With an economic development organization that is the envy of many communities, Battle Creek is a city building on its food industry roots and the land that makes it the state’s third largest city. For fun, each year the Cereal City, world headquarters to the Kellogg Co., celebrates the significance of the most important meal of the day with the World’s Longest Breakfast table. Bikers, cyclers and joggers take in the parks, forests and streams linked by a 24-mile linear park. Campers and outdoor lovers visit Fort Custer Recreation area for fishing, hiking, cross country skiing and boating. For animal lovers, African creatures, like giraffes, and Asian animals, like snow leopards, make the Binder Park Zoo a must. The Battle Creek Art Center and Battle Creek Symphony stoke the city’s cultural offerings and the new Firekeepers Casino adds to the city’s fun side. B.C’s Math and Science Center is acclaimed and secondary education needs are accommodated by Kellogg Community College, Robert B. Miller College and a branch of Western Michigan University. And Sojourner Truth, who lived here, watches over downtown from the memorial in her honor.
Bridgett Blough and Trent Thompson of Of The Land in Battle Creek are redefining weddings with their June 7 Elopement Day, offering intimate ceremonies for just $2,900 — well below the national average.
Antiques expert Jack Girsbach will speak at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum on May 10, sharing tips on spotting valuable finds and stories from his collection. The event explores the evolving appeal of collecting across generations.
“The development of Ott Biological Preserve has been a labor of love for the County Parks Department for years. This grant allowed us to really establish a strong trailhead at this location, rather than just a dirt lot."
Thanks to a service learning history course at Kellogg Community College, students get hands-on experience bringing history to life at the Kimball House Museum.
Social emotional learning, violence disruption, and financial education are some of the youth programs that will be expanded at R.I.S.E. Battle Creek thanks to a $250,000 W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant.
“It’s quite a coup that we were able to bring (Anderson & Roe) here,” says BCSO Director Anne Harrigan of the well-known piano duo. "The way they play and interact with each other is something you don’t see every day.”
On the Ground Project Editor Jane Parikh and OTG Photographer John Grap headed out this past Saturday to find out why people were participating in the Hands Off! Rally in Battle Creek. See also the video interviews that demonstrate the wide variety of reasons people chose to protest.
“When I was coming out in 2018, I felt safe to do so within my friend group partly because of the media we were consuming, which was slowly including more queer characters, and the conversation about queer actors and artists became much more public."
Plans for launching a Black Wall Street movement in Battle Creek will include a Black-owned business directory and two new websites with a mission to create "collective independence."
"I want to prepare people for these possible outcomes while keeping them present, focused, and together in community. There are so many moles to whack in this horrible game we’re playing.”
Our Sponsors
Our Media Partners
Common Ground Is Brewing
Support local stories and receive our signature roast straight to your door when you join at the Standard level (or above).
Drink Better, Read Local
