KalamazooBlog.com

Festival of Trees

There is no better way to celebrate the holidays than by being a part of the 19th Annual Festival of Trees.  Each year over 10,000 Kalamazoo area residents usher in the holiday season during this spectacular three-day event held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites at the Kalamazoo Center in downtown Kalamazoo.

As the primary fundraiser for the Junior League of Kalamazoo, Festival of Trees has raised over $1 million to support the Junior League’s ongoing commitment to building better communities in the greater Kalamazoo area through community service projects and grants since its inception in 1990.

General Admission Hours and Prices:
Saturday - 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Adults $4
Seniors 65+ $2
Children (2-12) $2
Children Under 2 are free

Beautifully Designed Holiday Decorations
View uniquely designed trees, from 2 feet to 7-1/2 feet tall, stunning home vignettes and centerpieces, and designer wreaths and garland.  There are more than 150 decorated items in total, all of which are for sale or raffle.

Gingerbread Village
See mouth-watering creations presented by both amateur and professional bakers.  Each structure in the gingerbread village is for sale (or available by raffle).

Gift Shop
The Festival of Trees Gift Shop offers hundreds of holiday gifts, ornaments, local artwork, children's items, home accents and the commemorative edition of the Junior League of Kalamazoo's I've got a Cook in Kalamazoo! cookbook.  With such a wide array of items available, the Festival of Trees Gift Shop is the perfect place to begin and end your holiday shopping!

Visit the Junior League's Festival of Trees information on their website.

 

Also of interest:

• Order the 2009-2010 Kalamazoo SuperBook CouponBook as a Christmas gift
• Follow this blog on Google, Yahoo, MSN or Charter
• Follow this blog via email

 

Kalamazoo on YouTube

Ron Kitchens tours the Kalamazoo region of southwest Michigan.

Kalamazoo Highlights

Since 1999, Southwest Michigan First has been a local organization committed to creating and supporting a thriving economy through entrepreneurial innovation. They have created a top list of why living in the region is cool.

Here are just a few from the list:

• #3- Derek Jeter
• #7- Creation of big yellow taxi cabs
• #16- At one point in time, 90% of the world's peppermint oil was supplied from A.M. Todd - a Kalamazoo company
• #30- Home of the United Kennel Club
• #35- Kalamazoo County is the leading producer of bedding plant in the U.S.
• #58- Westnedge Avenue is the second busiest street in Michigan
• #66- Oakwood Bistro ranks among the nations 100 top restuarants as selected  by culinary professionals

Gilmore Keyboard Festival

The largest gathering of keyboard artists in North America is right around the corner - the 2008 Gilmore Keyboard Festival. It's 20 music-filled days featuring incredible performances and exceptional musical experiences from classical to jazz, from morning to night across West Michigan. With more than 100 events, you're sure to find musical adventures that will delight you, your friends and your family.

The first Gilmore International Keyboard Festival took place in 1991. The Festival spanned nine days and encompassed 46 musical events, including a Music Critics Institute. We introduced the first Gilmore Artist - David Owen Norris, and our first Gilmore Young Artists - Christopher Taylor, Brenda Huang, Wendy Chen and Peter Miyamoto. The Festival's Master Series included performances by Alicia de Larrocha, Leon Fleisher, Chick Corea, Peter Nero, Steve Allen, George Shearing, Billy Taylor and Van Cliburn, among others.

Now, every two years The Gilmore presents two+ weeks of superb piano performances -more than 100 events. The Gilmore Keyboard Festival has become aleading American festival known the world over for celebrating the joy and power of keyboard music in concerts, lectures, master classes and films. Names of eminent classical keyboard artists, jazz greats and contemporary stars fill the program booklet, but The Gilmore also showcases lesser-known artists and music that merit wider exposure. The Festival is the best known aspect of The Gilmore's core mission of nurturing keyboard musicians and music.

International Festival

See and taste the world in a single evening at the 19th Annual International Festival at Western Michigan University will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2008 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Bernhard Center East Ballroom.

International Festival promises to be a great opportunity for campus and community members to come together and learn about the diversity of cultures existing in Kalamazoo. More information can be found at the International Festival website.