After Parade Events!

It’s as good as a touch-a-truck adventure.  Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety along with other first responders will bring their trucks, officers, and technology that helps to save lives and make us safer.  Meet with the personnel that make it their life’s work to be dedicated to us as citizens.  Bring the kids and grandparents because this is an interesting approach to connecting with the people who work to keep us safe.  The Expo runs from immediately following the parade until 2:00 p.m.

The Elf on the Shelf event participation requires the businesses to feature an “Elf on the Shelf” doll that is strategically placed in the store as part of an adventure to find.  A game card passport is used by the participant where they need to visit the various locations on the passport, find the Elf, and then have the store “stamp” their location on the passport. The grid scavenger hunt card includes the store’s logo providing advertising to the participating businesses.  Stores are responsible for buying their own “Elf on the Shelf” doll as part of the promotion.

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1. Kalamazoo Candle Company

2. Zero Non-Alcoholic Bar

3. Lana's Boutique

4. MRC artWorks

5. Pop City Popcorn

6. Rocket Fizz

7. Uncle Buddy's Toy Stash

8. Spice & Tea Merchants Kalamazoo

9. The Spirit of Kalamazoo

10. Earthly Delights at Amy Zane

11. Beowoof Provisions for Pets

12. Cherri's Chocol'art

13. Mason Jar Plant Shop

14. Terrapin World Wide Exports

Many restaurants will be open after the parade.  Here are some restaurants that are super excited to welcome you on parade day and they will be ready.

1. Bell's: Endless beer options, satisfying food, and great music. Bell's Brewery began in 1985 with a quest for better beer and a 15-gallon soup kettle. Deeply rooted in community.

2. Burdick's Bar & Grill: Kalamazoo’s premier spot to gather, connect, and celebrate. Enjoy irresistible food, refreshing drinks, duckpin bowling, and the thrill of game day in every visit.

3. Endless beer options, satisfying food, and great music

4. Sit and Stay Winery: One-of-a-kind wines, crafted in-house with love. This pet-friendly winery offers a wide variety of wines you can't find anywhere else, along with options on tap and delicious charcuterie and flatbreads to pair.​​

5. Crafted Copper: Kalamazoo's first self-pour tap wall, a full bar serving up creative cocktails, and shareable bites. Have some fun with Crafted Copper's duckpin bowling!

6. Matchhead Coffee: This coffee shop aims to cultivate community and creativity! Enjoy craft coffees and other beverages, made with intention, and excellently crafted light meals and pastries in Matchhead's warm ambiance.

7. Zerø: Kalamazoo's first non-alcoholic bar! Zerø's bar serves up zero-proof sips like craft cocktails, beer, and wine. No alcohol, no pressure, just vibes.

Several stores throughout downtown will be partnering with Cherri’s Chocol’art to present Winnie Wink bars.  These delicious bars are part of a giveaway where when you open the bar you just might find a gold ticket.  Whether you win or not, the chocolate is super delicious.  

1. Lana's Boutique

2. Pop City Popcorn

3. Rocket Fizz

4. Uncle Buddy's Toy Stash

5. Sit and Stay Winery

6. The Spirit of Kalamazoo

7. Earthly Delights at Amy Zane

8. Cherri's Chocol'art

9. Terrapin World Wide Exports

On Parade Day, from 1 p.m. (or immediately following the parade)  to 3 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum as well as outside the City Centre.  Weather permitting, they might be on the Kalamazoo Mall after their visit at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.  Signage will direct the interaction and the event.   

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Here is the downloadable Letter to Santa Template