Welcome to the 2024 New Year’s Fest!

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Ring in the New Year at Kalamazoo's spectacular celebration of the performing arts. New Year's Fest brings together 16 unique acts hosting shows across 5 locations with performances spanning from local-favorite bands, mesmerizing magic, and finishing off the night with a Ball Drop and Fireworks. 

 

There are a number of different ways to enjoy New Year's Fest.  You can see a couple of shows and stay right in the same building, or you can plan out your night and see several performances in different buildings surrounding Bronson Park.  Attempting to see more than 2 shows may take a little planning so that you can  "SEE ALL OF IT."

 

Here are some basic helpful hints to plan out your night: 

1. Visit the two entertainment description pages (links above) that are designed to categorize the entertainment by type of performance.   

2. Identify what performances appeal to you.  

3. Open up the entertainment grid document (link below) and save that document for reference on event night. We recommend that you print it off. 

4. Circle the performances that you want to see.  

5. Then identify a second choice in case the performance venue might be full - it's rare that the performance venues fill up, but they can in some of our smaller venues.

6. Look at the performances that don't have a show time, these performances are also a great option if a venue is full before your get there.  

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New Year's Fest also hosts activities beyond the shows. Here are some ideas as to what you can do in between the performances and enjoy your New Year's Eve in Downtown Kalamazoo. 

1. Visit our downtown businesses - by the time December 31 gets here, we will have a special page within this section that outlines things to do downtown.  We are working with the downtown restaurants and businesses to provide an array of things that you can do in between the performances. This will be outlined under this tab. 

2. Just hang out in Bronson Park. We will have different yard games, activities, vendors, and food trucks in Bronson Park.  If is it warm, there will be live music from the stage. 

3. Ride the Holly Jolly Trolley - it's quaint, full of cool people, and a nice way to just visit downtown.  The trolley is made possible by the support of downtown businesses; Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, Drive & Shine, and Bell's Eccentric Cafe and General Store. 

4. Stop in the Celebration Tent in Bronson Park.  Even if you don't have kids, you can simply watch the Princesses and Super Heroes make their magic happen. And, although the arts and crafts are for the kids, adults can have fun too. 

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No matter what you do when you come to New Year's Fest, just enjoy the company of someone who might be a stranger, but could be a new friend when you are sitting next to them watching a show. And, if you want to give back and help us manage the event, please volunteer.  There is an "easy-to-sign-up" volunteer tab. 

 

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