Cereal City Buzz: Event Guide (Jan 21 – Feb 4)

Your bi-weekly roundup of winter festivals, competitions, and concerts in Battle Creek, Marshall, and Albion.

We are moving into the heart of winter, but the calendar is heating up. The next two weeks feature one of Marshall’s biggest annual festivals, a massive dance competition at the Arena, and the return of high-energy blues to Albion.

Here is your guide to what’s happening.

Week 1: Cinema & Culinary Arts (Jan 21 – 27)

This week is perfect for indoor activities, whether you’re catching a blockbuster in a historic theater or learning to toss pizza dough with the kids.

• HDI Federal Center Food Truck Parking

  • When: Weekdays (Jan 21-23, 26-27) | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

  • Where: Champion Street Parking Lot

  • The Scoop: Support local food entrepreneurs even when the temperature drops.

  • City Calendar

• Movies at The Bohm: "28 Years Later" & "Hamnet"

  • When: Jan 23 – 25 | Fri/Sat 7:00 PM, Sun 3:00 PM

  • Where: Bohm Theatre (Albion)

  • The Scoop: A double-feature weekend! Catch the highly anticipated horror sequel 28 Years Later: Bone Temple or the historical drama Hamnet. Tickets are just $5.00 before 5 PM.

  • Bohm Theatre Calendar

• Mommy & Me Pizza Making Class

  • When: Saturday, Jan 24 | Check link for times

  • Where: Cornwell's Turkeyville (Marshall)

  • The Scoop: A hands-on cooking class where you and your little one (suggested for kids 3-10) make a dinner pizza and a dessert pizza. Registration is required.

  • Turkeyville Events

Week 2: Ice, Dance & Blues (Jan 28 – Feb 4)

This is a huge weekend for the area. Marshall hosts its premier winter festival, and Battle Creek welcomes hundreds of dancers.

• Ice, Wine, Beer & Blues Festival

  • When: Friday, Jan 30 – Saturday, Jan 31

  • Where: Downtown Marshall & The Franke Center

  • The Scoop: Marshall’s signature winter event! Friday features a beer and wine tasting tour through downtown shops. Saturday brings live ice carving demonstrations during the day and a headline blues concert at night.

  • Choose Marshall Events

• ID Dance Competition: Zenith Tour

  • When: Friday, Jan 30 – Sunday, Feb 1

  • Where: Kellogg Arena

  • The Scoop: The arena transforms into a massive stage for this high-production dance event. Expect light shows, incredible talent, and an "Icon" experience.

  • Kellogg Arena Events

• Cooking Class: Making Pasties

  • When: Saturday, Jan 31 | 11:00 AM

  • Where: Cornwell's Turkeyville

  • The Scoop: Learn to make the Michigan classic! This class teaches you how to assemble and bake traditional pasties.

  • Turkeyville Classes

• Blues at the Bohm: Shawn Holt & The Teardrops

  • When: Monday, Feb 2 | 7:00 PM

  • Where: Bohm Theatre (Albion)

  • The Scoop: The monthly blues series continues with the high-energy sounds of Shawn Holt. Tickets are $22, and the night wraps up with a community jam session.

  • Blues at the Bohm

Save the Date

• Monster Truck Wars: Roaring into Kellogg Arena on Feb 7.

• T.K. Pro Rodeo: Bucking into town on Feb 13.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the entire "Ice, Wine, Beer & Blues" festival ticketed?

A: No. You can walk through downtown Marshall to view the ice carving demonstrations and sculptures for free on Saturday. However, the Friday "Beer & Wine Tasting Tour" and the Saturday night blues concert at the Franke Center are ticketed events that often sell out, so advance purchase is highly recommended.

Q: Can the public attend the ID Dance Competition at Kellogg Arena?

A: Yes! While this is a competition for dance studios, it is open to spectators who want to see high-level talent and production. It runs all weekend (Friday–Sunday), making it easy to drop in and watch a few sessions of the "Zenith Tour."

Q: Do I need to bring my own ingredients for the Turkeyville cooking classes?

A: No. Whether you are doing the "Mommy & Me" pizza class or the Saturday "Pasty Making" workshop, Cornwell’s provides all the ingredients and equipment. You just need to register in advance to ensure they have a station prepped for you.