Central UP Events

Thursday, July 23, 2026. 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Peter White Public Library Community Room. Adults, Seniors, Family. Join 2022 Marquette Writer of the Year B. G. Bradley and his friends for an evening of music, stories, poetry, and skits sure to make you laugh, cry, clap, and sing for those big moments in our lives. The show features two-time U. P. Poet Laureate Marty Achatz; celebrated musicians Linda Smith and Seamus Collins (Big Lake Acoustic); actress Jacque Love; and actor Jim Edwards. This event will also be livestreamed. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, 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.  

The Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library’s (ICPL) Summer Reading Program is in full swing! We have been busy offering events for all ages and even hit record-breaking attendance at our programs in June! 2,203 people attended programs in June, nearly surpassing our ENTIRE program attendance for last summer in a single month. Thank you to our community for showing up and supporting our library in such a big way! We love offering so many events for you to enjoy, and we have SO many more planned throughout July and August. All events are free and open to the public. Events for

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

114 West Spring Street, Marquette, MI 49855   Dates: July 25, 2026 Queen City Half Marathon & Breakwater 5K   With a fast and scenic course taking you along the shores of Lake Superior, chip-timed results and near-award winning shirt and medal design, the Queen City Half Marathon and Breakwater 5K is a race that needs to be on your summer calendar! Beat the record and win big! Registration is now live, so don’t wait to sign up for this year’s race!   Proceeds for the race help sponsor JJ Packs, a local volunteer group that helps feed at-risk youth.

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

The Lake Superior Art Association presents the 66th Annual Art on the Rocks Fine Art Show, Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26, 2026 at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette, Michigan. The Show is open to the public from 10:00am-6:00pm on Saturday and 10:00am-4:00pm on Sunday. Admission is always free.  Art on the Rocks is a juried fine art fair hosted on the last full weekend of July each year. Art on the Rocks features over 100 artist booths featuring local, regional, and national artists presenting and selling artwork representing a wide variety of both 2-D and 3-D media,

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.