Central UP Events

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.  

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.  

ISHPEMING, Mich. – The St. Rocco-St. Anthony Society of Ishpeming will host its 126th annual Italian Fest on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming. The event is free and open to the public.  Festivities begin at noon and will feature a full day of Italian heritage, family entertainment, food, music, and community activities. Guests can enjoy traditional Italian and American cuisine, games of chance, ring toss, balloon darts, bingo, a giant glide slide, and a bounce house for children. One of the festival’s longstanding traditions, the Greased Pole competition, will return with participants competing

Art on the Rocks Saturday – Sunday, July 25 – 26

July 25, 8 am The Queen City Half Marathon and Breakwater 5k return this summer on Saturday, July 25. Both races start at 114 West Spring St.. with the Breakwater 5k starting at 8 am and the Half Marathon at 8:05 am. Race Registration and Packet Pickup will be on Friday, July 24th, from 11 am – 7 pm. Registration is NOT available on race day.  

Saturday Morning Farmers Market Saturdays, May 16 – Nov., 9 am – 1 pm

July 25, 10 am – 6 pm July 26, 10 am – 4 pm Find over 140 artists featured at the Art on the Rocks Festival this month, held in Mattson Lower Harbor Park. Open from 10 am – 6 pm on Saturday, July 25, and 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday, July 26, this event helps to support local artists and creators in our community as well as bringing artists from across the country.  

The St. Rocco–St. Anthony Society of Ishpeming will host its 126th annual Italian Fest on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming. The event is free and open to the public.   Festivities begin at noon and will feature a full day of Italian heritage, family entertainment, food, music, and community activities. Guests can enjoy traditional Italian and American cuisine, games of chance, ring toss, balloon darts, bingo, a giant glide slide, and a bounce house for children.   One of the festival’s longstanding traditions, the Greased Pole competition, will return with participants competing for

Saturday, July 25 at 1:00 pm CDT Miners Memorial Heritage Park 771 E Ayer St. Ironwood, MI 49938   Free event   Jeff Walker learned the art of blacksmithing twenty years ago in his home state of South Dakota. As a member of the Dakota Artists-Blacksmiths’ Association, he is passionate about preserving blacksmithing in the modern world. Now transplanted to Northern Wisconsin, he travels with a trailer full of tools, portable forges, and homemade charcoal, and showcases his blacksmithing wherever there are people curious about this ancient craft.   https://emberlight.org/event/jeff-walker-blacksmith/  

Saturday, July 25, 2026 6:30pm Women’s Federated Clubhouse, 104 W. Ridge St. The League of Women Voters of Marquette County invites all citizens to a free event on July 25, 2026 at the Women’s Federated Clubhouse, 104 W. Ridge St. in Marquette at 6:30pm. Mark Brewer, a long-time election consultant and lawyer, will speak on Challenges in Michigan Elections 2026.  Mark has been the litigator for the League of Women Voters of Michigan in the past, and continues as a vigilant observer and commentator on the state of election law and security in Michigan. His presentation will be preceded by