One Last Summer Weekend: 10 Things to Do Around Kalamazoo & Portage

Labor Day weekend has always felt a little strange in Southwest Michigan.

Technically, summer isn't over. But school is starting, football is back, the evenings are getting shorter, and somewhere nearby somebody has already ordered their first pumpkin-spice something.

So before we surrender completely to fall, we've got one more long weekend. And there's plenty to do around Kalamazoo and Portage.

1. Start Saturday at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market

Saturday morning is a great time for one more summer trip to the Kalamazoo Farmers Market. More than 150 local growers and makers fill the market with produce, baked goods, flowers, prepared foods, crafts and plenty of reasons to wander around with a cup of coffee.

2. Check Out the Vine Street Vintage Market

This one looks especially fun. The Vine Neighborhood is hosting a huge outdoor pop-up Saturday from 9 AM to 8 PM at 806 S. Westnedge. Expect local vintage and art vendors, food later in the afternoon and live music beginning around 5 PM. Admission is free, and the music is all-ages.

3. Spend Sunday Morning at the Portage Zhang Farmers Market

If Saturday gets away from you, Portage has you covered Sunday. The Portage Zhang Farmers Market runs from 9 AM to 1 PM. It's an easy Sunday morning outing and another chance to support local growers, food producers and makers before farmers market season begins winding down.

4. Have an '80s Night in Portage

Ready to break out the questionable fashion choices? Presidential Brewing Company is hosting an '80s Night Saturday with That '80s Rock Show in the beer garden. Music runs from 7 to 10 PM. Maybe leave the Aqua Net at home.

5. Catch Some Live Music Downtown

Saturday night also brings plenty of live music to Kalamazoo. Shakespeare's Pub has a four-act indie lineup beginning at 8 PM, while Old Dog Tavern hosts The Incantations with The Fat Animals beginning at 7 PM.

6. Take One More Long Summer Walk or Bike Ride

Sometimes the best Labor Day plans don't require tickets. The Portage Creek Bicentennial Trail and Celery Flats make an easy afternoon walk or bike ride, with miles of paved trail and plenty of places to stop along the way.

7. Explore the Air Zoo

If the weather doesn't cooperate—or you've somehow lived here for years and still haven't visited—the Air Zoo is one of those local attractions that's easy to take for granted. Aircraft, interactive exhibits, rides and the SR-71 make it a surprisingly good outing for adults as well as kids.

8. Rediscover Downtown Kalamazoo

No agenda required. Walk the Kalamazoo Mall, grab lunch or dinner somewhere you've never tried, browse a few shops and enjoy downtown at a slower pace. Sometimes playing tourist in your own hometown turns out to be surprisingly fun.

9. Take the Kids (or Grandkids) Somewhere They Can Burn Off Energy

Airway Fun Center offers bowling, go-karts, mini golf, laser tag, arcade games and more. Translation: plenty of opportunities for grandparents to demonstrate that they are still extremely competitive.

10. Do Absolutely Nothing

Seriously.

Sit on the patio. Fire up the grill. Call some friends. Find a lake. Read a book. Take a nap.

Labor Day doesn't have to become another carefully scheduled three-day weekend.

Michigan summer always seems ridiculously short, and before long we'll be talking about cider mills, changing leaves and whether it's too early to turn on the furnace.

So maybe the best plan this weekend is simply to enjoy one more taste of summer while we've still got it.

Fall can wait until Tuesday.