Good morning, Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo residents enjoyed a festive day at the Grilled Cheese Festival held on Saturday, July 26th at Homer Stryker Field as they sampled over 30 unique grilled cheese varieties and a broad selection of drinks.

The event also featured a cheese eating contest — and it partnered with the South Michigan Food Bank to boost donations of nonperishable foods.

Stubble and Stache, a new woman-owned barbershop offering haircuts, beard trims, massages and waxing along with a bar serving curated whiskey and bourbon drinks, opened at 161 W.

Centre Ave. on July 23 in Portage — the shop hired barbers impacted by a tornado and serves both men and women with a modern self-care experience.

KDPS executed two search warrants earlier this week in its investigation of the July 4 shootings—one at an apartment on West Lovell Street that led to the arrest of 29-year-old Bernard Murff Jr. for carrying a concealed weapon and other charges, and one at a business on North Westnedge Avenue that resulted in three arrests and yielded a .40 handgun, ammunition, burglary tools and a stolen trailer.

During a 1982 concert in Kalamazoo, Ozzy Osbourne sparked controversy when a radio broadcast warned of a possible goat killing before his performance and he reportedly proposed to his girlfriend Sharon on stage—witnesses remember the moment differently.

The heavy metal icon—who died this week at 76—left a lasting mark on the local rock scene through his unpredictable showmanship.

On July 26th, environmentalists gathered at Historic Bridge Park in Battle Creek to mark 15 years since Enbridge’s Pipeline 6-B spilled over 800,000 gallons of oil along 40 miles of the Kalamazoo River and to protest the planned Great Lakes Tunnel Project, which critics say will add 27 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually + extend fossil fuel use.

City officials announced that a helicopter will begin flying over Texas, Oshtemo, Comstock and Ross townships on July 28 towing a hexagonal antenna 100 feet above open space to study underground aquifers—signals from the flight will help guide groundwater protection and well development as pilots cover about 1,620 miles on a grid pattern.

Area youth attended the Kalamazoo Youth Football Camp at Mayor's Riverfront Park on Saturday, July 26, where coaches from the Loy Norrix Knights and Central Giants partnered with the Kalamazoo Police Athletic League to teach football fundamentals, teamwork and character; organizers said the camp was a first and will become a yearly event.

Dokidokon 2025

July 28-30 — Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites Kalamazoo — Tickets from $10 — Celebrate anime, gaming, and fandom with a pirate theme at this vibrant community convention.

Parade of Homes Kalamazoo

6-7 p.m. — Home Builders Association — Ticket prices vary — Explore stunning homes and find inspiration for your next project.

Whack For Warmth Golf Outing Fundraiser

7 AM-4 PM — Cedar Creek Golf Course — All proceeds benefit heating assistance programs — Play for a cause at this engaging community golf outing.

Concerts in the Park

4-5 p.m. — Bronson Park — Free entry — Enjoy live summer music brought by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.

Festival Fridays: A Taste of Kalamazoo

6-10 p.m. — Arcadia Creek Festival Place — Free entry — Celebrate local food, music, and community at this vibrant summer festival series.

Dokidokon 2025

All day — Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites Kalamazoo — Tickets from $10 — Celebrate anime and gaming culture with panels, special guests, and a pirate theme.

Dokidokon 2025

Aug 10-12 — Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites Kalamazoo — Tickets from $10 — Dive into an anime and gaming convention with panels, concerts, and cosplay fun.

Read to Eleanor

3:30-5 p.m. — Kalamazoo Public Library - Central Library — Free — Spend quality time reading to a friendly therapy dog and take home a book.

Dokidokon 2025

All day — Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites Kalamazoo — Tickets from $10 — Celebrate anime, gaming, and cosplay at a community-driven convention with a pirate theme.

Artful Evening with Leo Villareal

6-7 p.m. — Kalamazoo Institute of Arts — Free entry — Explore the career of an acclaimed light artist and visionary during this engaging virtual discussion.