Central UP Events

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.  

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

Tuesday, March 3, 2026.  4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.  Peter White Public Library Great Room.  Youth of all ages and skill levels are invited to cozy up and work on their crochet, knit and weaving skills! Once a month, youth can come to work on creations from home or work on a new pattern with fellow yarn spinners. Some tools and yarn will be provided, and parents are encouraged to attend with their kids to work on projects of their own. Drop-in program; staff will help kids with patterns when able. No admission charge. Children under 8 must have an

Tuesdays, March (3, 10, 17, 24, 31) 2026.  6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  Peter White Public Library Heritage Room.  Mediate Marquette and PWPL have collaborated to offer a weekly, in-person mindfulness meditation program. The sessions begin at 6:00 pm followed by a period of fellowship. Dr. Debra Smith, a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher and psychologist, will deliver brief talks exploring various aspects of meditation and its impact on our lives. These talks will take place on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, while longer meditation sessions are scheduled for the remaining Tuesdays. All individuals, regardless of skill level or spiritual affiliation,

Wednesdays, March (4, 11, 18, 25), 2026.  10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Peter White Public Library Great Room.  Songs, rhymes, stories and finger-plays for newborns to 17 months with a loving adult. Older siblings are welcome. No admission charge. For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.