Families
A family holiday afternoon
Santa, a free museum and a trolley ride, paced for little legs.
At a glance
- Best for
- Families with young kids
- Time
- About 4 hours
- Budget
- Mostly free
- Best days
- Saturdays and Sundays from Nov 28
In shortThis plan is for families with kids. You visit Santa, a free museum, and ride the free trolley.
The plan
Santa’s Workshop at City Centre
Start with Santa while the line is short. Visits are free, and there are photo backdrops. 125 S. Kalamazoo Mall.
Free
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Warm up indoors with hands-on science and history exhibits on Rose Street. Check the museum’s schedule for planetarium shows.
General admission is free
Cocoa break on the Kalamazoo Mall
Pick a café, split a treat and look at the holiday windows.
Your choice
Ride the Holly Jolly Trolley
Catch the free trolley at City Hall, 241 W. South St. It leaves on the hour and half hour.
Free
Bronson Park lights
End in Bronson Park as the lights come on.
Free
Good to know
- Santa’s Saturday hours last season were noon to 6 p.m. and Sunday hours were noon to 4 p.m.
- Need a break from the crowd? The museum and library are good quiet stops.
Works well with
- Small Business Saturday & Santa’s Workshop (Sat, Nov 28 · All day)
- Gingerbread Wonderland (Dec 5–21)
- December to Remember (Thu, Dec 10 · 5:30–6:30 p.m.)
Getting here
- The first 90 minutes are free in the Epic Center and Kalamazoo Mall parking ramps.
- The free Holly Jolly Trolley loops downtown from City Hall, 241 W. South St., Thursday through Sunday until Christmas Eve.
Make it a postcard
Turn this plan into a picture to save, text to a friend or post with #SomethingNewKalamazoo.