THESE 5 KEWEENAW FESTIVALS WILL MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH WINTER

HEIKINPÄIVÄ — Hancock, MI

Throughout January | Main Event: January 24, 2026

www.heikinpaiva.org

Heikinpäivä is Hancock’s beloved midwinter celebration of Finnish culture, created in 1999 by Copper Country Finnish-American locals. Inspired by traditions of the Finnish immigrants who helped define life in the Keweenaw along with a healthy dose of that quirky Yooper/Finnish humor, Heikinpäivä remains a truly one-of-a-kind Michigan winter event. The festival lands just as the midwinter blues tend to hit, offering a month of lighthearted fun and cultural connection!

This month long celebration of Keweenaw culture and winter features events hosted by the Finnish American Heritage Center and Folk School preceding the main event at the end of January. During Heikinpäivä proper, you’ll find everything from the Heikinpäivä parade—complete with Finnish folklore characters—to the crowd-favorite wife-carrying contest, a cheeky nod to Finnish daily life and sporting spirit. Kicksled races, craft workshops, music, and a community contra dance round out the schedule. The festival also usually ushers in Sauna Week, celebrating the region’s deep sauna heritage and warm-up rituals that help locals thrive all winter long.

Click Here for a Full Schedule!

Everyone joins hands in the Bear Spiral!
 

February 4-7, 2026

www.mtu.edu/winter-carnival

Winter Carnival is one of the Midwest’s most iconic winter events, hosted by Michigan Tech in Houghton since 1922. Each year, students select a theme and transform massive blocks of snow into elaborate snow statues, creating an eye-catching landscape of frozen castles, pop-culture scenes, and larger-than-life sculptures. The tradition reflects the engineering spirit of the university and the region’s deep relationship with winter. The 2026 theme 

Visitors can enjoy broomball, dogsled rides, ice skating, curling, and more across campus. Evening highlights include the lively Stage Revue, human "dogsled" races, winter games open to the community and student body, the coronation of Winter Carnival royalty, and the breathtaking Torchlight Parade down Mont Ripley.

Michigan Tech's Blue Key National Honor Society dives into the spirit of Winter Carnival!

February 14, 2026

www.jibbajabbahoughton.com

Jibba Jabba Rail Jam brings big winter energy to downtown Houghton. A custom rail-jam course turns Huron Street into a freestyle playground where skiers and snowboarders tackle rails, boxes, and creative features built for urban terrain riding. This free event welcomes visitors, locals, and families to enjoy an exciting night with local businesses getting in the action!

Whether you’re familiar with rail jams or totally new to the sport, it’s an action-packed way to experience the Keweenaw’s vibrant snowboarding culture. Invited riders drop in from Shelden Avenue (next to Visit Keweenaw's Houghton Visitor Center on the main street) and shred their way downhill toward the Houghton Waterfront, and spectators line the street to watch tricks, cheer on the competitors, and take in the high-energy winter atmosphere. Red Bull reps join live on-site to live comment, DJ, and share merch! 

Click Here for the Full Schedule!

The excitement of freestyle snowboarding fills the streets of Houghton during Jibba Jabba. 

COPPERDOG RACE — Copper Harbor & Eagle Harbor, MI

February 28 - March 2, 2026

www.copperdog.org

The CopperDog Race is one of the Keweenaw’s marquee winter events, bringing mushers and sled-dog teams from around the world to compete across the peninsula’s forested terrain. CopperDog features four races of varying lengths—the CopperDart, the CD15, CD30, and CD120. The race begins on Calumet’s historic 5th Street, where crowds gather with hot cocoa, music fills the air, and more than 350 dogs launch into the night in a burst of sound and speed. Opening night wraps with an epic fireworks display and Block Party right in downtown Calumet!

Throughout the weekend, visitors can warm up by fire pits, enjoy food vendors, enjoy free sled dog kids for the kiddos, explore downtown Calumet, or follow the race north toward Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor. The event blends winter endurance with Keweenaw history, showcasing both the region’s rugged landscape and its welcoming community spirit. The race wraps in neighboring Laurium, coming full circle around the Keweenaw!

Watch as teams of dogs race through the Keweenaw's pristine forestland.

GREAT BEAR CHASE — Calumet, MI

March 7, 2026

www.greatbearchase.com

The Great Bear Chase is a long-running Nordic ski race held at the Swedetown Recreation Area, a 1,900-acre trail system known for reliable snow late into the ski season and excellent grooming. This serene setting turns into a hub of competition and camaraderie as skiers take on Classic and Freestyle style competitions, with 9 race options!

This event was designed by skiers for skiers, and has earned a reputation as a skier-oriented weekend allowing participants of all experience levels to finish their seasons with a high-quality event. Whether you’re participating or cheering from the sidelines, the event captures the peaceful beauty of cross-country skiing in the Keweenaw—quiet forests, crisp snow, and a strong winter community coming together outdoors.

Since 1981, the Great Bear Chase has always been about celebrating Keweenaw snow...