Hey Kalamazoo, you've been challenged! Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. is throwing down the gauntlet, and calling every one of you out...outdoors that is.
A new initiative dubbed Unleash the Zoo is a program of mini festivals aimed to get people outside and downtown during some of the colder months when folks may be more apt to hunker down indoors.
Unleash the Zoo aims to "change the way in which citizens interact with their public spaces. It is designed to unleash a new or evolving trend that also provides interaction, involvement from multiple stakeholders, and uses experiential marketing as the way to engage people into the product as it evolves into something that can continue on its own," DKI says in response to questions from Second Wave.
The series offers up its second event Friday, Nov. 21 with an event called KalamaTopia, essentially a cold-weather sidewalk sale and happy hour featuring local vendors, shops, breweries, wine makers and plenty of food and entertainment, all designed to lift your spirits and help ward off the late fall doldrums.
"KalamaTopia is a Friday happy hour of celebrating all things made in Kalamazoo County. Embracing the cold, enjoying the outdoors, and celebrating all things Kalamazoo is the theme of KalamaTopia. It’s about outdoor 'late fall' shopping. It’s about exploring things that are made in Kalamazoo and experiencing it all in one place,” DKI says.
Of course another part of the experience will be braving possibly tumultuous weather patterns, so DKI will be placing heaters all along the KalamaTopia route, which runs up and down the Kalamazoo Mall from Michigan Avenue to South Street.
Unleash the Zoo began this past summer with an Urban Disc Golf event at Arcadia Creek Festival Place. It featured food trucks, live music, local beer and wine and a nine hole mini disc golf course.
Just like the previous event, local adult beverage vendors will be on hand during KalamaTopia, but instead of providing cold, thirst quenching drinks Gonzo's BiggDogg Brewing and Tempo Vino Winery will be serving "sweaters you wear on the inside" and Water Street Coffee Joint, Coffee Rescue and others will be downtown as well, serving non-alcoholic hot drinks.
Other warming beverages available for sale include: mulled cider and hot chocolate with or without added spirits.
Just a few of the nearly 20 confirmed vendors include: Cake's Boutique, Hite House, Juicy Leaf, Sticks and Stones, and Youz Guys Sausage Co.
Unleash the Zoo will be officially hosted by DKA Charities Inc. and financially supported by the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation.
DKI encourages people to: “Wear your longjohns, winter woolies, and a hat...but leave your hands free so you can shop, experience, and taste the pleasure of KalamaTopia.”
The family friendly event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will run until 8 p.m. Details on future events have yet to be revealed.
For more information on Unleash the Zoo and KalamaTopia contact Deb Droppers at 269-388-2830
Writer: Jeremy Martin, Second Wave Media
Source: DKI
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