12 CAN’T-MISS KEWEENAW SUMMER EVENTS

Summertime in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan is an event in and of itself. With the array of outdoor activities, historical sites, and learning opportunities, any summer weekend spent here is sure to be filled with things to do. These are a few of our favorite summer events (plus some extras!) in the Keweenaw that you'll want to incorporate into your trip UP north!

65th ANNUAL BRIDGEFEST

June 12-15, 2025

Any visitor will tell you that crossing the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, which spans the Keweenaw Waterway between the cities of Houghton and Hancock, is THE sign that you’ve made it to the Keweenaw. For the past 63 years, the Keweenaw community has gathered to celebrate the engineering marvel (in addition to the kick-off of summer) through food, sporting events, live music, parades, and fireworks. Bridgefest is a summer event not to be missed!

JUHANNUS SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

June 20-22, 2025

Experience Finnish roots with a midsummer twist! The Finnish Long Drink invites you to Juhannus in the Copper Country - a celebration of nature, daylight, and community during the longest day of the year. Head to the Keweenaw's sunny side in Hancock, Michigan, for the inaugural Juhannus Summer Solstice Celebration!

This epic weekend embraces Finnish culture with blazing bonfires, cold plunges and saunas, live music and dance, and the legendary Wife Carrying Contest. Explore traditional tori markets, quirky Finnish games, and sip on refreshing Long Drinks at the official beer garden. Spanning from Quincy Green to the Portage Canal waterfront, is festival is all about suloista suvea - the sweetness of summer!

JULY 4TH CELEBRATIONS

July 3-4, 2025

If you’re taking advantage of the long weekend to make a trip to the Upper Peninsula, join one of the local Independence Day celebrations.  South Range hosts a variety of activities to celebrate Independence Day including a parade, fun in the park for kids, a horseshoe tournament, KBC brewery tours, and sampling, as well as fireworks. Throughout the Keweenaw, other towns carry on their traditions this year, such as parades and fireworks held in Lake Linden and Gay. In Copper Harbor, the town will gather for one of the best fireworks displays in the Keweenaw. Create your  Copper Country July 4th itinerary with our Events Calendar! 

77th Chassell Strawberry Festival

July 11-12, 2025

Celebrate the world's tastiest strawberries, grown in Chassell, MI. This special event is sponsored has been sponsored by the Lions Club and held during the 2nd weekend of July since the first year. Strawberries have been an important part of the Chassell economy since the early 1920's and 30's and this celebration brings that to life. Enjoy a strawberry themed parade, the crowning of the Strawberry Queen, and of course, delicious strawberry shortcake during this weekend of fun. Chassell Strawberry Festival also includes a dance, entertainment, family activities, and an ever-growing craft and art fair at the Chassell Centennial Park. 

50th CANAL RUN

July 19, 2025

Following along the beautiful Portage Lake Shipping Canal, the Canal Run offers four distances for runners and walkers of all ages, including a half marathon, adaptive marathons for wheelchair/blades,10-mile run or walk, five-mile run or walk, and two-mile fun run/walk. This high-energy community event began in 1975 and continues to grow each year. 

Since 2011, the Canal Run has donated over $30,000 to area non-profit organizations as part of its Canal Run Gives Back program. For more information or to register for the Canal Run, please visit www.canal.run.

For 50 years, the Keweenaw’s Canal Run has attracted runners from across the Midwest to compete in this iconic race.

END OF THE ROAD KEWEENAW TOUR & KEWEENAW CLASSIC CAR SHOW

July 19, 2025

The End of the Road Keweenaw Tour & Car Show brings classic car and truck enthusiasts to the Keweenaw each July. The tour starts in Calumet and ends in Copper Harbor for the car show. The car show in Copper Harbor includes live entertainment, awards, and food and refreshments. 

64th ANNUAL EAGLE HARBOR ART FAIR

August 9-10, 2025

If you’re looking to bring home a truly unique souvenir, attend the Eagle Harbor Art Fair. For over 60 years, this juried art fair has showcased original works by artists from all over the Midwest and beyond. Artists will be offering jewelry, photography, paintings, fabric art, ceramics and pottery, stained glass, and more. Each year the fair is held at St. Peter’s by the Sea Church in Eagle Harbor where more than 60 vendors gather to sell their work. More information about the Copper Country Associated Artists can be found at www.ccaartists.org. 

KEWEENAW MINERAL DAYS

August 3-10, 2025

Prospect for interesting minerals like miners during the Copper Boom. Keweenaw Mineral Days, hosted by the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club's (CCRMC) Keweenaw Week and the Quincy Mine Hoist Association (QMHA), allows participants to collect minerals at historic mine sites throughout the Keweenaw. This rare opportunity is only offered during Keweenaw Mineral Days as mineral collecting is prohibited otherwise. Participants will also have access to special guest speakers and sales at the A.E. Seaman Museum. Find tickets here.

17th Annual FARM BLOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL

August 1-3, 2025

Three days of live music, food, and art created to celebrate the majesty of a Keweenaw summer and raise funds for the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music. This burgeoning festival brings an eclectic group of musicians to the small town of Allouez on Farmers Block Road on the west side of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Find festival updates at https://farmblock.com/. 

20TH ANNUAL PASTY FEST

August 16, 2025

That’s right, it’s a festival dedicated to the Upper Peninsula’s favorite cuisine: the pasty. Mark your calendars for this epic celebration of a savory blend of root vegetables and pastry crust. Each year, the festival is hosted in the historic downtown of Calumet, MI. Vendors from across the Keweenaw bring their “A” game in a bid to when the prestigious title of “best-in-show” with the headline event being a pasty eating competition! Visitors are encouraged to apply, but honestly, we don’t expect you to win.

Get more event details at uppastyfest.com!

32ND COPPER HARBOR TRAILS FEST

August 29-31, 2025

If your trip to the Upper Peninsula involves two knobby tires and loads of stoke, then you won’t want to miss the annual Copper Harbor Trails Festival. This Labor Day weekend event features Enduro races, short (~15 miles) and long (~30 miles) XC courses, Downhill Race, a Junior MTB race (for kids 13 & under), and a 10K Trail Run. Throughout the weekend you can enjoy music, beer, and trails-inspired art at ArtBike. Learn more about the event at https://copperharbortrails.org/event/copper-harbor-trails-fest.

Crush the Midwest’s best singletrack during the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Copper Harbor Trail Fest.

36th ANNUAL PARADE OF NATIONS

September 20, 2025

The Parade of Nations and Multicultural Festival, held in September each year, celebrates diversity with a colorful parade of flag-bearing Michigan Tech students, staff, and community members. More than eighty nations are represented in this popular event. Typically, the Parade of Nations includes the Multicultural Festival at the Dee Stadium where the celebration continues with food, culture, music, and dance. More information for the event can be found at www.mtu.edu/international/events/parade-nations.

Michigan Tech’s Parade of Nations features representatives from more than 50 countries celebrating the spirit of understanding and unity. 

ALL EVENTS

The Keweenaw is home to many great events year-round. Enjoy live music in the park, pick up some goods at a farmer's market, or enjoy a performance at a historic theatre. Check out our events calendar to see what's happening while you are in town!