Western UP Events

On December 4, beginning at 5:30 p.m., the Heritage Center, located at 435 Quincy Street in Hancock will host its annual celebration of Finland’s independence, an occasion the Finnish-American community of the Copper Country has marked each year since 1918. Featuring performances by the Kivajat Dancers and the newly-formed Kuparikielet youth folk dance band, attendees will surely be uplifted to see such high levels of engagement in cultural preservation by today’s young people. Keeping with recent tradition, the program will also include the announcement of the 2026 Hankookin Heikki, the person honored for significant contributions to the advancement of Finnish-American

Finlandia Foundation hosting evening of celebration It’s been at least four generations since Finland achieved its independence in 1917, and this year’s observance of that courageous achievement at the Finnish American Heritage Center will put several members of our youngest generation in the spotlight. On December 4, beginning at 5:30 p.m., the Heritage Center, located at 435 Quincy Street in Hancock will host its annual celebration of Finland’s independence, an occasion the Finnish-American community of the Copper Country has marked each year since 1918. Featuringperformances by the Kivajat Dancers and the newly-formed Kuparikielet youth folk dance band, attendees will surely

The City of Houghton is pleased to announce Winter Wonderland, a festive community celebration taking place on the downtown pier Friday, December 5, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.   This annual event will feature a variety of family-friendly activities designed to capture the spirit of the season:    Santa Claus will greet children, with a mailbox for letters to the North Pole.  Sleigh rides will be offered courtesy of VanElsacker Farms, with support from Visit Keweenaw, co-sponsor of the evening’s festivities.  The Portage Lake District Library will host a holiday craft activity for children and families. 

Annual Cookie Walk Saturday, December 6th United Lutheran Church, Main & Mesnard, L’Anse Doors open at 10:00 am   Let us do your Christmas baking….Mix and Match…. Choose your favorite cookies (buy by the pound), Breads, Candy Bring a friend and stop by for morning coffee.

Greetings, Everyone  You’re invited to help!    The HHSAA will be holding a FOOD and WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE | Saturday, December 6, 2025, 10:30am – 2:30pm in the parking lot of the Copper Country Mall.                                                                . Non-perishable groceries and / or winter coats, jackets, snow pants, hats, mittens, gloves are needs. Salvation Army in Hancock will be the beneficiary of food donations, and St Vincent De Paul the clothing. Please join

On Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lake Linden, MI hosts the combined Choirs of Michigan Tech, conducted by Jared Anderson, to perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Vespers. The music is based on pre-existing and newly composed chants from the Russian Orthodox All-Night Vigil service. The vespers portion of the service comprises the first six movements of the fifteen movement work. Vespers services are focused on texts and chants related to evening prayer. “Rachmaninoff grew up attending services in the Orthodox church,” says Jared Anderson, “The chanting that he heard there, and the bells from the

Houghton County Jail issues are back on the front burner after the failure, in August, of a $32 million, 30-year bond millage vote. For a history of the jail discussion, please see the Past Jail Projects tab on the County’s website https://houghtoncounty.net.   Three committees have been formed and all three have met. The three committees are addressing 1) How to modify the jail plan to address voters’ concerns so that a millage can pass; 2) What to do with the building on the Sharon Avenue property and what to do with the old jail should a new one be

Better Together will meet on Thursday, December 11 at 9:30 at the Zion Lutheran Church on 400 Ingot Street in Hancock.  The speaker will be Kathy Ptaszek and her presentation will be “The Wonder of Christmas.”  All area women are cordially invited to this special holiday event.  A brunch will served and there is suggested donation of $10.  All proceeds over the cost of the event will be donated to local charities. To reserve a spot, call Barb Worrall at 906-523-4445 or email judyusitalo@hotmail.com. This will be the last gathering until April 2026.

Troopers from the Michigan State Police Calumet Post and five grocery stores in Baraga and Houghton counties will be working together to host “STUFF A BLUE GOOSE” Harvest Gathering charity events.  The purpose is to raise food donations for local food pantries.   Troopers will be at Taydch’s Marketplace in Houghton, Louie’s Super Foods in Lake Linden, Larry’s Market in Baraga, Pat’s Foods in L’Anse, Pat’s Foods in Calumet, to assist in the collection of donated food items. A “BLUE GOOSE” patrol car will be at the sites to haul donated items to local food pantries at the conclusion of the

Troopers from the Michigan State Police Calumet Post and five grocery stores in Baraga and Houghton counties will be working together to host “STUFF A BLUE GOOSE” Harvest Gathering charity events.  The purpose is to raise food donations for local food pantries.   Troopers will be at Taydch’s Marketplace in Houghton, Louie’s Super Foods in Lake Linden, Larry’s Market in Baraga, Pat’s Foods in L’Anse, Pat’s Foods in Calumet, to assist in the collection of donated food items. A “BLUE GOOSE” patrol car will be at the sites to haul donated items to local food pantries at the conclusion of the