Central UP Events

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

Wednesday, June 17, 2026. 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Peter White Public Library, Community Room. We have partnered with Iron Golem Games to bring Dungeon and Dragons to the PWPL. Jordan, from Iron Golem Games, and local DM’s will lead groups of teens on an epic quest with this role-playing game. For students entering grades 6-12. Registration is required, no admission charge. For more information and to check the status of this program, call 906-226- 4321, email Amanda at apierce@pwpl.info or visit pwpl.info.  

Wednesdays, June (10, 17, 24), 2026,  6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.  Peter White Public Library Front Street Steps.  Teens, Family, Adults, Seniors. Dust off your lawn chairs and unpack your picnic blankets–Concert on the Steps is back! This summer, enjoy an all-star lineup of incredible performances right on the library historical steps. Concerts run 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the Front Street Steps. Inclement weather location is the Community Room.  Visit pwpl.info for the updated weather location! Wednesday, June 10: Troy Graham Wednesday, June 17: Chris Valenti Wednesday, June 24: The Make-Believe Spurs  

Thursdays June (18, 25), 2026. 9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. 1901 Longyear Ave Playground. Families and youth, join us outdoors for Park Storytime! Books, songs, action songs, bubbles & parachute play, and more! Rain Location-Lake Superior Village Family and Youth Center. 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, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.  

Tuesdays & Thursdays June (9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 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.  

Thursday, June 18, 2026. 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Peter White Public Library Community Room. Families with children of all ages are invited to this special Bergonzi String Trio Family Concert! Throughout the concert, members of the trio will explain different parts of the music, talk about the different instruments and more. Family friendly, youth of all ages welcome. Youth under the age of 8 must have an adult present in the program. No admission charge. For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.  

Thursday, June 18, 2026. 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library Community Room. Adults, Seniors, Teens. Join PWPL in celebrating the release of Marquette Art Awards 2022 Writer of the Year B. G. Bradley’s latest books: North Words (a poetry collection) and Shadows of the North (a U.P. noir thriller). Poetry, prose, and popcorn! Oh, my! No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

Dates: June 19, 2026 – June 20, 2026 150 West Johnson Lake Road, Gwinn, MI 49841 Each year, on Father’s Day weekend, the Great Lakes Rodeo creates a weekend of fun and excitement for the entire family. Head over to the rodeo grounds in Gwinn for barrel racing, vendors, riding competitions, parade and more! The Great Lakes Rodeo is sure to have something for you. There will be plenty of vendors and beverage tents, so please no carry-ins allowed. For more information, competitor information, and ways to get involved, link with Great Lakes Rodeo today! Friday, June 19, 2026 6:00

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