Community Calendar

Join us for an intimate and soulful writing experience with one of our most beloved local writers and poets, Kalamazoo’s own Kira Collins.

Reimagine your connection to the Earth. Re-root your soul in the land & remember your own belonging. We’ll spend time together grounding and feeling the world around us through the written word.

Bring a notebook, writing utensil of choice, water bottle, and something to sit with on the ground.

Think you’re not a poet? You just might surprise yourself!

Saturday, September 12, 2026, 10-11:30am

Meet: Glen Vista Gallery inside the Visitor Center

Fee: KNC Members $28; Non-Members $35

Please Register >

Audience: Adults

In September, Art Detectives will read a story about the Statue of Liberty and what she represents. Then they will explore the exhibition For the People, By the People to see how artists share the stories of the American people. Special guest Katie Platte from the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center will join us and show participants how to create a special book, so they can tell their own story.

Expand your horizons in both survival knowledge and cooking skills! This foraging class involves a lecture and discussion on the wide range of animal foods that can be secured with a bit of knowledge and little effort. This class is not really about conventional hunting or fishing, shining a spotlight on underappreciated animal foods such as grasshoppers, crayfish, and snails.

Tacos, tequila, and tunes, what more do you need?!

Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon at the Tacos & Tequila Crawl in Downtown Kalamazoo. Grab your friends and hit the town as you crawl between local hotspots, enjoying five delicious specialty tacos, sipping on signature tequila drinks, and soaking up all the fiesta vibes along the way. Your ticket is your all-access pass to flavor and fun. Featuring a taco at each stop, exclusive swag, and entry to an epic after party in Bates Alley with a live DJ to keep the celebration going.

This isn’t just a food crawl. It’s part taco tour, part bar crawl, and a FUNdraiser for MRC Industries.

Gather your crew, snag your tickets, and get ready for a fiesta you won’t forget!

Step into the timeless craft of leatherworking in this beginner-friendly class. Students will learn the fundamentals of working with leather while creating their choice of either a leather skillet handle cover or a leather catch-all tray to take home. The class will cover how to select the right hide, lay out patterns, and use of basic leatherworking tools. Students will also practice essential techniques like tooling and stamping, as well as finishing methods.

The summer holidays have come and gone but we are still in the swing for summer fun. Southwest Michigan Ballroom Dance Club is hosting an afternoon of dancing at the Kalamazoo Ballroom Academy at 2020 Fulford Street in Kalamazoo, MI 49001. Starting at 2 p.m., Mary Hoedemann will teach the West Coast Swing, a smooth contemporary swing dance. Dance to current popular tunes and music hits from the past with DJ Bob Sievert from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. All levels of dancers, beginners, couples, and singles are welcome. For additional information, please visit https://swmbd.com.

Harlem Rhapsody follows Jessie Redmon Fauset, the literary editor of The Crisis magazine, as she helps ignite the Harlem Renaissance while navigating a secret affair with W.E.B. Du Bois. As the first Black woman to hold this editorial position, Jessie wastes no time uplifting those who will become some of the greatest voices of this legendary artistic movement. Victoria Christopher Murrary explores ambition, love, race, and the sacrifices behind artistic legacy and cultural transformation.

Join us for a 6-week course exploring the twelve principles of permaculture design. Each week the class will dive into two principles, blending thoughtful discussion with hands-on practice in a living garden installation at Tillers International. Skills will vary based on garden needs and weather, but will include multiple fall bed preparation methods, mapping and planning, tool maintenance, and more!

Silver Maples: Nature Journaling
Looking for an excuse to slow down and connect with nature alongside your community? Get a taste of nature journaling- the art of looking closely and connecting more deeply with the natural world.

Journals will be provided, just bring yourself and your open mind.

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 11 am-12 pm

Meet: Glen Vista Gallery inside the Visitor Center

Fee: KNC Members free; Non-Members $10

Please Register >

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

Fall Foraging
Join KNC staff to learn some foraging basics of fall. Grab your basket and enjoy finding the edible treasures around us on a guided hike. Dress for the weather as this program will be entirely outdoors.

Registration is recommended as these popular programs often reach capacity; drop-ins welcome if space is available.

Please click on each date to register:

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 5-6:30 pm >

Saturday September 19, 2026, 10-11:30 am >

Meet: Visitor Center Main Parking Lot Sundial
Fee: KNC Members $16/Non-Members $20
Audience: All Ages