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Keweenaw's Explorer Blog

September 2025  | Industry Newsletter

The Keweenaw’s visitor economy plays a vital role in our region’s quality of life and future prosperity. To keep local leaders and stakeholders current on issues impacting the industry, Visit Keweenaw created this monthly newsletter to share information on topics such as economic trends, destination and community investments, and other pertinent news.

We hope you find this a valuable resource to stay up to date on the Keweenaw’s visitor economy and encourage you to share it with parties you think would benefit from the information. As always, we look forward to sharing what makes the Keweenaw a special community to both live in and visit.

Within this newsletter, you'll find: 

 

historic mansion with wrap around porch and columns is framed with lush summer foliage and flowers

Laurium Manor Inn Brings Home the Win

The Keweenaw’s own Laurium Manor Inn has been named the #1 Historical Bed & Breakfast in the United States by Newsweek Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

Built in 1908 by copper mining magnates Thomas and Cornelia Hoatson, the 45-room Laurium Manor is a stunning showcase of stained glass, intricate woodwork, and early 20th-century grandeur. For more than three decades, innkeepers Dave and Julie Sprenger have lovingly preserved this iconic mansion, welcoming guests from around the world to experience the Copper Country’s golden age.

“This Newsweek voting contest brought exposure not only to our property but to the Keweenaw,” said Julie Sprenger. “We have seen a dramatic increase in bookings as a result. The first four days after the announcement that we were voted #1 in the nation, we had a hard time keeping up with the reservations and inquiries. That’s a challenge we are thrilled to take on.”

This national recognition not only celebrates Laurium Manor, but also shines a spotlight on the Keweenaw Peninsula — a place where rugged Lake Superior shorelines, rich mining history, and warm hospitality create unforgettable travel experiences.

Plan your visit at www.laurium.info.

 

A couple enjoying a fall color chairlift ride

Fall Colors Incoming

The Keweenaw is one of the best places for fall color viewing in the world. East of the Mississippi, our two-county peninsula is the sunniest destination in the continental U.S. during the summer months. This is because of the microclimate surrounding us from Lake Superior, which blows away clouds leaving the skies clear.

This far north - fall colors hit hardest at the end of September through the first week of October. It is our busiest season. Hoteliers - get ready for the rush. Consider prepping staff to answer frequently asked questions like:

  1. When do fall colors peak in the Keweenaw? Fall colors peak in the Keweenaw the last two weeks of September to the first week of October.
  2. Where should I go to see the colors? There are many places to see fall colors in the Keweenaw – think Covered Road, Covered Drive (there’s a difference!) and Brockway Mountain Drive. Places like M-26, US-41 and Open Skies Project are excellent choices. Quincy Mine grounds offer an insane view of the Houghton/Hancock landscape.
  3. Where can I find out more about places to go and things to do? Visit Keweenaw has a huge list of best recommendations for every adventure.
  4. What are the fall colors looking like right now? Check out our new Keweenaw Fall Color Report page! This site will be updated throughout the season with follower submissions and VK staff photos! All partners are encouraged to submit via the Keweenaw Fall Color Report page - we'll be sure to give you a shoutout!

 

GLAD JAM Logo

Great Lakes Aurora Dark Sky Jamboree Comes to Houghton

The Great Lakes Aurora Dark Sky Jamboree (GLAD JAM) runs Sept. 11–14, bringing aurora enthusiasts to the Keweenaw. While many events required advance registration, visitors can still join free public activities like twilight yoga, guided stargazing at the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park (Thursday, 7 p.m.–7 a.m.), and open night-sky tours through the weekend.

Expect to see more telescopes, photographers, and sky tours around Houghton and Copper Harbor — all celebrating the Keweenaw’s incredible dark skies.

 

Houghton FC Northwoods Tourney on Sept. 6

Visit Keweenaw is excited to sponsor Northwoods Soccer League this weekend as more than twenty youth soccer teams come to Houghton. Hosted by the Houghton Football Club, the event welcomes teams from across the U.P. and northern Wisconsin to cap off the summer season. Visit Keweenaw is proud to support the event in an effort to group youth sports-related visitation. 

 

Hancock End of Summer Celebration

Hancock is throwing its big End of Summer Celebration on Saturday, September 6th. Quincy Green and Quincy Street downtown will be full of food vendors, kids’ activities, and tournaments during the day. In the evening there’s a street dance with live music, a beer garden, and it all wraps up with a big laser light show at 10 p.m. It’s a fun, free way to celebrate 906 Day and the end of summer with the community.

Visit Keweenaw looks forward to seeing the City of Hancock’s Lights the Night program in the winter months. With a recent grant from Visit Keweenaw - the municipality was able to set contracts to construct a driveable Christmas-themed park to take advantage of the Hancock Campground space all year long. It will draw locals and visitors in looking for a unique, memorable and family-friendly experience.

 

Canal Colors Festival Banner

Canal Colors Festival: A Showcase of Place, People, and Partnerships

Visit Keweenaw is proud to help bring a brand-new signature event to downtown Houghton this fall: Canal Colors Festival (Oct. 3–4, 2025). This two-day celebration builds on our community’s strengths — stunning scenery, a walkable waterfront, and a tradition of vibrant, family-friendly events — while drawing visitors at the exact time our fall colors reach peak brilliance along the Portage Canal.

By merging Brew Street, Plaidurday, the Keweenaw Color Run, and Houghton’s Fall Fest into one coordinated festival, we’re creating a stronger regional draw, extending visitor stays, and ensuring our businesses and nonprofits benefit from increased foot traffic. A few highlights:

  • Economic & Cultural Impact: Brew Street honors Houghton’s brewing heritage while raising funds for the Carnegie Museum, keeping local history alive. Every KBC social district cup sold contributes directly to preservation efforts.
  • Community Pride & Visibility: The world-record Plaidurday photo tradition moves downtown, making national-level publicity possible while giving locals a chance to participate in a fun, family-friendly tradition.
  • Visitor Experience: The Color Run and Fall Fest on Saturday deliver the quintessential “small town + big color” autumn experience — think cider pressing, live music, tractor rides, and local vendors — all framed by the canal’s double-sided hillsides of color.
  • Destination Marketing Value: Canal Colors Fest positions Houghton and the greater Keweenaw as the place to kick off fall in the Upper Peninsula. It captures the authentic U.P. vibe (flannels, beer, local music, family fun) and gives us a media-friendly, visually compelling story to promote.
     

Events like Canal Colors Festival reinforce Visit Keweenaw’s role as a connector and catalyst: weaving together local history, community traditions, and natural beauty into experiences that drive tourism, strengthen local partnerships, and showcase the Keweenaw as an unforgettable four-season destination.

KORC Crossing Place Video Passes 500K+ Views

Visit Keweenaw’s latest episode of The Crossing Place just passed a major milestone, crossing over 500,000 views. The feature spotlights Gina Nicholas, CEO of the Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition (KORC), whose leadership has helped preserve public access to Lake Superior beaches and maintain many of the region’s most beloved trail networks.

This episode dives into the magic and allure of the Keweenaw’s lakeshores while underscoring the importance of protecting these places so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

The Crossing Place tells the stories of people who live and work in the Keweenaw and make a difference in everyday life. Produced by 2nd Sandbar Productions for Visit Keweenaw, the series has already garnered millions of views across all platforms. Each episode highlights local stewardship and sustainability efforts while celebrating the Keweenaw’s natural beauty, culture, and sense of place.

More than just a series, The Crossing Place inspires awe and reminds viewers to Love the Keweenaw — its landscapes, its history, and its people — every time they explore.

 

Keweenaw Thimbleberry Festival Collage

Inaugural Thimbleberry Festival Blooms in the Keweenaw

The Keweenaw just tapped into its agricultural roots – hosting the first-ever Keweenaw Thimbleberry Festival. The week of programming started small with plans to increase in future years. Many communities have a cornerstone fruit or food they celebrate. In the Keweenaw – we are unique to have a variety of berries grow during summer. The thimbleberry is one of the most coveted – and tasty! 

“The Keweenaw Thimbleberry Festival was noted by From The Ground Farmers Market Collective (FTGFMC) to be the busiest market week on record for 2025,” said Amanda Makela with FTGFMC. “Market patrons streamed into each market eager for tasty samples and thimbleberry goods to celebrate the summer fruit. Vendors made jams, infused lemonades, bakery by the bundle, chocolates, and more! This weeklong festival included community partners like Copper Shores (thimbleberry nutrition demo w/ berry vinaigrette on North Harvest CSA sourdough) and Keweenaw Land Trust ("Berry Song" storybook walk at Paavola Wetlands). Vendors dispersed hundreds of branded stickers, a run of limited edition berry-buckets - and was proof positive that the community is hungry for this concept to grow. This event singularly exists thanks to the support from Visit Keweenaw through a generous financial donation and website support. FTGFMC is excited to bring in more community partners for 2026 and grow the Keweenaw Thimbleberry Festival!”

Visit Keweenaw was excited to support the first-time iteration of the event and knows agri-tourism/food travel is becoming a draw for destinations.

 

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