'Bigger and better': Winter Wanderland returns to downtown Battle Creek this weekend
BATTLE CREEK — Horse-drawn carriage rides, ice skating, a holiday tree forest, an indoor snowball fight, and multiple vendor markets are just a few of the festivities planned in downtown Battle Creek this weekend as the holiday magic of Winter Wanderland returns.
The two-day holiday festival is the brainchild of Battle Creek small business owner Deanna York, who remembers the joys of attending community events as a child in southwest Detroit and wanted to bring something similar to Battle Creek.
Teaming up with multiple community partners, she brought Winter Wanderland to life last winter in downtown.
Her biggest takeaway from the inaugural event? The public wanted more.
"My vision is to have this be bigger and better each year," York explained Tuesday. "The sky is the limit at this point. As long as we have our community standing behind us and supporting us and we’ve got this amazing Winter Wanderland Committee and our sponsors, anything is possible."
A maker's market dubbed the "Night Bazaar" — featuring wares from a variety of local artisans and creators — will kick things off from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday inside Kellogg Arena. Indoor activities for kids, including bounce houses, crafts, a Santa meet-and-greet, and an indoor snowball fight will be included in the event.
Carriage rides will be offered downtown from 5 to 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, with pick-up and drop-off at two locations: BC Cargo and State Street Commons. Free massages, courtesy of York's small business Invigorating Touch, and free hot chocolate will also be available in the area of BC Cargo Friday and Saturday, among other offerings.
Detroit Lions legend Herman Moore will make an appearance from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at BC Cargo as he raises funds for his Tackle Life Foundation. The nonprofit provides educational and entrepreneurship programs for adolescents and young adults.
Ice skating will be offered from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Friday, as well as from 2 to 3:20 p.m. and 5 to 6:15 p.m. Saturday at The Rink, 75 Houston St. Admission is $8 and rentals are $3 (cash only).
A holiday tree forest, featuring a variety of trees decorated by local businesses and nonprofits, will also be on display inside Kellogg Arena. A second holiday craft and vendor show will be held inside the arena from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
York's idea for Winter Wanderland was sparked, in part, after organizing an Easter egg hunt for her fellow gym members at Holmes Fitness in 2021.
That experience has led York to think bigger, putting on a citywide Easter egg hunt the past two years at Riverside Elementary. This year's egg hunt drew more than 400 attendees and featured 15,000 eggs.
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 has brought her vision of Winter Wanderland to life.
"This is my second home," York said. "Battle Creek is my home now, it’s my family and to be able to be a part of creating those memories for people (is special)."
For more information and a full list of events, visit battlecreekwinterwanderland.com.
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: 'Winter Wanderland' festival returns to downtown Battle Creek Friday
