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Keweenaw's Explorer Blog

August 2026 | 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: 

 

A Note from the Executive Director

Summer is in full swing, and things are moving fast across Houghton and Keweenaw Counties! This is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for our local and regional tourism partners, and we want to extend a sincere thank you to all the businesses, staff, and volunteers who work tirelessly to create unforgettable experiences for our visitors.  

A prime example of that community effort was the incredible success of our recent Pasty Fest in downtown Calumet! Events like Pasty Fest showcase the very best of the Keweenaw—bringing locals and travelers together to celebrate our rich heritage, vibrant main streets, and delicious local flavor.  

As we look ahead, the upcoming "back-to-school" transition will bring a brief, well-deserved breath of fresh air for our industry. Take a moment to catch your breath, because the lull won't last long—the highly anticipated fall color season is right around the corner, bringing a fresh wave of autumn travelers to explore our scenic highways, trails, and shorelines.  

Thank you for everything you do to keep the Keweenaw thriving. Read on below for this month’s latest regional updates, partner resources, and upcoming opportunities! 

Voter's Choice Banner

Keweenaw Voter’s Choice Awards

The 2026 Visit Keweenaw Voter’s Choice Awards are back, and this year, you get to build the ballot. Nominations are now open across 16 categories celebrating the food, drinks, trails, attractions and experiences that make the Keweenaw worth exploring 

Best pasty? Favorite hometown bar? Best place to catch the fall colors? Best cocktail? Best spooky season stop? We want to hear it. 

Last year, an expert panel helped create the nominations. This year, it’s completely up to you. Locals and visitors can nominate their favorites now until Sept. 4 before voting opens Sept. 7. 

Categories include Best Pasty Shop, Best Coffee Shop, Best Lunch Spot, Best Breakfast Spot, Best Dinner Spot, Best Cocktail Spot, Best Pizza Shop, Best Hometown Bar, Best Sweet Spot, Best Fall Viewing Experience, Best Stargazing Location, Best Rainy Day Fun, Best Historical Experience, Best Nature Trail, Best Guided Experience and Best Spooky Season Stop. 

Voting runs for one week beginning Sept. 7, with winners announced Sept. 15. Winners receive serious Keweenaw bragging rights, a window cling and a locally made plaque. 

See last year’s winners here. Now it’s time to decide who makes the 2026 ballot. Nominate your Keweenaw favorites today. 

 

Pasty Fest Wraps Up in Calumet 

Pasty Fest, the annual celebration of the Keweenaw’s mining heritage and favorite meat pie, wrapped up Aug. 14-16 in Calumet, drawing thousands of people downtown and supporting local businesses, vendors and organizations throughout the weekend. 

Visit Keweenaw returned as Pasty Fest’s presenting sponsor, supporting the festival because it does exactly what strong destination events should: celebrates something distinctly Keweenaw, brings visitors and residents into a historic downtown and creates economic activity for local businesses. More than two decades in, Pasty Fest has become both a community tradition and an experience visitors can’t easily find somewhere else. 

This year, Friday’s open mic night brought local creatives to Schute’s Saloon, while Saturday packed Fifth Street with vendors, activities and main stage events. The growing Renaissance theme expanded into Sunday with roller derby jousting, helping stretch Pasty Fest into a full three-day event and giving visitors another reason to stay, explore and spend locally. 

This year’s Pasty Bake-Off title went to Slim’s Café in Mohawk, defending its prior year wins in Pasty Fest history. 

Pasty Fest 2026

Rain or shine, pasty fans fill the streets of Calumet! (2026)

 

Thimbleberry Festival Sweetens End of Keweenaw Summer 

The second annual Keweenaw Thimbleberry Festival returned to the Keweenaw Aug. 18-20. The schedule included more thimbleberry goodies at more famers markets, music and a digital passport for attendees to visit more nature areas and downtown businesses. 

Reports by From the Ground Farmers Market Collective said it was a record-setting week on top of a record-setting season. The Digital Thimbleberry Passport drew 46 signups, encouraging participants to visit 14 establishments across the Keweenaw, from farmers markets and jam shops to local cocktail bars. 

Visit Keweenaw is a strong supporter of Thimbleberry Fest and knows visitors enjoy experiencing a vibrant farm and food community. 

Thimbleberry Festival HikeThimbleberry Cocktails

Learning how to spot and safely pick berries to themed cocktails – Thimbleberry Festival has it all!

 

 

JUST DROPPED: Palosaari Corn Maze Crossing Place 

Visit Keweenaw’s documentary series “The Crossing Place” just dropped a new episode. Watch the latest edition featuring Palosaari Corn Maze and all things fall in the Keweenaw. Harbor Haus was recently uploaded too, detailing what goes into running Michigan’s finest German-American restaurant. 

Palosaari Corn Maze

Palosaari's 2025 Corn Maze design.

 

Fall Travel Update 

Despite being peak summer travel, consumers are already planning their fall escapes. According to an ongoing study of American travelers by Longwoods International, consumers are eagerly awaiting Autumns cooler temperatures and trips to connect with friends and family. However, lingering concerns regarding inflation and gas prices are causing prospective travelers to adjust their plans. 

Half of travelers (51%) who are planning fall trips cite financial constraints and travel costs as factors which may limit their travel plans this fall, while 32% point to economic uncertainty as a limiting factor. To cope with high gas prices for travel in the next six months, 40% of American travelers are choosing destinations closer to home, and 37% are reducing the number of trips they plan to take. 

 

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Upcoming Fall Events 

Canal Colors Festival (Oct. 1-4) – Canal Colors Festival turns two this year. The new annual event combines Plaidurday, Brew Street, Keweenaw Color Run and Fall Fest all in Houghton on the stunning Portage Canal. 

Don’t miss the Keweenaw Plaidurday Photo at the Houghton High School this year on Friday, Oct. 2. Gates open at 1 p.m. and the photo is taken at 1:30 p.m. sharp! The goal is to beat Visit Keweenaw’s world record of over 1,700 people wearing plaid in Houghton. Brew Street becomes a major fundraiser – with The Den, Beviamo, Ambassador and Keweenaw Brewing Company donating $1 per social district drink later on Friday. A new Lumberjack Lovin’ event adds a singles mixer and plaid fashion show to Brew Street. 

Wolf’s Head Film Festival (Oct. 22-24) – Wolf’s Head Film Festival returns to Hancock for three days of independent and genre cinema, bringing filmmakers, visitors and film fans together at the historic Orpheum Theater and locations throughout the community. 

The festival features short and feature film screenings, filmmaker Q&As and after-hours events, while giving visiting filmmakers a distinctly Keweenaw experience. This year’s programming includes a filmmaker retreat at Takka Saunas and an underground VIP film screening at Quincy Mine. The weekend wraps up Saturday with Club Zombie at Nutini’s Supper Club and a 21+ Zombie Prom at the Hancock Hub. Beyond adding another strong fall event to the calendar, Wolf’s Head showcases the Keweenaw as both a creative destination and a compelling location for filmmaking. 

 

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