorial Fund.

Please note that this event will not be livestreamed or posted on YouTube.

Do you fancy yourself a jigsaw genius? Gather a team of puzzle picassos for another Jigsaw Puzzle Night! Teams will have 2 hours to complete a 550 piece puzzle from our collection, with the fastest team winning a prize. Just here to take your time? No worries! All teams will take home their puzzle, and you can always take it slow with provided snacks and drinks.

While we have many puzzles, if you have your eye on something special, all puzzles will be first come first served!

Limit 5 members per group.

Meet: Auditorium inside the visitor center

Fee: $50 per group ($40 member) Please register.

Audience: All ages

Date: Thursday, June 25 from 6:00 – 9:00PM

Firefly Night Hike
Experience the magic of a prairie at dusk on our Firefly Night Hike! Stroll along the broad, winding trail through the prairie on a unique adventure that highlights the wonder of the natural world and shows why protecting our prairies can keep the sparkle in our summer nights, and stop by the amphitheater at 8:30 and 10:00 for a talk on these bioluminescent marvels.

Audience: All Ages

Meet: Emma Pitcher Prairie at KNC Camp

Date: Friday, June 26 from 8:00 – 11:00PM, entry one at 8:00, Entry two at 9:30

Fee: $15/Non-Member Adult, $8/Non-Member child. Registration required.

Fish of Michigan Guided Hike
We live in one of the most vibrant freshwater ecosystems in the world, with over 130 species of fish here in our state. We’ll walk out to the Kalamazoo River, and talk about the rich diversity of our fishy neighbors.

Meet: Visitor Center front desk
Fee: Included in regular KNC admission; KNC Members free!
Audience: All ages
Date: Saturday, June 27 at 10:00AM