Battle Creek celebrates holiday season with Winter Wanderland event

Greyson Steele, Battle Creek Enquirer
·1 min read
Battle Creek residents Wesley and Austin Jackson visit Santa during the Winter Wanderland event at Kellogg Arena on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
Battle Creek residents Wesley and Austin Jackson visit Santa during the Winter Wanderland event at Kellogg Arena on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

Crafts, food and holiday music were in abundance in downtown Battle Creek this weekend during the city's first Winter Wanderland event.

Horse-drawn carriage rides through the downtown streets, a holiday tree forest in Festival Market Square and an indoor snowball fight inside Kellogg Arena were among the festivities visitors enjoyed during the inaugural holiday event Friday and Saturday.

Santa Claus also made an appearance, along with a number of vendors and artisans selling their wares, ranging from jewelry to soaps to candles and beyond.

Attendees participate in the indoor snowball fight during the Winter Wanderland event at Kellogg Arena on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
Attendees participate in the indoor snowball fight during the Winter Wanderland event at Kellogg Arena on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

"It’s all about bringing the community together," said Deanna York, one of the events co-organizers. "It's about creating those memories, allowing kids to come down and experience the environment, the culture of Battle Creek, the spirit of Christmas."

Partnering with Penetrator Events and Sprout BC Founder Jeremy Andrews, John Hart of the Battle Creek Small Business Development Office, Breaking Bred and Kellogg Arena, York was able to bring her vision of a downtown winter celebration to life.

Cereal City Candles displays their products in the holiday market during the Winter Wanderland event at Kellogg Arena on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
Cereal City Candles displays their products in the holiday market during the Winter Wanderland event at Kellogg Arena on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

"The idea is we’re going to grow this thing," Hart said. "Next year it’ll have even more programming, extend maybe more than one weekend."

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

Families wait in line to visit Santa during the Winter Wanderland event at Kellogg Arena on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
Families wait in line to visit Santa during the Winter Wanderland event at Kellogg Arena on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek celebrates holiday season with Winter Wanderland event