Events

February 23, 2026-January 2, 2027 This exhibit showcases two hundred and fifty artifacts, photographs, and documents from our permanent collections. These objects connect local history to the national story while commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has often seemed remote from the rest of the country. However, the themes and movements of U.S. history can be seen here as well, especially since the War of 1812. When the country braced for the Civil War, U.P. iron miners raced to uncover iron for the Union army’s railroads and ammunitions. When labor movements exploded following

Step Right Up for the Greatest Show in Marquette County: U.P. Hospice Foundation Unveils ‘A Night Under the Big Top’ presented by Dancing with our Stars Marquette County Style! After ten unforgettable years of dancing, fundraising, and community spirit, the beloved event is evolving! This year’s production transforms the stage into a whimsical, high-energy circus-inspired celebration packed with excitement, creativity, and show-stopping performances- all in support of compassionate Hospice care throughout our community. Under the glow of the big top, local celebrity groups will team up with talented Marquette dance professionals to deliver unforgettable performances that go far beyond traditional

June 17 – August 19, 2026 Opening Reception: Wednesday, June 17, 7-8:30pm The Folk School at Midsummer exhibit in the Finlandia Gallery at Finlandia Foundation’s Finnish American Heritage Center opens on Wednesday, June 17. A reception will begin at 7 p.m. that evening and takes place in conjunction with the opening of an archival exhibit featuring the works of painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela that are part of the Heritage Center’s archive collection.  “It has become an annual tradition to celebrate midsummer with work from our Folk School, but what visitors see in the exhibit really changes in beautiful ways from year

June 19 through Sept. 4. DeVos Art Museum Northern Michigan University’s DeVos Art Museum will host “North of the 45th,” an annual juried exhibition featuring artists living in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota locations north of the 45th parallel, which is known as the halfway point between the equator and north pole. The show opens June 19 and will be on display through Sept. 4. The 2026 jurors are: Shane McAdams, an artist, writer, curator and educator from Cedarburg, Wis.; and Shane Walsh, a painter and teacher who splits his time between studios in Milwaukee and New York City. Both are

Coming up Saturday, September 12 in Marquette, Michigan   Tickets went on sale Thursday, June 25 at 10am (at MiBeer.com) for the 17th Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival hosted by the Michigan Brewers Guild on Saturday, September 12 along the Lake Superior shoreline in Marquette’s Mattson Lower Harbor Park.    General Admission is 1-6pm, with the gates opening at Noon for Enthusiast Members. Tickets are $55 per person in advance ($65 the day of). Those wanting a VIP experience can purchase tickets which allow for an extra hour of beer sampling-those tickets are $75 in advance or $85 the day

June 27 – August 22 Miners Memorial Heritage Park 771 E Ayer St. Ironwood, MI 49938   Free event   Sponsored by the Gogebic Community College Foundation, in memory of Alex Marciniak.   From June 27 through August 22, visitors are invited to wander the 1.2-mile Aurora Loop and discover large-scale installations nestled among towering pines, winding trails, and the rugged beauty of the Northwoods. Created by artists from across the region, this year’s exhibition reflects Emberlight’s 2026 theme, New Ways to Dream – exploring imagination, transformation, memory, identity, and the power of collective creativity.   Alongside this year’s juried

exhibition opens July 9 and will be on display through Oct. 3 The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at NMU will open a new exhibition July 9 that features the work of one of the U.P.’s most prolific photographers. It is titled “Munising in Black & White: The Photographs of Mary Jayne Hallifax.” She was an in-demand commercial photographer who also captured numerous candid images of her hometown over seven decades. Hallifax died in 2025 at the age of 96 and donated many of her original negatives to photograph collector Jack Deo, who is loaning 60