Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You must be 21 to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. Identification is required.

No. We are a "cash only" event. There are, however, ATMs located on-site and nearby in downtown Kalamazoo.

Yes, each day celebrity judges taste and judge cook-offs featuring taste vendors and local cooks. The contests are arranged in categories featuring seafood, poultry, beef and pork. Contact us via this website or call Wayne Deering 269.385.1276

You cannot bring picnic baskets, outside food or alchohol into the park, however, food and drinks are available inside the festival using a ticket system.

Of course. Advance arrangements can be made for groups. Tickets and space can be arranged prior to your group's arrival if we know when you would like to be here. Your employer may want to take a group of you out for lunch on Friday afternoon, and we don't want to stand in the way! Contact Wayne Deering at 269.385.1276 or via our Contact Us page for further details.

We do our best. We require our vendors and employees to use containers for paper and non-paper products and we provide recepticals for customer recycling. But we need your help- please use our containers!

To offer food or merchandise at the festival, contact Wayne Deering at 269.385.1276 or via our Contact Us page.

If you are interested in being a part of the entertainment, contact Paul Toth at 269.373.2713 or via our Contact Us page.

Cash is exchanged for tickets which are then used to purchase food and beverages. Food and beverage tickets are priced at $.50 each with items ranging in price from $.50 to $4.00. Candy and smaller items go for one ticket, while wraps, sandwiches, sushi, and larger items range between three and eight tickets. Feel free to peruse our menu pages to get a better idea of what will be available.

Admission to the Taste of Kalamazoo is FREE before 4pm, $5.00 from 4pm-7pm, and $8.00 after 7pm. Gates open at 11:00am and close at 12:30am of Thursday night and 1:30am of Friday and Saturday nights.

Yes. It always occurs on Thursday thru Saturday of the fourth weekend of July. Put it in your calendar for next year while you're thinking about it.

There are no age limits for entry into the festival. All musical performances are for all ages - and remember, children 12 years old and under attend for free.

Yes. Buses run regularly since the main bus terminal and train station is one block away from the festival site. Every bus eventually ends up one block away if you stay on it long enough. You can call Metro Transit for more specifics.

All aspects of the Arcadia Creek Festival Place were designed to be fully accessible to all patrons in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act including barrier-free ramping located at all entrances. The children's play area is also accessible; this allows children with disabilities to participate fully. Furthermore, portable restrooms are available for those with disabilities.

As far as beverages go, you'll encounter the best variety anywhere - from "beer garden microbrews" to Budweiser. You will find wine bars overflowing with the products of nearby local wineries as well as top-shelf liquor bars stocked with Captain Morgan, Cuervo, Tanqueray, and Smirnoff. We also offer an extensive list of non-alcoholic beverages including delicious smoothies, healthy juices, and refreshing Coca-Cola products.

Great emphasis must be placed on the available variety and quality of fare at our festival. You will not see the typical carnival food concession trailers. Don't misunderstand us - we all love a good, old-fashioned elephant ear, but this is not the place. Here you will find food from Africa, China, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Caribbean, and all points in between. All food is prepared and offered by local chefs from local restaurants. That's why we call it the "Taste of Kalamazoo." Enjoy!

The proceeds from the Taste of Kalamazoo benefit many community activities and programs of the Kalamazoo Jaycees, the primary beneficiary of the festival. Another charitable organization known as Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan benefits from the 18th annual Greatest Kazoo Duck Race, which will be held on Saturday afternoon. You experience world-class food and entertainment while making the world a better place. You can't lose!