Battle Creek’s first mac and cheese festival takes to center stage at Kellogg Arena
Juliano Jean-Jules from Island Style BBQ scoops bowls of mac and cheese for guests during Que the Creek BBQ Festival at Kellogg Arena Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023.
BATTLE CREEK — Battle Creek’s Small Business Development Office is ready to launch a really cheesy event in April.
Bolstered by the success of the Que the Creek BBQ Festival, the BCSBDO, Penetrator Events and Kellogg Arena are joining forces to make the city’s first-ever mac and cheese festival a reality.
“The Big Cheese Mac+Cheese Festival” will run from 3 to 7 p.m. April 15 at Kellogg Arena, featuring a wide variety of mac and cheese offerings from Battle Creek area restaurateurs and beyond.
“The primary goal in this is to support local businesses,” Penetrator Events Owner Jeremy Andrews said. “I feel like it’s getting some good attention … It seems like a lot of people are excited about it.”
Tickets are $5 and children 12 and younger get in free. Samples from food vendors will range from $3 to $7 per serving, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages also available for purchase throughout the arena.
The event also will feature ice cream from MOO-ville Creamery, wine and mac and cheese pairings with Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, games, and live music by Mike Struwin and His Boy Elroy.
“We are so excited to host the first ever mac and cheese festival,” Kelly Walden, sales and marketing manager at Kellogg Arena, said. “It has been great working with Penetrator Events and Small Business Development to make this idea a reality.”
Judges will evaluate mac and cheese vendors in three categories, awarding titles for best old-fashioned, loaded and “extreme” mac and cheese. Attendees will vote for the winner of the People’s Choice award by scanning QR codes stationed throughout the arena.
Vendor applications are still available online at thebigcheesebc.com.
Pulled Pork Mac is one of the specialties at On The Roll Food Truck.
Mac and cheese vendors confirmed for the event include:
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