The Marquette Regional History Center presents the Special Exhibit: The U.P. Through 250 Artifacts
2026-02-23 00:00 - 2027-01-02 23:59 UTC | Marquette Regional History Center, 145 W. Spring Street, Marquette, Michigan
February 23, 2026-January 2, 2027
This exhibit showcases two hundred and fifty artifacts, photographs, and documents from our permanent collections. These objects connect local history to the national story while commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has often seemed remote from the rest of the country. However, the themes and movements of U.S. history can be seen here as well, especially since the War of 1812. When the country braced for the Civil War, U.P. iron miners raced to uncover iron for the Union army’s railroads and ammunitions. When labor movements exploded following World War II, Ishpeming’s Gossard garment factory went on strike for better wages. Objects rarely on display include the medal awarded to a local Spanish American War nurse and a hand sewn battle flag brought home by a soldier from the War of 1812. Visit marquettehistory.org or call 906.226.3571 for more info.

Fire up for the 2026 Marquette July 4th Parade by Kiwanis
2026-04-17 00:00 - 2026-06-12 23:59 | Michigan
Deadline June 12, 2025.
The Marquette Kiwanis Club proudly announces our 31st year of sponsoring the Marquette July 4th Parade with the City of Marquette-starting at 2 pm on Saturday July 4th at McClelland & W. Washington.
Online Application to enter Parade, click the link and fill out the application form at https://bit.ly/KiwanisMQTParadeApplication.
Theme: One Nation Indivisible – Celebrating 250 Years!

To encourage youth participation, 10 grants of $150 to defray float costs along with fee waivers will be given to youth sports, dance and theater groups. Contact Pam Simmons to apply (see below).
Also, we offer an accessible viewing space and parking on W. Washington for people with limited mobility.
For Parade details and application and nomination forms, check out our website at: marquettefourth.com

Email us at directormqtparade@gmail.com
Marquette Kiwanis July 4th Parade 2026 Committee

Robert Anderson
rcanderson1148@gmail.com
906-373-6037

Rebecca Akers
906-271-0135

Pam Simmons
231-818-6513

Bonnie Loukus : Liminal Sanctuaries
2026-04-23 00:00 - 2026-06-10 23:59 | Finlandia Art Gallery, 435 Quincy Street, Hancock, Michigan, 49930
April 23 – June 10, 2026
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 23, 7-8:30pm
HANCOCK, Mich. – Existing between different spaces while not fully belonging to one or the other is something many people experience. What does it mean to belong and how do we know when we do belong? Liminal Sanctuaries, a new exhibition by Michigan artist Bonnie Loukus, features oil paintings of solitary animals and forest floor ecosystems, in between reality and some incorporeal place where they exist without human interference. The exhibit opens with a reception at Finlandia Art Gallery on Thursday, April 23 at 7pm and will be on display through June 10.

Bonnie Loukus is a Keweenaw-based multidisciplinary artist practicing oil painting, printmaking, letterpress, and book arts. Her work explores themes such as the intrinsic value of animals, plant diversity, small ecosystems, symbolism, incorporeal life, and solitude. “Being a multidisciplinary artist, this focus on painting has been a chance to explore my own liminality through observing animals, plants, and fungi to the point of sonder while researching symbolism, poetry, and color,” she said.

The paintings in the exhibit transport the viewer into what feels like a different world. “This work is a glimpse into something we won’t quite ever have being human, with the closest possibility of understanding this only achieved by spending time alone in the natural world,” Loukus explained. “My hope is that this work also conveys that space between contemplative solitude and the desire to connect.”

Loukus was born in Laurium, Michigan. She is a Finlandia University graduate who majored in an interdisciplinary honors program that focused on the connection of arts, culture, and the environment. During the brief Upper Michigan summers, with their long days and good light, she focuses on painting, sometimes painting at the family’s Finnish homestead, overlooking former potato fields and cow pastures where her father now “makes hay.” When the days become short and dark, she turns her practice to printmaking, spending the evenings carving linoleum blocks.

Her work is part of US and international collections and recent artist residencies have taken her to Estonia, Isle Royale National Park, and Keweenaw Land Trust’s Silver Island. She is the executive director of the Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock. Loukus continues to enjoy living on a beautiful and remote peninsula in Lake Superior while visiting Finland and Estonia as often as possible to connect with contemporary art, heritage, and the land.

A reception for the artist will take place at Finlandia Art Gallery in Hancock on Thursday, April 23 from 7-8:30 p.m. with an artist talk beginning at 7:20 p.m. For more information, call 906-370-3722 or visit www.finlandiaartgallery.com.

gallery@finlandiafoundation.org
Finlandia Art Gallery
Finnish American Heritage Center
Finlandia Foundation National
435 Quincy St.
Hancock, MI 49930

PWPL Presents: Call For Art – Jurassic Art Summer Reading 2026
2026-05-01 00:00 - 2026-07-31 23:59 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
May 1st through July 31st, 2026.
Peter White Public Library Youth Services desk

Jurassic Art Reception on
August 4th, 2026
3:00pm-6:00pm

Calling all young artists! Youth of all ages are encouraged to submit art to the Peter White Public Library Youth Services desk beginning May 1st through July 31st, 2026. Artists may find inspiration in the Summer Reading: Unearth a Story theme, but are not confined to the given theme for their art pieces. We ask that your submissions do not exceed 12 inches in any direction, and that only one art piece is submitted per child. Submissions can be made at home, school, or during a library program. Informational handouts detailing submission guidelines are now available at the Youth Services Desk. All submissions will be entered into the Jurassic Art Summer Reading Installation. Art will be installed on the Lower Level Art Gallery wall of the Peter White Public Library starting in July 2026. There will be a Jurassic Art Reception on
August 4th, 2026 from 3-6pm as part of Summer Reading: Unearth a Story.
No admission charge.
For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.

Market Season is Here
2026-05-16 00:00 - 2026-11-21 23:59 | Marquette Commons, 112 S. Third St., Marquette, MI, 49855, United States

A Night Under the Big Top
2026-05-18 00:00 - 2026-10-08 23:59 | Kaufman Auditorium, 611 N Front St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Step Right Up for the Greatest Show in Marquette County:
U.P. Hospice Foundation Unveils ‘A Night Under the Big Top’ presented by Dancing with our Stars Marquette County Style!
After ten unforgettable years of dancing, fundraising, and community spirit, the beloved event is evolving! This year’s production transforms the stage into a whimsical, high-energy circus-inspired celebration packed with excitement, creativity, and show-stopping performances- all in support of compassionate Hospice care throughout our community.
Under the glow of the big top, local celebrity groups will team up with talented Marquette dance professionals to deliver unforgettable performances that go far beyond traditional ballroom routines. Expect theatrical storytelling, dazzling costumes, imaginative sets, crowd-pleasing musicality, and performances full of personality, humor, and heart.
“This year is all about creating an experience,” stated Dave Aro, U.P. Hospice Foundation Executive Director. “We wanted to keep the glamour and the excitement people love while introducing something fresh, immersive, and incredibly fun for both the audience and performer. At the heart of it all, though, remains our mission: supporting Hospice care for patients and families in Marquette County.”

The competition will feature three coveted honors:

Big Top Favorite: presented to the team raising the highest amount for Hospice care
Circle Ring Star: selected by live judges based on performance excellence
The Greatest Show: awarded to the team with the ultimate combination of fundraising success and judges’ scores

“A Night Under the Big Top- presented by Dancing with our Stars Marquette County Style” will feature ONE NIGHT ONLY of performances! The event will be held on Thursday, October 8 at Kaufman Auditorium. Doors to the theater will open at 6:00pm with the show beginning at 6:30pm. Join us at the Ore Dock Brewing Company for The Big Top Wrap Party where you can celebrate with the cast and crew of this important fundraiser.
Visit dwos.uphomehealth.org to purchase your tickets online or cast your vote!
Vote for your favorite Celebrity Dance Group! Online runs from Monday, May 18 – Thursday October 8.
Tickets will go on sale on July 15 . Mobile tickets will be provided.

We are delighted to announce this year’s lineup of stars!

Breaking Moves by MyUPNow: Rebecca Bartelme, Brianna MacLean, Air Stassek, Thomas Kinnunen, Jamey Couture
Fresh Coast Beauties: Jessica Mariin, Sharon Matulewicz, Stephanie Perrier, Ashley LeClaire Scheiding , Tara Middleton, Kacie Hanford
GirlyPop: Brooke Grondin, Amelia Bouws, Helana Sharp, Callie Tonella
NextHome Closing Crew: Stephanie Jones, Ben Argall, Candi Kjellin, Jen Hendrickson, Jen Delmont, Melanie Oliver
The Starlettes: Jessica Brooks, Stephanie Beinlich, Adrian Francisco, Jamie Weigold, Miranda Roose, Caitlin Johnson
Team Range Bank – The Loan Rangers: Megan Spratling, Skylar Lancour, Destiny Sherbonda, Marleigh McKinnon, Shelby Oja, Hanna Westra, Sara Garvin
Yoop-Phoria: Carley Herro, Sophia Peterson, Rosie Wagner, Kaitlyn Berandt

Our Creative Director, Ann Marie Frenn, will oversee our equally sensational group of talented dance professionals as they coach, instruct, and choreograph the routine dance for our stars. These dance pros are:

Maureen McFadden
Adina Belanger
Kaylee Birmann
Eden Langlois
Mariel Morton
Milan Marietti
Kylee Taavola

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, please contact Kori Bjorne at 225-4545 or korit@uphomehealth.org for the sponsorship levels.
The U.P. Hospice Foundation supports the “Make-A-Memory” program along with providing supplies, services, equipment, and respite for Hospice families that may be unavailable to them otherwise. Some examples of what the U.P. Hospice Foundation has been able to do for hospice patients and their families include facilitating one person’s dream to see the President of the United States in person and another’s commitment to be the Matron of Honor at her great-granddaughters wedding, through the use of an iPad that transported her virtually to the California beach ceremony. The U.P. Hospice Foundation has also been able to provide technology such as hearing aids, tablet computers for better communication with family and friends, and has helped create family reunions, fishing trips, and building a wheelchair ramp, just to name a few.
Join us for an amazing night of fun and pure entertainment with all proceeds benefiting Hospice care in Marquette County. It’s about how you LIVE! For more information on the U.P. Hospice Foundation, please contact 906-225-4545.
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Since 1973, U.P. Home Health & Hospice has been serving individuals in their home after a surgery, illness, or life-limiting diagnosis. Our focus is on exceptional quality care and we maintain a philosophical approach to care that focuses on empowering people to live life to the fullest. This philosophy is the drive for us to provide home health, hospice, and private duty. These three service lines allow clients to stay in their homes and focus on living well with seamless transitions between services if the need arises.

Safe @ Home
2026-05-29 00:00 - 2026-06-09 23:59 | KBIC Health System, 102 N. Superior Avenue, Baraga, Michigan, 49908
SAFE @ HOME

Designed to prepare students to be safe when they are home alone. Students learn how to practice safe habits, how to prevent unsafe situations, and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies. Students also learn a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illnesses.

Tuesday, June 9 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
KBIC Health System-Upstairs Conference Room, 102 Superior Avenue, Baraga

REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Class is FREE of charge. Seats limited, registration required! Call Ashley at 906-353-4540 with any questions.

Safe Sitter
2026-05-29 00:00 - 2026-06-11 23:59 | Zeba Community Hall, Zeba Road, Zeba, Michigan, 49946
Safe Sitter

Designed to prepare students to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting.

The instructor-led class is filled with fun games and role-playing exercises. Students even get to use manikins to practice rescue skills like choking rescue!

Thursday, June 11 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Zeba Hall, 16141 Zeba Road, L’Anse

REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Class fee is FREE. Seats limited, registration is required! Student must bring a lunch and a water bottle. For more information, call 906-353-4540.

Summer Beach Coed Volleyball League
2026-06-03 00:00 - 2026-08-05 23:59 | Hancock Sand Courts, Hancock, Michgian, 49930
Summer Beach Coed Volleyball League

June 3rd through August 5th
Wednesday Nights
Hancock Sand Courts

6v6 coed (Minimum 3 females)
Age 16+
Cost $60 per Team

email Jperala13@gmail.com with questions

For the Heartlands Fundraiser Dinner and Concert
2026-06-05 00:00 - 23:59 | Hidden Pines Barn, Calumet, Michigan, 49913
Kickstart the Summer with “For the Heartlands” Fundraiser Dinner and Concert on June 5, 2026
Support the launch of the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest
HANCOCK, MI, April 21, 2026— The Keweenaw Heartlands Community Advisory Committee and Keweenaw Community Foundation are partnering to host “For the Heartlands,” a fundraiser dinner and concert on Friday, June 5, 2026, at the Hidden Pines Barn in Calumet.
The event supports the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund, held by the Keweenaw Community Foundation, to establish the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest. The fund covers costs related to the early governance and management of this future publicly owned, locally governed forest—one of the first of its kind in Michigan.
Since late 2022, the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Advisory Committee has worked to advance the project in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The committee has spent over 1,900 volunteer hours working to ensure sustained public access to the roughly 20,000 acres in Keweenaw County that make up the Heartlands.
“We joined the advisory committee because of our club’s mission to support outdoor recreation in the Keweenaw. One of our main trails is on the Heartlands property,” said Daryl St. John, Keweenaw ATV Club President. “For us, it’s about continued access to off-road trails, hunting, fishing, camping—and everything else we love about living in this area.”
With more than $324,000 already secured, this event celebrates the final phase of fundraising needed to reach the campaign target of $600,000. Achieving this goal will enable the early planning and start-up of the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest once a local, publicly elected Authority Board is established.
Event tickets are available now and expected to sell fast! Tickets are $125 each and include a sit-down dinner, one drink token (cash bar also available), and live music from The Go Rounds. The event will also feature a silent auction showcasing uniquely Keweenaw experiences. Purchase your tickets online: http://bit.ly/4heartlands-tickets
More than just a night out, this event offers attendees a chance to connect with others involved in this project to learn more about what’s ahead for this community forest.
Become a Sponsor
Community members and local businesses are also invited to support the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund through sponsorships that advance the campaign’s fundraising goal. Learn more about how you can sponsor: http://bit.ly/4heartlands-sponsor.
“As I raise a family in the Keweenaw, it’s very important to me that my children grow up in a place where they’re free to explore the wilderness,” said Ethan Deshetsky, of Hidden Pines Barn in Calumet and a Community Forest Hero sponsor for the event. “I support the Keweenaw Heartlands Project efforts to keep wild places open for future generations.”
For more information about the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund, visit www.keweenawheartlandsforestfund.org or contact Robin Meneguzzo at robin@keweenawgives.org or (906) 482-9673.
For more information about the Keweenaw Heartlands Project, visit www.keweenawcommunityfoundation.org/keweenaw-heartlands.

PWPL Presents: Drop-in Meditation with Meditate Marquette
2026-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 | pwpl, 217 N Front St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Tuesdays, June (2, 9, 16, 23, 30) 2026.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Fridays, June (5, 12, 26) 2026.
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Heritage Room.
Mediate Marquette and PWPL have collaborated to offer two in-person mindfulness meditation programs each week this summer. Sessions will include a combination of talks, seated meditation, and movement practices. All individuals, regardless of previous experience or spiritual affiliation, are welcome to attend.
For further information, please contact meditatemarquette@gmail.com or call 906-226-4303.

For the Heartlands Fundraiser
2026-06-05 17:00 | Hidden Pines Barn, Calumet, Michigan, 49913
Community invited to celebrate and support the project’s next chapter at “For the Heartlands” fundraiser.
Date: Friday, June 5, 2026
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: Hidden Pines Barn, 26150 Pine St, Calumet, MI
Tickets: $125 each; purchase online here. Children ages 9 and younger are free!
Tickets include:

An all-Keweenaw dinner and refreshments from the Mohawk Superette, Fletchy’s Otter Belly Lodge, and the Keweenaw Co-op
One drink token (cash bar also available, hosted by the CLK Rotary Club)
Live music from The Go Rounds
Silent auction featuring all-Keweenaw experiences
First-time access to purchase limited edition Keweenaw Heartlands merchandise from Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear in Hancock.

All proceeds support the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund held by the Keweenaw Community Foundation.

Learn More

Keweenaw Heartlands Project: www.keweenawcommunityfoundation.org/keweenaw-heartlands
Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund: www.keweenawheartlandsforestfund.org

Never Grow Up- Pajama Party
2026-06-05 19:00 - 22:00 | Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, 123 W Baraga Ave, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Friday, June 5th,
7:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
The Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum
Join us for the coziest night out! The Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum is throwing a pajama party! Friday, June 5th, 7:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. Wear your comfiest PJs and join us for games, music, drinks, and snacks. *Must be 21 plus to attend. Tickets available online and at the door. https://upchildrensmuseum.org/shop/Tickets-c192286491
