Kalamazoo Valley Community College and KVM to Sponsor Downtown Holiday Traditions

Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Center for New Media and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum play important roles in downtown holiday traditions. The college is expanding its collaboration with the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership as a returning after parade sponsor of the Nov. 16 event and will serve as the season sponsor of the Holly Jolly Trolley Nov. 11 through Jan. 1.

“This collaboration makes so much sense,” said Museum Director Bill McElhone. “By sponsoring the parade and the trolley, we can help downtown visitors take advantage of the entire spectrum of downtown events and activities during this special season. From special activities following the parade on Nov. 16 to seasonal planetarium shows and winter break family performances in December, the museum will be alive with much to see and do.”

Throughout the month of December visitors will have the opportunity to view the New Media Showcase at Center for New Media. This juried exhibition highlights digital artistry of students enrolled in the Art and New Media Program in the categories of graphic design, illustration, web design, animation, game art and multimedia and digital photography. The show kicks off at 5:30p.m. during Art Hop on Dec. 6. “Providing professional exhibitions for our students is an important part of the entire educational experience,” said Center for New Media Director, Tom Hamann. “Our students gain knowledge of the entire creative process, they may even receive special recognition from the judges.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum, located at 230 North Rose Street, is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees. The museum and Center for New Media are located on college’s Arcadia Commons Campus downtown Kalamazoo.

The Holly Jolly Trolley, an annual attraction, has provided more than 90,000 rides over the past eight years. Rides on the trolley are free throughout the holiday season.

Holly Jolly Trolley Regular Hours:

Nov. 20 thru Dec. 29

Thursdays and Fridays, 4– 8 p.m.

Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sundays, 12 – 4p.m.

Holly Jolly Trolley Special Hours:

November 1 5 – 10p.m. (Art Hop)

November 16 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. (Holiday Parade)

December 24 noon – 4 p.m (Christmas Eve)

December 31 8 p.m. – 1a.m. (New Year’s Eve)

*Visit DowntownKalamazoo.org for Holly Jolly Trolley details.

All events and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and the Center for New Media are free and open to the public. For more information visit www.kvcc.edu.