Central UP Events

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

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

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

June 17 – August 19, 2026 Opening Reception: Wednesday, June 17, 7-8:30pm The Folk School at Midsummer exhibit in the Finlandia Gallery at Finlandia Foundation’s Finnish American Heritage Center opens on Wednesday, June 17. A reception will begin at 7 p.m. that evening and takes place in conjunction with the opening of an archival exhibit featuring the works of painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela that are part of the Heritage Center’s archive collection.  “It has become an annual tradition to celebrate midsummer with work from our Folk School, but what visitors see in the exhibit really changes in beautiful ways from year

June 19 through Sept. 4. DeVos Art Museum Northern Michigan University’s DeVos Art Museum will host “North of the 45th,” an annual juried exhibition featuring artists living in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota locations north of the 45th parallel, which is known as the halfway point between the equator and north pole. The show opens June 19 and will be on display through Sept. 4. The 2026 jurors are: Shane McAdams, an artist, writer, curator and educator from Cedarburg, Wis.; and Shane Walsh, a painter and teacher who splits his time between studios in Milwaukee and New York City. Both are

Coming up Saturday, September 12 in Marquette, Michigan   Tickets went on sale Thursday, June 25 at 10am (at MiBeer.com) for the 17th Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival hosted by the Michigan Brewers Guild on Saturday, September 12 along the Lake Superior shoreline in Marquette’s Mattson Lower Harbor Park.    General Admission is 1-6pm, with the gates opening at Noon for Enthusiast Members. Tickets are $55 per person in advance ($65 the day of). Those wanting a VIP experience can purchase tickets which allow for an extra hour of beer sampling-those tickets are $75 in advance or $85 the day

June 27 – August 22 Miners Memorial Heritage Park 771 E Ayer St. Ironwood, MI 49938   Free event   Sponsored by the Gogebic Community College Foundation, in memory of Alex Marciniak.   From June 27 through August 22, visitors are invited to wander the 1.2-mile Aurora Loop and discover large-scale installations nestled among towering pines, winding trails, and the rugged beauty of the Northwoods. Created by artists from across the region, this year’s exhibition reflects Emberlight’s 2026 theme, New Ways to Dream – exploring imagination, transformation, memory, identity, and the power of collective creativity.   Alongside this year’s juried

Please see attached pdf for info   MarquetteCountyHealthDepartment_20260622_100713

Sand Point Road to Close July 8 – 17 for Culvert Replacement at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore  MUNISING, Mich. – Sand Point Road will be temporarily closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic east of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore boundary from Wednesday, July 8 until Friday, July 17, for a culvert replacement project. The closure may be extended if additional time is needed to complete the work. The Sand Point Marsh Trail, Sand Point Beach, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Headquarters will be inaccessible via Sand Point Road during this time. This closure will not impact access to Munising

exhibition opens July 9 and will be on display through Oct. 3 The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at NMU will open a new exhibition July 9 that features the work of one of the U.P.’s most prolific photographers. It is titled “Munising in Black & White: The Photographs of Mary Jayne Hallifax.” She was an in-demand commercial photographer who also captured numerous candid images of her hometown over seven decades. Hallifax died in 2025 at the age of 96 and donated many of her original negatives to photograph collector Jack Deo, who is loaning 60

Tuesdays July (7, 14, 21), 2026. 9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Ohio St. (Williams) Park. Families and youth, join us outdoors for Park Storytime! Books, songs, action songs, bubbles & parachute play, and more! Rain Location-Peter White Public Library Community Room.  No admission charge.  For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.  

Monday July 13 (10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.) &  Tuesday July 14 (10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.),  Peter White Public Library Community Room.  Youth registered for Summer Reading, and who have been tracking their reading, stop by anytime during Book Fair hours to choose your next free book of the summer! If you haven’t registered for summer reading yet, stop by the Youth Services desk and get your kids signed up! Remember your reading log. Children under the age of 8 must have an adult in the program with them.  No admission charge.  For more information and to check the status of the program,

Tuesdays July (7, 14, 21), 2026. 9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Ohio St. (Williams) Park. Families and youth, join us outdoors for Park Storytime! Books, songs, action songs, bubbles & parachute play, and more! Rain Location-Peter White Public Library Community Room.  No admission charge.  For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.  

Tuesday, July (7,14,21,28), 2026 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Local History Research Room, Peter White Public Library.  Need help with the settings on your phone or iPad? Want to download travel apps before you leave town? Need help utilizing the library’s Memory Lab or navigating Libby? Learn how to make your electronic devices work the way you want, with the help of Christine Ault, retired teacher and tech coach, Tuesday mornings from 10 AM – 3 PM during June, July and August in the Local History Research Room of the Peter White Public Library.  Call the Reference Desk at 906-226-4311

Tuesdays & Thursdays July (2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30), 2026.  11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Peter White Public Library Lower Level Lobby.  PWPL is once again partnering with Feeding America West Michigan in the Gather2Grow summer meals program and will serve as a pickup site for shelf stable meals. Available at no cost to all youth (18 and under) and disabled adults up to age 26.  No admission charge.  For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.  

Tuesday, July 14, 2026. 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. & 2:30-3:30 pm  Peter White Public Library Studio 2.  Join us for a cookie decorating lesson from Doozers Cookies. Teens will get to decorate 3 different cookies and learn decorating techniques. Registration is required, please register only 1 session. For youth entering grades 6-12.  No admission charge.  For more information or to check the status of this program, call (906) 226-4321, email Amanda at apierce@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.  

Tuesday, July 14, 2026. 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. & 2:30-3:30 pm  Peter White Public Library Studio 2.  Join us for a cookie decorating lesson from Doozers Cookies. Teens will get to decorate 3 different cookies and learn decorating techniques. Registration is required, please register only 1 session. For youth entering grades 6-12.  No admission charge.  For more information or to check the status of this program, call (906) 226-4321, email Amanda at apierce@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.  

The Northern Michigan University Department of Music will present a second season of Its series, Summer Concerts at Reynolds (SCR). This year’s events will all take place at 5 p.m. in Reynolds Recital Hall on Tuesdays in July and August. Admission is free, though donations will be gratefully accepted, with all proceeds benefiting the department to enhance the experience for students. This summer, SCR is highlighting music department faculty members, who are highly trained professional musicians as well as full-time educators. They will present both solo and group performances. Further details will be shared at nmu.edu/music and the department’s social

Tuesdays, July (7, 14, 21, 28) 2026. 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Fridays, July (3, 10, 17, 24, 31) 2026. Noon – 1:00 p.m. Peter White Public Library Heritage Room.  Mediate Marquette and PWPL have collaborated to offer two weekly, in-person mindfulness meditation programs. 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.