The 22nd annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival kicks off its first night at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in Kalamazoo on July 9, 2015. The three-day celebration of blues music, culture, and history is one of the longest-running festivals in Kalamazoo. (Crystal Vander Weit | MLive file photo)

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KALAMAZOO, MI — Summer has officially arrived, and the Kalamazoo area is gearing up for a wide range of festivals offering food, music and entertainment.

This year's list of upcoming events includes annual favorites like Ribfest and the Kalamazoo Blues Festival as well as brand-new festivals like the Mac and Cheese Fest and Bourbon and BBQ Country Jam, both hosted by the Kalamazoo Growlers baseball team.

Scroll down for a sneak peek at some of the major Kalamazoo-area festivals planned in the coming months.

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People enjoy various activities and shows offered at The Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival on Friday, June 30, 2017 at W. K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek. (Carly Geraci | MLive file photo)

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Battle Creek Field of Flight

The Battle Creek Field of Flight festival will take place from July 3 to July 7 at W. K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek.

There is an air show, night air show, balloon release, rock bands, firework shows and a carnival at the festival.

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Ammariee Spraggins, 8, gets her face painted during the 2016 Black Arts and Culture Center's Black Arts Festival (Bryan Bennett | MLive file photo)

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Black Arts Festival

The largest event that the Black Arts and Cultural Center puts on will take place from July 9-13 at multiple venues in Kalamazoo.

The festival will encourage community engagement and teach black culture, according to a news release from the organization.

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The 22nd annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival kicks off its first night at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in Kalamazoo July 9, 2015. The three-day celebration of blues music, culture, and history is one of the longest-running festivals in Kalamazoo. (Crystal Vander Weit | MLive file photo)

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Kalamazoo Blues Festival

Now in its 26th year, the Kalamazoo Blues Festival will be headlined by Danielle Nicole, Davy Knowles, Duwayne Burnside and other local favorites.

The festival is a two-day celebration, starting Friday, July 12, at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place. Daily festival tickets are $12 on Friday and $16 on Saturday.

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The Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital will host Summerfest on Thursday, July 25. (Katie Alaimo | MLive file photo)

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Summerfest

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 25, the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital will hold its free Summerfest event. There will be live music, a rummage, food booths, pie throwing and prize raffles.

Proceeds from the event go to supporting the patients of the hospital. The hospital wants to use this event to raise awareness about mental health in the community.

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Nine rib vendors show off their meats during Kalamazoo Ribfest on Aug. 4, 2017 at Arcadia Creek Festival Place. Ribfest runs Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 3-5. (Carly Geraci | MLive file photo)

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Ribfest

Ribfest is entering its 30th year as organizers prepare for the three-day event, which begins on Aug. 1 at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo.

National and local rib vendors come to Kalamazoo to sell ribs and chicken with unique BBQ sauces, along with live local bands throughout the weekend.

Ribfest 2019 hours:

• 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1

• 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 2

• 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3

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Scotty Cripps, 13, of Grand Junction competes in the pie eating contest during the 55th annual National Blueberry Festival at Riverfront Park in South Haven, Saturday, August 11, 2018. (Daniel Vasta | MLive file photo)

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National Blueberry Festival

One of the favorite summer festivals in the South Haven area, the National Blueberry Festival, will take place from Aug. 8 to Aug. 11. This year's events will include live music, a 5K run/walk, blueberry markets and kids activities.

As always, this year's festival will also include blueberry pie eating contests for kids and adults on Saturday, Aug. 10.

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The Growlers season opener against Fond du Lac Dock Spiders at Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Tuesday, May 28, 2019. The Growlers fell to the Spiders 5-4. (Joel Bissell | MLive file photo)

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Bourbon and BBQ Country Jam

On Saturday, Aug. 24, the Kalamazoo Growlers will host bourbon and whiskey sampling with local BBQ vendors at Homer Stryker Field. Tickets start at $35.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.bourbonandBBQcountryjam.com.

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Michigan's first-ever Mac and Cheese Festival will take place Oct. 5 at Homer Stryker Field. (Image provided to MLive by Kalamazoo Growlers)

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Mac and Cheese Fest

The Mac and Cheese Fest, a brand-new festival coming to Kalamazoo this year, will take place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Kalamazoo Growlers' Homer Stryker Field.

There will be live music, mac and cheese sampling, beer sampling and dairy products. No ticket information is available yet, but those interested can sign up for a priority list online at www.macandcheesemi.com.

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People wait in line at food trucks during 'Lunchtime Live!' at Bronson Park in downtown Kalamazoo on June 6, 2019. 'Lunchtime Live!' will be held at Kalamazoo's Bronson Park every Friday through Aug. 30. (Joel Bissell | MLive file photo)

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Lunchtime Live!

Lunchtime Live!, a weekly program of the city of Kalamazoo's parks department is meant as an incentive to bring workers and residents downtown on their lunch breaks.

The weekly event takes place every Friday from 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at downtown's Bronson Park.

Each week, local musicians will take the stage at the west end of the park at the Rotary Stage. Games will also be set up throughout the park, and a variety of food trucks line up along South Street on the south side of the park.

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Bell's Beer Garden will launch a summer of music beginning with a show on May 31. (Fritz Klug | Photo provided to MLive by Bell's Brewery)

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Bell's Beer Garden Summer Concert Series

Bell's Summer Concert Series concerts continue through Sept. 15. Here is a list of remaining concerts in the series:

• Built to Spill – June 29

• Whiskey Myers – July 9

• Kurt Vile – July 19

• Conor Oberst – July 23

• Sir Mix-A-Lot – July 27

• The Corn Fed Girls and The Red Sea Pedestrians present: Abbey Road – August 10

• Here Come the Mummies – August 16

• Langhorne Slim & the Law – Sept. 14

• Zed Zeppelin, Jake Simmons & The Little Ghosts, Uncle Kooky – Sept. 15

A number of high-profile concerts and performances, ranging from comedians Nick Offerman and Larry the Cable Guy to musician Conor Oberst, are also scheduled at venues in Kalamazoo in the coming months.

Related: Nick Offerman, OK Go and more shows coming to Kalamazoo in 2019

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People look at photography by Tim DePuydt of Florence, Montana at the KIA Art Fair. on Friday, June 1, 2018 in Kalamazoo. (Joel Bissell | MLive file photo)

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More fairs, festivals in the area

Many other fairs and festivals are also expected in the Kalamazoo area this summer. Here are a few other dates worth marking on your calendar as you plan your summer fun:

South Haven Art Fair – June 29-30

Kindleberger Summer Festival in Parchment – July 13

Kalamazoo County Youth Fair at the Expo Center – Aug. 6-10

Ramona Park Luau in Portage – Aug. 17

Kalamazoo Balloon Fest in Richland – Aug. 23-25

Allegan County Fair with Little Big Town and Dan + Shay – Sept. 6-8

For information on additional performances and events planned in the community this year, you may want to visit the following websites: