Kalamazoo Pride plans around Arcadia Creek renovations

Wood TV8 | Josh Sanchez

Published March 13, 2026

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Festivals are set to come back to Kalamazoo’s Arcadia Creek Festival Place this summer amid a $3.6 million renovation project.

While the change is welcome news for event organizers, the last couple of months have thrown a few curveballs for the team behind Kalamazoo Pride.

The block of fencing around the festival place has been up since December. Back then, city officials told News 8 that soil borings and other environmental testing were underway.

Last week’s update from the city said recent construction planning showed that work can start later in the year. It’s an assist to festivals like Pride.

“We did find a location that we were going to use, but the city did gather all of the festival planners together and said, ‘Hey, what do you need?’ And we were like, ‘Actually, we could have used some more time.’ And so they heard us,” said Christopher Terkos, executive director of LGBTQ+ advocacy group OutFront Kalamazoo.

It gives extra time for the nonprofit to review where the festival will be in 2027. While the fencing will still be up during this summer’s Pride, Terkos said it’s a bonus because festivals traditionally have to pay for the fencing as part of safety plans.

In a December email, officials said the state permitting process for demolition was underway, with demolition work expected in the winter, pending the environmental assessments. City officials said in the update that access to the creek bridge would remain closed due to its poor condition. Demolition bids will be prepared last this year, with the renovation project now expected to move forward after Labor Day.

Terkos said the project has created some obstacles in booking acts for Pride.

“But we have started that. In fact, we have two co-headliners, which will be Infinite Cole and then Tony and the Kiki. We’re very excited to bring them to Kalamazoo for the community,” said Terkos. “Then there were other aspects of like, you know, how do we set up a stage? How do we do that? But that actually enabled us to get creative. We’re going to have multiple stages, which we are continuing. We’re going to have two stages this year, which will allow us to bring in more entertainment and more local entertainment.”

With park design plans featuring a terraced lawn, expanded playground, dual pavilion and stage, there’s anticipation over the new space.

“There are aspects of the new plan that are very exciting that would actually help us run a more effective, safe festival. So I’m excited to see how those phases roll out and what they look like,” Terkos said.

Pride is among four festivals slated for the site this year. While there is a concern about the hurdle of some new costs on the horizon, there is hope that community support will ensure the city’s festival scene can thrive.

“My hope is that we as a community can come together and find a way to make sure these festivals continue because they’re so vital to the community for multiple reasons, not just the economic standpoint, but for bringing people together,” Terkos said.

The redesigned park is expected to open next year, while the major mixed-use building will have a separate timeline.

Original Link: https://www.woodtv.com/news/kalamazoo-county/kalamazoo-pride-plans-around-arcadia-creek-renovations/