Okay Kalamazoo... Are We Ready for Fall Yet?

Summer isn’t quite finished, but Southwest Michigan is already showing signs of fall.

Mike Granchi

Sep 4, 2026

Trivia Question❓

How many miles of non-motorized trails does the city of Portage, Michigan maintain within its park system, a figure that has made it one of the most trail-dense mid-sized cities in the Midwest?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

KPVIBE — LABOR DAY WEEKEND QUICK EDITION

We disappeared on you for a couple of weeks.

Summer happened. Life happened. And somehow Thursday kept arriving before we were ready for it.

So rather than wait another week, we're popping into your inbox with a quick Labor Day Weekend edition of KPVibe.

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Summer's Fading Fast! 10 Must-Do Adventures in Kalamazoo & Portage Before It's Gone

One more long weekend, one more chance to squeeze a little extra fun out of summer. From farmers markets and live music to trails, local food and a few ideas that require absolutely no planning, here are 10 ways to enjoy Labor Day weekend around Kalamazoo and Portage.

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Terry B. · 1 month ago

Love these ideas! We always hit up the Portage farmers market, but that '80s night sounds like a good excuse to dig out my old neon headband…

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Kalamazoo's Fall Awakening: Is Your City Ready for the Season's Big Shift?

Summer isn’t quite finished, but Southwest Michigan is already showing signs of fall. From football and cider to sweatshirts and the annual battle over turning on the furnace, we take a lighthearted look at when fall really begins around Kalamazoo and Portage.

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Andy R. · 1 month ago

I swear my neighbor had pumpkin lights up the second school started, so I guess for them fall is HERE. For me it’s the first morning I step…

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BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE LAKE...

A quick Labor Day weekend heads-up for Portage lake lovers.

Good news for Austin Lake: The previous public health advisory has been lifted after new testing came back negative for microcystin.

However, a new advisory is in effect for Hampton Lake, a small lake in southwest Portage near the Greenspire/Gourdneck State Game Area off Centre Avenue, after testing detected microcystin associated with a suspected harmful algal bloom.

Health officials recommend keeping people and pets away from water that looks blue-green, has a green sheen, or resembles spilled paint on the surface.

So if you're heading to one of our local lakes this weekend, enjoy it — just give the water a good look before you or the four-legged family members jump in.

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

70 miles