(Community Matters 181) DBCZ May 2026 Events Update

May gets busy fast in Battle Creek, and we love that. Annie Kelly from the Downtown Battle Creek Zine returns to discuss what to do, where to go, and how to make a full day of it downtown. If you’ve been searching for Battle Creek events, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, live music, or family-friendly things to do in Calhoun County, this guide is built for you. 

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ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS
Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays at 8:00 AM on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

Transcript

Monthly Community Events Preview

Richard Piet 0:00

Richard Pyatt here, Community Matters, back with you, and back with Annie Kelly from the downtown Battle Creek zine. We check in monthly and find out some of the things going on around Battle Creek in Calhoun County. Hello, Annie. Hi, Richard. Well, guess what?

Cinco De Mayo Weekend Celebrations

Richard Piet 0:16

It's May, and that means there's a bit of a celebration in our midst.

SPEAKER_00 0:21

Yes, it is time for Cinco de Mayo. And instead of on the 5th, they're actually going to be celebrating it on the weekend on a Saturday, May 2nd. Got it. And there are going to be two celebrations. From 2 to 3:30, there's going to be crafts and music at the Battle Creek Innovation Hub. And then across the street, the Cinco de Mayo Festival is going to go from 3 to 8 p.m. at Festival Market Square. And they're going to have live music, authentic food, and uh family-friendly activities.

Richard Piet 0:56

So I love all that, but I was waiting to hear you say authentic food. Sounds good. And many of you are hearing this on the 2nd. So that's today for Cinco de Mayo. A little bit early, but nonetheless welcomed. So happy Cinco de

Zoo Reopens And Giraffe Book Talk

Richard Piet 1:14

Mayo. The zoo is open. There's another harbinger of spring, right? Uh the Binder Park Zoo is ready to go. And a special event coming up soon.

SPEAKER_00 1:22

Yes. So Battle Creek reads this year: picked a book about giraffes, about a man who goes on a road trip with some giraffes.

Richard Piet 1:31

I think you need a convertible for that.

unknown 1:34

Yeah.

Richard Piet 1:34

Boy, what a great place when you think about giraffes. Boy, Binder Park comes right to mind. Have you ever fed them?

SPEAKER_00 1:42

Oh, of course. Of course. They're so their eyelashes are so long and pretty.

Richard Piet 1:48

Long, but not as long as they're necks. There's that. So they chose this book, Battle Creek Reads, and they will read this book about the journey of the giraffes. Uh, how does that work? Do we have any idea?

SPEAKER_00 2:02

You can show up at Binder Park Zoo at 6 p.m. on May 7th. There's a new gate that's by the carousel and the ropes course, and you can go through there and get entry into the zoo, and they'll take you to where Linda Rutledge, who's the author, is going to be giving her presentation.

Richard Piet 2:24

Okay. Battle Creek reads Binder Park Zoo, May 7. We keep coming with the Harbingers

Farmers Market Spring Kickoff

Richard Piet 2:31

of Spring. The next one is the Farmers Market.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

Yep, that opens May 13th. Like usual, Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is always fresh food, fresh flowers, fresh bread, usually some music going on too.

Richard Piet 2:48

Yeah, awesome. And again, one of those things that you think about spring and summer and that pops in your head.

Local Music Competition Begins

Richard Piet 2:55

If you like music, May 15th will be your date. Why, Annie?

SPEAKER_00 3:00

Battle of the Creek bands is happening. It's going to be a series of concerts where local bands compete against each other, and then the best of the bands are going to perform on November 14th, and we'll figure out who's the best Battle Creek band.

Richard Piet 3:18

Oh boy. A true competition, and what's better than one concert, but a series of them. So this is it. Battle of the Bands in Battle Creek gets started on May 15th.

SPEAKER_00 3:29

So that'll be at New Holland Brewing. I recognize some of these names. If you've been on the Battle Creek music stand at all, Bombshell, Barefoot Blonde, and Allie Garland with Awesome Sauce.

Richard Piet 3:40

I love names. Love it. All right. So there you go. Good luck, everybody. And we'll see in November how this uh sorts out.

Downtown Art Walk And Voting

Richard Piet 3:49

Spring into the arts. Speaking of May 15th, Annie.

SPEAKER_00 3:52

Yep, Spring Into the Arts is returning. That begins at five o'clock. So you can go check out some art and then go to the concert. There are going to be more than 20 artists, and they'll be at downtown businesses. So you just go through downtown Battle Creek, check out the different artists, the pop-up galleries, and then you can cast your vote for your favorite artwork, and the winner gets a prize.

Richard Piet 4:18

Oh, love that. And a lot of times the artists are around and you get to talk to them a little bit too, which is always cool because you get to talk to them about, you know, what inspires them and that sort of thing. All right, spring into the arts, May 15th.

Brass Band Concert And Korea Trip

Richard Piet 4:31

And uh we talked about this uh a little while ago with uh Jerry Rose, the brass band of Battle Creek has the best brass band. Yes, they have their concert coming up very soon.

SPEAKER_00 4:42

Yes. May 16th at 7:30, they're going to be performing. And this is their big concert for the spring. It's also going to be a concert right before they're going to South Korea this summer to perform.

Richard Piet 4:58

Yeah, incredible. And if you didn't know this, the members of the brass band of Battle Creek are some of the world-renowned musicians who come to Battle Creek to make this happen. Yeah. Every time you hear about a brass band of Battle Creek concert, they've come here just for us. It's incredible. So, yes, a tremendous thing.

SPEAKER_00 5:20

This time, the farthest traveling band member is coming from Taiwan.

Richard Piet 5:24

Oh my gosh. They have to start out early to get here in time for the May 16th concert. That's at Kellogg Auditorium, right?

SPEAKER_00 5:32

That's at Kellogg Auditorium.

Richard Piet 5:34

Okay.

Where To Find The Zine

Richard Piet 5:35

Downtown Battle Creek Zine is available just about everywhere in downtown. You don't have to go too far before you find a copy like Cafe Rika. You know, you walk in the front door and that counter there has different literature and things on it. It's there. Where else do we find it?

SPEAKER_00 5:51

Oh, Willard Library is another big one. And I've found it popping up in strange places. I Nick Buckley has really been just about everywhere.

Richard Piet 6:06

Yeah, he's good at that. He's good at making sure you are saturated with copies. So just go downtown Battle Creek and pick up the Downtown Battle Creek Zine. All right, Annie, we appreciate the update. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 6:18

Thank you.

Richard Piet 6:19

Monthly updates from the Downtown Battle Creek Zine on things going on right here on Community Matters.