Community Calendar

Part beauty pageant. Part pirate brawl. This fundraiser for our non-profit theatre is sure to be entirely unforgettable.
Before the curtain ever rises, our most unruly, over-the-top, and questionably well-behaved pirates will take the stage to compete for the coveted title of “Most Pirate-y Pirate to Sail the Seven Seas.” Expect outrageous antics, ridiculous talent displays, shameless swagger, and more salty personality than should be legally allowed in one room.
This is not just a fundraiser, it’s a rare chance to meet the souls behind the scoundrels. You’ll get an up-close, behind-the-eyepatch look at our ensemble as they banter, boast, charm, and absolutely sabotage one another in true pirate fashion. You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, and you’ll walk into the show already knowing your favorite pirates in a way audiences don’t normally get to.
Presiding over the chaos are our celebrity judges, Hannah Palmer, Miss Michigan 2025 and Samantha McGaughey, Miss Greater Kalamazoo 2026.
And the fun doesn’t end with the crown! Join us afterward for a reception and meet-and-greet with our celebrity judges and cast! Don’t miss your chance to mingle, take photos, and celebrate the most pirate-y champion.
Come for the chaos. Stay for the comedy. Leave knowing exactly which pirate you’d trust with your ship… and which one you’d throw overboard.

Las Cafeteras has taken the music scene by storm with their infectious live performances and have crossed many genres and borders along the way. Their electric sound & energy has taken them around the world playing shows from Bonnaroo to the Hollywood Bowl, WOMAD New Zealand to Montreal Jazz and beyond!

Born and raised East of the Los Angeles River, Las Cafeteras is remixing roots music as modern day troubadours. They are a sonic explosion of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats and powerful rhymes that document stories of a community seeking to "build a world where many would fit".

From Afro-Mexican to Americana, from Soul to Son Jarocho, from Roots to Rock and Hip Hop, Las Cafeteras takes folk music to the future.

From the aftermath of war, a vibrant estate in Messina becomes the stage for both blossoming romance and bitter deception. Soon after coming to visit her father, the honorable Claudio swiftly falls in love with the radiant Hero. But amidst this joy, a fiery battle of wits rages between the fiercely independent Beatrice and the confirmed bachelor Benedick, two souls who swear off love with every sharp and hilarious retort. Yet, beneath their barbed exchanges, could a hidden affection be ignited by the playful meddling of their friends? As they scheme to unite these reluctant hearts, a darker plot unfolds. The vengeful Don John, fueled by malice, orchestrates a cruel lie that threatens to shatter the very foundations of Claudio and Hero's happiness.

On the eve of their wedding, a devastating illusion is planted, leading to a shocking public accusation and leaving Hero seemingly ruined. In the face of such betrayal, alliances shift, and the witty Beatrice makes a startling demand of Benedick. Will truth prevail against calculated deceit? Can love truly conquer all, even when shadowed by the darkest intentions? Prepare to be captivated by a story where laughter and heartbreak intertwine, and where the most unexpected heroes might just save the day.

Join us for a family-friendly exploration of some of the shoes featured in Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks! All ages are welcome to join in the conversation as we observe shoe designs of the past, present, and future.

Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum.

Please note that this event will not be livestreamed or posted on YouTube.
Gallery Gatherings are short, lightly-moderated conversations about selected artworks from ongoing exhibitions. Chairs and gallery stools are available for guests. This program is free, but preregistration is encouraged.

Put on your favorite pair of shoes and join us for a special night celebrating the artistry of footwear. Join us for a Gallery Gathering in Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting Edge Kicks at 5:30 before we kick off Explore and Create Night at 6pm. Continue to explore the exhibition and then create your own shoe-inspired artworks while enjoying some sweet treats. Come explore how design, craft, and imagination come together—one step at a time. This evening is appropriate for all ages.

Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum.

This April, we’re taking a blue adventure through From Cobalt to Indigo: The Power of Blue in East Asia! From prints to pottery, we’ll find out how artists from East Asia create beautiful blues and use them in their amazing artworks.

Please note that this event will not be livestreamed or posted on YouTube.
Take a Wonder Walk through the galleries! The walk will include close looking at a few artworks as well as gallery games and activities. This is a great way to introduce your little one to art and the museum. Wonder Walks is for children 2-4 years old (but all are welcome) and is free with the cost of admission. Caregivers must stay with their children at all times. Preregistration is encouraged. Adults, remember to register your children!

Nature Journaling
Saturdays, April 4 & May 2, 10-11:30 am

Audience: Teens & Adults

Immerse yourself in the art of slowing down, looking closely, and connecting more deeply with the natural world. These nature journaling workshops are designed for anyone—who wants to cultivate a mindful, creative practice that blends observation, writing, and sketching.

These workshops invite you to step outdoors (or view nature from a window) and tune in to textures, colors, patterns, and stories unfolding around you. Along the way, you’ll explore topics such as seasonal change, nature-based mindfulness, basic field sketching techniques, and how to use your journal as a tool for wonder and awareness.

Please bring your own sketch or notebook. A limited amount of supplies will be available for those who may have misplaced their journal.

Fee: Members Free, Non-Member $10 Please register.

Eco Art in the Anthropocene
Find the frontier of art and nature with WMU’s IDEAS Collaboratory (InterDisciplinary Experimentations in Art and Science).

IDEAS students will be presenting a unique project drawn from explorations of the Nature Center, weaving together scientific and artistic principles to create a wholly new mixed media experience tied to the land here at KNC.

This collaboration is one you will not want to miss!

Audience: Adults
Meet: Visitor Center Auditorium
April 4 2-4PM

Fee: Included in regular KNC admission; KNC Members free!

Please join us the first Saturday of each month at 9 AM (barring special events or bad weather which will be announced on our Facebook page), for "Beginning Birding Walks," led by experienced birders from the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. This event is free and open to the public. Meet at the second parking lot at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, just off SR 43. All skill levels are welcome.

We will enjoy nature while typically identifying 20-40 species of birds, plus butterflies, frogs, etc. Over 200 bird species have been sighted at Wolf Lake, which offers a variety of habitats and easy walking trails. Annual highlights include colorful songbirds like orioles, warblers, tanagers, hawks and eagles, kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons, and over 20 species of waterfowl. Eastern Bluebirds can be found year-round! Children accompanying adults are welcome. The focus is on birding fundamentals, and extra binoculars are always available. The walk typically takes about 2 hours (but feel free to arrive late or leave early).

Silver Maples: Saving Woods Lake

Invisible Salt and Urban Dead Seas

April 8, 11 am – 1 pm

Audience: Geared for Adults 50+, but all are welcome

Road salt deicers are widely used in the U.S. and around the world to make roads safer for winter driving. However, the application of road salt may have significant impacts on natural systems.

Local scientist Dr. Carla Koretsky will share her work completed at two lakes in Kalamazoo (Woods Lake and Asylum Lake), demonstrating the significant impact that road salt can have on the biogeochemistry and physical functioning of urban lakes.

Bring your lunch! We will eat together after the program. This program is geared for adults 50 and up, but all ages are welcome.

Part of the Silver Maples Series: NatureCenter/SilverMaples

Fee: Member $12, Non-Member $15 Please register.