Que The Cheese – BBQ and Mac & Cheese Festival

QUE THE CHEESE IS BACK.

Saturday, February 27

3–7 PM

Kellogg Arena

BBQ. Mac & cheese. Live music. And enough cheesy, smoky, saucy goodness to make your diet file a formal complaint.

Que the Cheese is coming back bigger, messier and more delicious than ever for another BBQ + Mac + Cheese Fest.

The Megan Rae Band and His Boy Elroy will be bringing the live music while the pit masters and mac & cheese masters bring the important stuff.

Come hungry. Leave happy. Wear stretchy pants.

Tickets on sale soon!

Friday Nite Beats & Bites

Friday Nite Beats & Bites – Harvest Festival

🎶 Friday Nite Beats & Bites at the Battle Creek Farmers Market

Looking for one of the best free summer events in Battle Creek? Join us for Friday Nite Beats & Bites, an exciting evening concert series at the Battle Creek Farmers Marketfeaturing live music, local food trucks, artisan vendors, and family-friendly fun!

📅 Event Dates

August 14, 2026
September 18, 2026
October 9, 2026

🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Bring your lawn chairs, gather your friends and family, and spend the evening enjoying everything that makes our local community special. Browse handcrafted goods from talented artisans, shop unique local products, enjoy delicious eats from rotating food trucks, and experience live performances from some of Michigan’s favorite bands.

🎨 Shop Local
Discover handmade crafts, artwork, specialty products, and more from local makers.

🍔 Eat Local
Enjoy a variety of delicious offerings from featured food trucks and food vendors.

🎵 Live Entertainment
Every event features a different band, creating the perfect soundtrack for a summer evening in downtown Battle Creek.

✨ Vendor lineups change each month! Follow the Battle Creek Farmers Market on Facebook for the latest vendor announcements, event updates, and special activities.

🎃 October 9 – Harvest Festival

Celebrate fall at the Battle Creek Farmers Market! Shop for holiday gifts and decor, enjoy fall activities and treats and more!

🎤 Live Music

🦞 Featured Food Truck: Cousins Maine Lobster

🎟️ Admission is FREE!

Come hungry, shop local, support small businesses, and enjoy one of downtown Battle Creek’s favorite summer traditions. We can’t wait to see you at Friday Nite Beats & Bites!

Presented by Battle Creek Honda

Battle Creek Winter Wanderland

Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 12, from 2–8 PM and get ready to turn downtown Battle Creek into one giant holiday playground!

We’ve got:

• Horse-drawn wagon rides
• A full Holiday Market
• Wander Scavenger Hunt
• Mini Polar Express train rides
• Kids activities
• Santa AND the Grinch
• Festival Market Square
• Kellogg Arena
• And plenty more winter wandering

Whether you’re bringing the kids, meeting up with friends, hunting for holiday gifts, or just looking for an excuse to get out of the house, this is the day to be downtown.

Battle Cancer

Battle Cancer is an annually recurring nonprofit fundraising event in the heart of downtown Battle Creek at Festival Market Square.

Sunday, June 28, 2026 brings the community together for a full day of music, food, family activities, and fundraising in support of cancer survivors in Calhoun County.

Free to attend. Every penny raised stays in our community.

Schedule of activities

Noon – 9:00 PM: Live bands at Festival Market Square
2:00 – 3:00 PM: Service in the Son! Joint worship bands and collaboration of congregations
4:00 – 6:00 PM: Downtown Battle Cancer Scavenger Hunt
Noon – 8:00 PM: Food trucks along Jackson Street and McCamly Street
Noon – 8:00 PM: Craft vendors along Jackson Street and McCamly Street
1:00 – 4:00 PM: ALURT dive team display, mounted Sheriff deputies, firemen, and smoke house
1:00 – 5:00 PM: Military recruiters on hand
7:00 – 10:00 PM: Silent auction winners claim prizes

Special guests

Mrs. Michigan Tamara Babcock will be present with all of her charm and grace. Alexander the Magician will be entertaining the crowds throughout the day.

Scavenger hunt

The Battle Cancer Scavenger Hunt involves 15 to 20+ downtown businesses. Online registration is $10 per participant. Each player solves clues, scans Battle Cancer QR codes at participating businesses to unlock the next clue, and is guaranteed to win back more in prizes than the entry fee. Clues are randomized to prevent crowding.

Vendors

Vendor booths line Jackson Street and McCambly Street from noon to 8 PM. Local food, retail, and craft vendors are welcome.

Vendors bring their own tents, tables, chairs, signs, and display fixtures — we do not provide booth equipment. Each booth donates one silent auction prize, sized to match the booth (bigger booth, bigger prize). A laminated photo of the prize stays at the silent auction tables outside Kellogg Arena so bidders can see what they’re bidding on without security risk; the prize itself remains with you. Bidding closes at 7 PM and winners come to your booth between 7 and 10 PM to claim.

Booth pricing depends on size and location on the street. To reserve, see the vendor program page or contact DrKinzel@battlecancerbc.org.

Silent auction

The silent auction takes place outside Kellogg Arena. Each vendor contributes a prize proportional to their booth size. Guests browse the prize tables and write down their name, phone number, and donation amount for prizes they want to win. All money goes directly to the Battle Cancer Community Alliance 501(c)(3) account. Winners claim their prizes from the contributing vendors between 7:00 and 10:00 PM.

Contact

Dr. Carl J. Kinzel, DO · 606-422-5036 · DrKinzel@battlecancerbc.org
Tera Kinzel, PharmD · 606-422-4055

Both founders respond best to text messages.

Battle of the Bands

Battle Creek Battle of the Bands is the creation of Penetrator Events and 1T Productions. It was created to help instigate a larger live music scene in the greater Battle Creek area to celebrate local talent.

Battle of the bands does not pretend to be the end all for the live music scene, but rather an addition to what has already been created by so many other promoters, venues and musicians.

For this first 2026 version, the event will showcase cover bands in the rock ‘n’ roll genre.

November 14, 6pm – Finals

Kellogg Arena, Downtown Battle Creek

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TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

VIP Table Seating: $45

General Admission: $20

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Battle Creek Farmers Market

Downtown Battle Creek Farmers Market

Where Community Gathers & Freshness Thrives!

Join us at the heart of downtown for the Battle Creek Farmers Market— your weekly destination for fresh produce, local goods, delicious eats, and vibrant community spirit!

When: Every Wednesday from May 13th through October 7th
Where: Festival Market Square [25 McCamly St. Battle Creek, MI]
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Come stroll through a lively outdoor market filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, artisanal products, and handmade crafts—all brought to you by local farmers, makers, and small businesses.

Enjoy live music, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and the warm, welcoming vibe that makes the Battle Creek Farmers Market a local favorite.

Whether you’re a regular or visiting for the first time, we can’t wait to see you there!

Stay connected!
Follow us on Facebook for vendor lists, live entertainment schedules, and special market events.

Join our bi-weekly newsletter HERE for recipes, vendor updates, special events, and seasonal highlights!

Interested in becoming a vendor? Get more information HERE!

Want to showcase your brand for thousands to see? Become a sponsor!

Cinco de Mayo

¡Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with VOCES!

Join us for a fun-filled Cinco de Mayo celebration at Festival Market Square in Battle Creek!

Location: Festival Market Square
25 McCamly S Street, Battle Creek, MI 49017
Time: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 2nd.
FREE ENTRY

What to expect:
Raffles
Participation games & activities for kids
Delicious food
Crafts
Local businesses & vendors
Fun for the whole family!

Come celebrate culture, community, and connection with Voces. Bring your friends, bring your family, and don’t miss out!

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¡Celebra el Cinco de Mayo con VOCES!

Acompáñanos a una gran celebración del Cinco de Mayo en Festival Market Square en Battle Creek.

Lugar: Festival Market Square
25 McCamly S Street, Battle Creek, MI 49017
Horario: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sábado, 2 de Mayo.
Entrada GRATIS

Habrá:
Rifas
Juegos y actividades para niños
Comida deliciosa
Artesanías
Participación de negocios locales
Diversión para toda la familia

Ven a celebrar la cultura, la comunidad y la unión con Voces. ¡Trae a tu familia y amigos y no te lo pierdas!

Vibe @ 5 – JP and The Energy

Bring your lawn chairs and join us for live music in downtown Battle Creek at Friendship Park!

FREE admission for all ages!

Enjoy live music, delicious food, cold drinks and plenty of summer fun!

Featuring Ultimate Chef N Catering Food Truck! AND don’t forget, Friendship Park is a part of Downtown Battle Creek’s Social District! Stop at any of our amazing downtown businesses for a drink and head over!