Artistic rendering – Event may differ
New Year's Fest of Kalamazoo
Ring in the New Year at Kalamazoo's premier performing arts festival, celebrating 40 years of continuous entertainment. This all-ages event features a dynamic lineup of approximately 22 artists, including bands, comedians, magicians, and more, performing across multiple indoor venues and a heated tent. Attendees can curate their own experience by choosing from numerous performances throughout the evening, culminating in a spectacular midnight ball drop and fireworks.
What to Expect
40th anniversary performing arts festival with customizable schedule
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: $$ – Get tickets
- Pets: No pets allowed (implied by bag search policy and indoor venues)
Other Christmas Events Near Kalamazoo
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families, couples, groups of friends
Vibe
Festive, celebratory, artistic, community-oriented
Energy Level
Moderate to high
Budget
$$
Photo Friendly
Weather Sensitivity
Low (most events are indoors or in heated tents)
Special Events & Promotions
- 40th Anniversary celebration
- Vote for returning performers
- Advanced button sales available
Location
Event Details
Duration
6 hours
Ages
All ages
Neighborhood
Downtown Kalamazoo
Timed Entry
No
Featured Performers
- Zion Lion
- Out of Favor Boys
- Work in Progress
- Sophia McIntosh
- The Bootstrap Boys
- Selkie
- The Rebel Eves
- WMU Broncords
- Gemini Moon
- Oba the Artist
- Bahar Ensemble
- Birdseed Salesman
- Dylan Tolbert
- Hired Hands
- Kalamazoo Big Band
- Kathleen & the Bridge Street Band
- Ladies in the Light
- Samuel Nalangira
- Skeletones
- Spoon Man
- The Magic of Preston Lyford
- Tyler Roy
- Zeemo The Magnificiant
- Ada LeAnn
- Megan Dooley Trio
- Pangea Steel Drum Band
- Lana Hoffman and the Otsego Jazz Ensemble
- Minor Element
- The Nathan Moore Affair
- Grace Theisen and Band
- Joel Mabus
- FlyLiteGemini
- Northern Ground
- The Koch Family Sings Showtunes
- Jenuwine Entertainment
- Barry Ross
- Kalamazoo Concert Band Brass Quartet
- Jake Kershaw Band
- Minny Niiche
- Nalangira Trio
- Kalamazoo Music School Group
- Jordon Hamilton With Jamboo'laya
- Jeremy Koch
- Traditional Country Dancing
- So Long Belladonna
- Publicity Stunt
- Jonathan Moody
- Tom Knific Quartet
- Vinyl Tap Rock Sing-A-Long
- Josh Holcomb
- Bittersweet Acres
- Chase Griffin
- Chris Karpinski
- Gene Haulenbeek
- Greg Lester
- Hazeltree Music
- Keith Hall Quartet
- Kenny Ahern
- MI Hiryu Daiko Flying Dragon Drummers
- Once Upon a Princess
- The Donny Rod Show
- The Last Gasp Collective
- Western Brass Quintet
- Who Hit John?
- Boitshoko Molefhi
- Brian Penny
- Capoeira Mandinga
- Cirque Amongus
- Grace Fields
- Hoffman's Animal Act
- John Dillworth
- Kalamazoo Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra
- Kevin Tubbs
- Kings of the Nighttime World
- Matt Wilcox
- Nick Foresman
- The Dacia Bridges Project
- Tia Imani Hanna - Feat. Carolyn Koebel
- West Michigan CDO Capoeira
- All Ears Theatre
- Animal Rentals - Exotic Petting Zoo
- Ben's Bubble Show
- Crawlspace Theatre Productions
- David Lloyd
- Denise Davis and the Motor City Sensations
- Dixon's Violin
- Doc Pawlaczyk's Magical Medicine Man
- Face Painters
- Heartside Harmony
- Kari Lynch Band
- Karl Schrock, Organist
- Red Sea Pedestrians
- Rich and Stacy Ridenour
- United Teen Talent Show
- DJ Todd Brown
- David Brose
- Doug Church
- Founders
- Kaitlin Rose
- Norse Code Norwegian Fiddlers
- Retro Pop Shuffle
- Impact Entertainment Services
- Whiskey Before Breakfast
- Yolonda Lavender
- An Dro
- Balloons - Carl Sanders
- Bluz Brothers
- Dow Family Band
- Empty Canvas
- Fused Art with Elizabeth Start
- Joey Van
- Katelin Spencer & Helen Lukan
- Mall City Harmonizers
- Mark Twain
- Merling Trio
- Gladstone & Associates
- Seedarock Productions
- SSIK (KISS Tribute Show)
- Western Jazz Quartet
- Alan Smola
- Crawlspace Eviction
- Lego City
- DJ Monte
- Richard Paul
- Clark Lewis: The Rouge Showman
- Olivia Grace & Company (Superheroes, Elsa, Cinderella, Spiderman)
- Tuba New Year
Organizer
New Year's Fest of Kalamazoo, Inc.
Food & Drink
Not specified, but likely available given the event's nature and duration.
Quick Actions
Tips & Advice
- Download the event brochure and performance grid from their website in advance to plan your evening and create your personalized entertainment schedule.
- Purchase admission buttons online or at designated locations before New Year's Eve to save money and ensure availability.
- Arrive early, especially if you plan to attend popular performances, as capacities vary by location and some shows may fill up.
- Dress in layers and be prepared for potentially cold weather, as some performances are in heated tents or outdoors, though most are indoors.
- Utilize the Holly Jolly Trolley for convenient transportation between venues from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included with the admission button?
The admission button grants access to all indoor performance locations and the heated entertainment tent. The outdoor live music stage, fireworks, and ball drop are free to attend.
What is the price of admission?
Admission buttons are $10.00 in advance online or at select locations, and $15.00 on event day in Bronson Park starting at 5:00 PM. Free admission for the outdoor stage, fireworks, and ball drop.
Are there any age restrictions?
New Year's Fest is an all-ages event, welcoming families and individuals of all ages to enjoy the performing arts.
What is the bag policy?
All bags are subject to search at every location to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all attendees.
How can I vote for past performers to return?
You can vote for your favorite past performers by visiting the survey link provided on their social media pages or website.
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly.