Keep It In The UP!

25 Western U.P. Businesses Unite for 3rd Annual Yooper Poker Run & Groomer Benefit
2026-03-14 21:00 UTC | AJ’s Lodge and Oven, 35131 M-28, Bergland, Michigan, 49910
Twenty-five businesses across Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula have joined forces to host the 3rd Annual Yooper Poker Run, taking place March 13–14, with the final draw and celebration held at AJ’s Lodge and Oven on Saturday, March 14 at 9:00 p.m. EST.
This two-day event is more than just a poker run — it is a powerful demonstration of community partnership and regional pride. Proceeds from the event benefit several local snowmobile grooming clubs who work year-round to maintain and enhance the trail systems that make the Western U.P. one of the premier snowmobiling destinations in the country.
For just $20, participants receive entry into the poker run, a commemorative event t-shirt, and a chance to win cash prizes:

🥇 1st Place: $1,000
🥈 2nd Place: $500
🥉 3rd Place: $200

The event encourages riders to explore the region while supporting local establishments and the final card draw takes place at 9:00 p.m. EST at AJ’s Lodge and Oven, featuring live music by local favorite Tom Katalin, a 50/50 raffle, and prize giveaways generously donated by participating businesses.
Last year’s Yooper Poker Run raised over $2,000 for local grooming clubs, and organizers are aiming even higher this year.
“This event represents what makes the Western U.P. special — businesses coming together to support the volunteers who make our winter tourism possible,” organizers shared. “When we invest in our trails, we invest in our communities.”
Community members and visitors alike are encouraged to participate, support local businesses, and help sustain the sport of snowmobiling for generations to come.
For more information and a complete list of participating sponsors, visit www.ajslodgeandoven.com and follow on Facebook.

Fundraiser for the Vista/PAAC/Iron Arts on March 15 at Strega Nonna in Negaunee.
2026-03-15 00:00 - 23:59 | Strega Nonna, 432 Iron St, Negaunee, MI, 49866
LEADING LADY: Stories from the Stage…and Life is a theatrical journey that blends storytelling, musical theater, and razor-sharp humor to explore ambition, identity, love, loss, and the courage it takes to keep showing up when life goes off book.
Through iconic Broadway songs and deeply personal anecdotes, Leading Lady traces one performer’s path from an unapologetically loud, spotlight-hungry child to a woman shaped by Tourette’s, heartbreak, motherhood, divorce, and reinvention. With warmth and wit, she pulls back the curtain on the realities behind the applause-missed cues, failed relationships, bodies that don’t always cooperate, and dreams that refuse to die quietly.
This is not a nostalgia act or a greatest-hits revue. It’s a raw, funny, and fiercely honest meditation on what it means to lose the roles you thought defined you-and to discover that the most powerful part you’ll ever play is the one where you choose yourself.
By the final bow, Leading Lady reminds us that the ingénue may fade, but the woman who survives, leads, and stands center stage anyway?
She’s the real star.
Accompanied by Marcia Hicks, Allyse Belanger, and Claire Decker.

Thank you for supporting community theatre and local businesses,
Best,
Leslie Parkkonen

Negaunee Public Library Presents: quiet storytime
2026-03-16 11:00 | Negaunee Public Library, 319 W Case St, Negaunee, MI, 49866, United States
Mondays
11 a.m.
The Negaunee Public Library is offering a weekly “quiet storytime” for younger children at 11 a.m. Mondays. There will be short stories accompanied by soft voices and sounds, sensory-friendly movements, and a fidget-friendly area. April 13 and 20 will incorporate special programs. This storytime is free and all are welcome to attend. For more information, visit the library’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NegauneePublicLibrary/ or call 906-475-7700 ext.18.

Negaunee Public Library Presents: homeschool hangout
2026-03-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Negaunee Public Library, 319 W Case St, Negaunee, MI, 49866, United States
Mondays
1-3 p.m.
The Negaunee Public Library is hosting a homeschool hangout from 1-3 p.m. Mondays. The program is for all youth and their families who do not attend traditional school. Homeschool students, online students through programs such as Link Learning, and others are welcome to participate. Attendees will meet other youth and families and enjoy an activity. This program is free, and designed for homeschool and nontraditionally schooling families. For more information, visit the library’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NegauneePublicLibrary/ or call 906-475-7700 ext.18.

Seventh Economic Club Dinner for the 2025-2026 Season
2026-03-16 17:30 | Holiday Inn of Marquette, 1951 Us 41 West, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
This message has been paid for by Economic Club of Marquette County, a partner in good standing of the Lake Superior Community Partnership.

Monday, March 16, 2026

Seventh Economic Club Dinner for the 2025-2026 Season
Holiday Inn of Marquette (1951 Us 41 West, Marquette MI.)

Guest Speaker
Paul Meneghini – Manager, Community Engagement; Enbridge

Social Hour – 5:30 p.m.
Dinner – 6:30 p.m.
Speaker – 7:30 p.m.

Please make reservations at marquetteeconomicclub.org or call
906-315-2155 and leave a message by 5:00 p.m. the Friday before.
The cost is $75 per person for non-members and guests.

Make reservations

PWPL Presents: Kulishek Lecture Series: Maazhi-Aakoziwin Nimisading Miinwaa Ingondashkwaying (A Bad Illness in My Stomach and Throat).
2026-03-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Monday, March 16, 2026.
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Community Room.
Adults, Seniors, Family Friendly. Dr. Martin Reinhardt will share a brief overview of his
experience with esophageal cancer and how he incorporated both traditional Anishinaabe medicine and Western medicine into his treatment. Included are performances of poetry and songs he wrote during this period of his life. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: Preschool Storytime
2026-03-17 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-03-20 10:00 - 10:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
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.

The Marquette County Board Of Commissioners
2026-03-17 15:00 | Marquette County Courthouse, 234 W. Baraga Avenue, Marquette, Michigan, 49855
The Marquette County Board Of Commissioners Will Meet In Session On Tuesday, MARCH 17, 2026 at 3:00 P.M. IN ROOM 41, OF THE COURTHOUSE, 234 W BARAGA AVE, MARQUETTE, MI 49855

PURPOSE: ARPA BUDGET WORK SESSION

PWPL Presents: PWPL Board of Trustees Meeting
2026-03-17 17:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Meeting begins at 5:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library, George Shiras III Room.
Regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Peter White Public Library. The meeting is open to all. Meeting agenda, materials, and remote attendance link are available on the library’s website: pwpl.info. For more information call 906-226-4303.

MGT Board of Commissioners Agenda and Minutes 03-17
2026-03-17 18:00 | MI
Agenda and Minutes 03-17

PWPL Presents: Meditate Marquette
2026-03-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
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, are welcome to attend. For further information, please contact meditatemarquette@gmail.com or call 906-226-4303.

PWPL Presents: Baby Storytime
2026-03-18 10:00 - 10:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
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.

Negaunee Public Library Presents: library knitting group
2026-03-18 13:00 | Negaunee Senior Center, 410 Jackson St, Negaunee, MI, 49866, United States
every Wednesday
1:00 p.m.
The library knitting group meets at 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday at the Negaunee Public Library. Crocheters, knitters, and others interested in fiber arts are welcome to bring their projects and enjoy fellowship. Coffee is provided, and lessons are available. This program is free. For more information, visit the library’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NegauneePublicLibrary/ or call 906-475-7700 ext. 18.

Negaunee Public Library Presents: after-school library club
2026-03-18 15:00 | Negaunee Public Library, 319 W Case St, Negaunee, MI, 49866, United States
Wednesdays
3 p.m.
The after-school library club, a group for middle school students and their homeschool peers ages 10-14, will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Negaunee Public Library, except for days the Negaunee Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather. Snacks will be provided. This program is free. For more information, visit the library’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NegauneePublicLibrary/ or call 906-475-7700 ext. 18.

Negaunee Public Library Presents: Leo Siren writing workshops
2026-03-18 17:30 - 18:45 | Negaunee Public Library, 319 W Case St, Negaunee, MI, 49866, United States
Wednesdays
5:30-6:45 p.m.
Negaunee Public Library’s own Leo Siren will conduct writing workshops from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Wednesdays, in the library’s Reading Room. Aspiring writers ages 13 years and up are invited to learn about the craft of story writing from Siren, who has more than 20 years of writing experience. Participants can work on current projects, find inspiration at the workshop, and critique each other’s works in a friendly environment. This event is free. For more information, visit the library’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NegauneePublicLibrary/ or call 906-475-7700 ext.18.

Dewe'igan - Listen, Learn, and Connect
2026-03-19 00:00 - 2026-05-14 23:59 | MI
Dewe’igan – LISTEN, LEARN, AND CONNECT

SUMMER CLOUD

Location: Harvey Community Center from 6p – 8p
Dates: March 19, April 16and May 7

Location: Zeba Hall from 6p – 7:30p
Dates: March 12, April 9, May 14

Free Event, Community Welcome!
Anyone under 16 yrs. old needs to have a guardian to attend.
Drug and Alcohol Free Event

Potluck Dinner, Please bring a dish to share if you can.

Downtown Connect meeting
2026-03-19 08:00 | Marquette Commons, 112 S. Third St., Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Downtown Marquette businesses’ opportunity to catch up with the MDDA and other business owners and operators.

Hello everyone!

Our next Downtown Connect meeting will take place on Thursday, March 19 at the Marquette Commons. During this meeting, we will be discussing some potential programming for the new Ice Fest being planned for January 2027 and how businesses can get involved. We will also be taking a look at the recent update from Corbin Design who has been helping design and implement the new downtown wayfinding that will be making its way into our community this summer.

Downtown Connect is your opportunity to have a direct voice in shaping the future of Downtown Marquette. These meetings are where major decisions are made on community events, initiatives, and development projects that affect us all. Is there something you’d like to see brought to life downtown, or a change you believe would better serve the business community? Please attend, share your perspective, and help us make decisions that strengthen and grow our downtown together.

Agenda

Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Marquette Commons (112 S. Third St.)

1) Ice Fest 2027
a) Potential Programming Discussion

2) Downtown Wayfinding Update
a) Design
b) Locations

3) Fourth of July
a) 250th Anniversary Ball Drop event
1) Street closure and what to know

4) A Second MDDA Connect Meeting

Any business owner, manager, or employee from Downtown Marquette is invited to join!

Fire Site Storytelling Series at NMU
2026-03-19 13:00 - 14:00 | CNAS Fire Site Pavilion, N 7th St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Thursdays: March 19; and April 2, 9, 16 and 19.
1-2 p.m
CNAS Fire Site Pavilion
The NMU Center for Native American Studies (CNAS) is hosting its Fire Site Storytelling Series on select Thursdays in March and April. These events are free and open to the public.
This series features Anishinaabe winter storytelling, oral traditions and community discussion, supported and facilitated by the CNAS director, faculty and staff.
Remaining Fire Site Storytelling events will take place from 1-2 p.m. on the following Thursdays: March 19; and April 2, 9, 16 and 19. They will be held at the CNAS Fire Site Pavillion located between Whitman Hall and The Science Building, along Norway Avenue. If weather temperatures are too cold for safety, Whitman Commons will be used as the alternative indoor location.
Stay updated about guest storytellers and culture bearers by following the Center for Native American Studies on social media: @cnas_nmu.

PSA - Powerful Tools for Caregivers Workshop
2026-03-19 13:30 - 15:00 | MI
Powerful Tools for Caregivers, a six-week online workshop, designed for the non-professional, informal family caregiver, will be held on Thursdays, March 19 through April 23, from 1:30 – 3:00 pm (Eastern) via Zoom.
Research studies find high rates of depression and anxiety among caregivers and increased vulnerability to health problems. Caregivers frequently cite restriction of personal activities and social life as problems. In addition, caregivers often feel a lack of control over events and a sense of powerlessness which can have a significant negative impact on their physical and emotional health. The Powerful Tools for Caregivers program will provide caregivers tools to help reduce stress and increase relaxation, make tough decisions, reduce guilt, anger and depression, communicate effectively, set goals and problem solve, and take better care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend. Caregivers will benefit from the workshop whether they are helping a parent, spouse, or friend living at home, in long-term care or across the country. The workshop focuses on self-care for the caregiver, not on specific diseases or hands-on caregiving.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is offered by Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP) in partnership with Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice. There is no charge for this workshop, but registration is required. Class size is limited. Registration ends when the class is full or on March 2.
To register, visit www.upcap.org (click on Events) or call 2-1-1 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for assistance.

PWPL Presents: ¡Hola Español! - Spanish Club
2026-03-19 16:30 - 17:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Thursday, March 19, 2026.
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Great Room.
Join us for a fun and interactive introduction into the Spanish language and the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries! Kids will learn basic Spanish vocabulary through games, stories, and handson activities. Open to kids in Kindergarten through 6th grade. No admission charge. For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.

Armed and Disguised: The Revolutionary Life of Deborah Sampson.
2026-03-19 19:00 | NMU Harden Hall, Learning Resource Center, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Thursday, March 19
7 p.m.
the Lydia Olson Library Atrium in Harden Hall
As part of its America 250 speaker series, the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will host a presentation titled “Armed and Disguised: The Revolutionary Life of Deborah Sampson.” NMU History Associate Professor Emily Romeo will share the intriguing story of Sampson, who fought for the U.S. Continental Army under the male alias of Robert Shurtliff. The event will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in the Lydia Olson Library Atrium in Harden Hall. It is free and open to the public.
During a time where women were not permitted to serve in the army, Sampson disguised herself as a man and fought in the American Revolutionary War for 17 months before being injured in a battle with locals in Tarrytown, N.Y. Following her injury, she was treated at a hospital for severe illness, where her true gender identity was soon exposed to her general and fellow troops.
Regardless of why she signed up, Sampson earned the respect of her fellow soldiers and commanding officers, challenging gender norms along the way. After the war, she would learn to balance her multiple identities as wife and mother, soldier and performer.
Romeo received her doctorate from the University of Chicago, where she began her research on the lives of women in 17th- and early 18th-century America. Her work explores women’s expressions of violence in the context of the social, cultural and religious upheavals of that period.

NMU Jazz Fest Features The Westerlies
2026-03-19 19:30 | NMU Reynolds Recital Hall, Marquette, Michigan
The Westerlies, a Grammy-nominated, New York-based brass quartet, will be the featured performer at the NMU Jazz Festival. The group will present the festival’s opening concert, which also serves as a Siril Concert Series event, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in Reynolds Recital Hall. The quartet will also join NMU’s Jazz Band and Jazz Combo for the closing concert on Friday, March 20, at the same time and location.
In addition to the performances, The Westerlies will lead two guest artist clinics at 1 p.m. both days. These masterclasses are free and open to the public.
The Westerlies quartet is composed of Chloe Rowlands and Riley Mulherkar on trumpet, and Addison Maye-Saxon and Andy Clausen on trombone. Their music mixes jazz, new classical and Appalachian folk. Across multiple critically acclaimed studio albums, the Westerlies have earned what DownBeat described as “a unique reputation for exploring the emotional textures of American music,” championing living composers and collaborators.
They have also played in studio and live alongside artists from Common to Haley Heynderickx, and on Grammy-nominated releases from both Fleet Foxes and Aoife O’Donovan. Learn more about The Westerlies here.
Registered high school and middle school bands will perform in scheduled time slots, receive feedback, work with festival clinicians and participate in jam sessions both days. Tickets for each evening concert during the festival are $12 for general admission and free for NMU students and those under 18. They can be purchased at the door or in advance at tickets.nmu.edu.
NMU has presented numerous jazz clinics and concerts over the last 50 years, but the current NMU Jazz Festival officially began in 1998, when the NMU Friends of Jazz invited legendary trumpeter Clark Terry to perform with the NMU Jazz Band. Local high school bands also took part in clinics during the event, and the strong response helped turn the festival into an annual tradition.

PWPL Presents: Cultivating Care, Compassion, and Connection
2026-03-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Fridays, March (6, 13, 20, 27) 2026.
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library, Heritage Room.
In partnership with several area organizations, this hour-long event offers a safe space to pause, reflect, and build meaningful connections with others who are committed to cultivating kindness in our world. Each week, a different organization takes the lead, with experienced educators and leaders facilitating. This rotating format ensures diverse perspectives and practices while maintaining a shared commitment to the Charter for Compassion and the Circle of Trust principles. For more information and to check on the status of the program, call 906-226-4303 or visit pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: CRP Global Cinema: Chile’s A Fantastic Woman
2026-03-20 12:00 - 14:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Friday, March 20, 2026.
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Community Room.
Adults, Seniors, Teens. This Oscar-winning film focuses on the joys, loves, and struggles of a trans woman (Marina) living in Santiago, Chile. Rated R. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: LEGO Club.
2026-03-20 16:00 - 17:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Fridays March (6, 20, 27), 2026.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Great Room.
Meet other LEGO enthusiasts and build LEGO projects with the library’s LEGO blocks. Family friendly, children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. No admission charge. For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit
pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: Saturday Storytime
2026-03-21 11:00 - 11:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Saturdays, March (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.

PWPL Presents: Art with Ella
2026-03-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Saturday, March 21, 2026.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Great Room.
Join NMU Art Education major Ella and create art! Kids of all ages are welcome – the techniques used will be adaptable for kids of all ages and abilities. All supplies provided, drop-in program. 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.

The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum will be closed on Sunday, March 15th.
2026-03-22 00:00 - 23:59 | Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, 123 W Baraga Ave, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
The Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum will be closed on Sunday, March 15th.
The new date for the Masonic Lodge sponsored FREE day!! Due to the behemoth of a winter storm forecasted for Sunday into Monday, the museum will be CLOSED on Sunday, March 15, and the sponsored FREE day is rescheduled for March 22nd. Stay safe out there, friends, and we will see you on the other side of the storm.

PWPL Presents: CRP All Booked Up: Can We Talk?
2026-03-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Monday, March 23, 2026.
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Peter White Public Library Dandelion Cottage Room.
Adults, Seniors. Join Marty for an in-person, in-depth discussion of Upper Michigan Today’s All Booked Up book of the month. Come with your questions, insights, and observations. This month’s book: Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.
