Central UP Events

Northern Michigan University’s Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center will unveil two exhibits in its new gallery space in 223 Harden Hall: “The Conservationists: George Shiras III, Theodore Roosevelt and the Migratory Bird Act”; and a permanent display of artifacts, photographs and stories about NMU. The opening reception begins at noon Saturday, Jan. 31. “The Conservationists” focuses on the relationship between Shiras and Roosevelt and how the two helped shape conservation and environmental policy in the United States during the early 1900s. The exhibit will feature actual correspondence between the two figures from the collection of the Central Upper Peninsula and NMU

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

Restaurant Week March 8 – 14

 America Beckons by Aura Jylhä-Vuorio Finlandia Art Gallery  presents  ME SIIRTOLAISET | WE IMMIGRANTS  Selections from our art + archival collections March 12 – April 16, 2026 Opening Reception: Thursday, March 12, 7-8:30pm  HANCOCK, Mich. – Art, artifacts, and oral histories come together to tell stories of Finnish migration to the United States in the new exhibit “Me Siirtolaiset | We Immigrants,” which opens March 12 at Finlandia Art Gallery. The artwork in the exhibit is from the gallery’s permanent collection and includes the work of nine Finnish-American and Finnish artists – Ariadna Donner, Gerald Immonen, Aura Jylha-Vuorio, Gladys Koski Holmes, Desiree

150 West Johnson Lake Road, Gwinn, MI 49841   Dates: January 3, 2026 – March 14, 2026   Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Saturday   Get Ready For This Winter’s Biggest Adrenaline Rush: The Upper Michigan Ice Races   Are you ready to take your thrill-seeking to the next level? Join the Upper Michigan Ice Racing Association for an action-packed series of Weekly Ice Races held on Saturdays, where dirt bikes and quads tear up the ice in a battle of speed, skill, and sheer power!   The Upper Michigan Ice Races are open to the public for spectating or bring

Breakfast and Business Series: Healthcare in Our Community Holiday Inn Marquette 1951 US-41, Marquette, MI Friday, March 27 | 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. Register Today! Start your morning with coffee, breakfast, and time to connect before a conversation with regional leaders about the role healthcare plays in our community. Panelists will share high-level perspectives on what they are seeing locally, how needs are changing, and how organizations are working together to support residents and businesses. This discussion will explore the connections between healthcare, quality of life, and a strong local economy, with time for questions and open dialogue. Registration is

Saturdays, March (7, 14, 21, 28), 2026.  11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  Peter White Public Library Great Room.  Songs, rhymes, stories and finger-plays geared towards babies through preschool with a loving adult. Older siblings and older children welcome. No admission charge. For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.  

Saturday, March 14, 2026.  11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Peter White Public Library Huron Mountain Club Gallery.  Toss it? No way! The Repair Café is back thanks to a partnership with the Marquette Sustainability Coalition. Bring in broken household goods such as appliances, clothing, or bikes and skilled fixers will assist you in repairing them. This is a great way to save money, learn valuable repair skills, and reduce your environmental impact. No admission charge. For further information, please contact mqtsustainability@gmail.com or call 906-226-4311.

Saturday, March 14 2-4 p.m NMU’s DeVos Art Museum Upper Peninsula winners of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for grades 7-12 will be honored at a reception and awards presentation from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 14, in room 165 of the Art & Design Building. The event coincides with the final day of an exhibition of students’ works at NMU’s DeVos Art Museum.  Presented by the nonprofit organization, the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the country’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative middle school and high school

Twenty-five businesses across Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula have joined forces to host the 3rd Annual Yooper Poker Run, taking place March 13–14, with the final draw and celebration held at AJ’s Lodge and Oven on Saturday, March 14 at 9:00 p.m. EST. This two-day event is more than just a poker run — it is a powerful demonstration of community partnership and regional pride. Proceeds from the event benefit several local snowmobile grooming clubs who work year-round to maintain and enhance the trail systems that make the Western U.P. one of the premier snowmobiling destinations in the country. For just