Next date: Friday, November 29, 2024 | 05:00 PM to 07:00 PM
The City of Kalamazoo will host its Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 29 in Bronson Park! Festivities are planned from 5 to 7 p.m. The lighting of the park will occur at approximately 6 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited to celebrate the holiday season and the diverse traditions that make it so special.
South St will be closed by the park on the day of the event starting at 1 p.m. The street will be open only to staff, the Holly Jolly Trolley, and Kalamazoo Civic traffic. The street is expected to reopen around 7 p.m.
The Downtown Kalamazoo Holly Jolly Trolley will run during and after the event from 5 to 9 p.m., offering free rides around downtown.
Performances:
The event will be emceed by Von Washington Jr., the Executive Director of Community Relations for the Kalamazoo Promise.
Michigan Native and Nashville Recording Artist Sophia McIntosh was born and raised into a musical family. As a result, Sophia has been singing and performing since she was very young. At age eighteen, she is an accomplished Singer Songwriter and pianist with maturity well beyond her years. Sophia’s vocal range extends five octaves with her greatest strength in the upper register. Industry leaders describe her tone as similar to Adele or Lauren Daigle. When she sings, people listen. Her originals are fresh, talented pop music with very seasoned vocals.
A self-professed “Funkateer”, and WYCE Jammie Award winning singer Serita Crowley of Serita’s Black Rose from Grand Rapids, Michigan brings a raucous mix of FUNK, ROCK, BLUES, NEO-SOUL, and AMERICANA. Serita, along with her partner Jon Hayes are at its core, performing together for over two decades. As an acoustic duo, or full band, they play much of the timeless “feel good music” from the 60’s and 70’s along with their own original music. Their self-titled EP release in 2012 has won several awards including WYCE's Jammie Award for "Best Short Form Album". The Acoustic Duo has also been the supporting act for the legendary Smokey Robinson of Motown, and Kansas. Serita’s fiery, blues- and soul-infused vocals come straight from the heart and she will surely reach yours!
Dylan Tolbert is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He grew up in Three Rivers, Michigan where his love for music started. Over the span of 20 years Dylan has learned to play drums, piano, guitar, and violin. Putting his own style on classic songs with soulful grooves and creating tunes of his own is the driving force of every show. March 29, 2021 was the release of Tolbert’s debut album, Tolbert Drive. For more information about music, events, and booking visit www.tolbertdrive.com.
The Kennedy Affair trio has a Texas blues feel with a taste of R&B and Soul. Matt Kennedy on load vocals and guitar, Bill LaValley on bass and vocals and Noah Mercil on percussion.
Ms. Adiah, Ms. Courtney,and Ms. Carmilla opened the doors of Trinity Prep Center in Kalamazoo, MI in the Summer of 2014. TPC offers affordable dance lessons inBallet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz,andTumblingfor youth. Their mission is to use positive influence to help youth reach their maximum potential.
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase including:
Toy donations will be collected at the Tree Lighting Ceremony for attendees who would like to donate new or gently used toys. The toys will be given to families at the December to Remember event hosted by the Kalamazoo Youth Action Council (KYAC).
Bronson Park, 200 S Rose Street, Kalamazoo, 49007, View Map
200 S Rose Street , Kalamazoo 49007
Free