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

Finlandia Art Gallery  presents  Emily Lanctot Salaiset Ruokaohjeet: Secret Recipes February 5 – March 5, 2026 Artist Reception: Thursday, February 5, 7-8:30pm HANCOCK, Michigan — How do you think about recipes? Are they universal tools that carry the same meaning and purpose for all, or are they personal reminders of a loved one or shared experience? Could they be all these things and more?  For artist Emily Lanctot, they are the subject and inspiration for her exhibition “Salaiset Ruokaohjeet: Secret Recipes” which will be displayed at Finlandia Art Gallery February 5 through March 5, 2026. Most of the paintings in this exhibition are based on recipes

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present “A Streetcar Named Desire,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tennessee Williams, Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 19-21 and 26-28, in the Panowski Black Box Theatre. The show will be directed by assistant professor Kaitlyn Frotton. First performed in 1947, “A Streetcar Named Desire” is about the fragile Southern belle Blanche DuBois. She moves in with her sister Stella and brutish brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski in New Orleans, leading to a tragic clash of illusion and reality, desire and class. The play explores persisting themes of mental instability, desire versus destruction, racism and oppression, misogyny and sexual

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

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

An exciting literary event is coming to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this winter. The Writing North Winter Book Fest will bring together authors, readers, and community members for a weekend dedicated to books, storytelling, and regional voices from February 28 – March 1, 2026, in various locations in downtown Manistique. Hosted by The Mill Manistique and in partnership with Paper Mill Books, the festival marks the first time Manistique will host a winter-focused book festival designed to celebrate writers and books that are culturally connected to the Great Lakes region. “As a lifelong northerner, a reader, and an author, I know

Saturdays, February (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.  

Join the District on March 2 or 3 for Tour, Presentation, Q&A   Marquette, MI – Marquette Area Public Schools (MAPS) will host a series of Town Hall Meetings in early March to provide families, staff, and community members with information about the May 5, 2026 bond proposal. Each session will include an optional guided tour of the school building, followed by a presentation outlining proposed improvements, project priorities, and opportunities for community questions to be answered.   The meetings are designed to help residents learn more about the District’s long‑range facilities plan, which addresses aging infrastructure, safety and accessibility

Monday, March 2, 2026,  6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.  Peter White Public Library Shiras Room.  Teens, Family, Adults, Seniors. Join fiber artist Lydia Taylor for a Beginner Punch Needle Workshop. Learn basic punch needle skills and leave with your very own handmade punch needle project. Starter kits provided. Space is limited to ten participants, so register early. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.   

Tuesdays & Fridays March (3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27), 2026.  10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Peter White Public Library Great Room.  Preschool age children. Stories, songs, finger-plays, crafts and other school-readiness activities for preschool age children and a loving adult. Siblings welcome. No admission charge. For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.