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Keweenaw's Explorer Blog

October 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: 

Note from the Executive Director

As the days grow shorter and a crispness fills the air, we're witness to the incredible transition taking place in the Keweenaw. The vibrant greens of summer are giving way to a spectacular palette of reds, oranges, and golds, signaling the arrival of autumn. Fall in the Keweenaw isn't just a time for scenic drives; it's a vibrant period of community, celebration, and continued opportunity for our tourism partners.

Visit Keweenaw was proud to sponsor comedian Charlie Berens' sold-out "Working It All Out" performances at the Rozsa Center in Houghton on September 20. The event, which drew a full house for both shows, exemplifies how strategic partnerships can bring nationally recognized talent to the Keweenaw, enhancing our region's reputation as a cultural destination.

By supporting events like this, Visit Keweenaw helps attract visitors who fill our hotels, dine at our restaurants, and shop at our local businesses, providing a significant boost to the local economy. The overwhelming success of this show underscores the demand for high-quality entertainment in our community and highlights the power of collaboration in enriching the lives of both residents and visitors.

We’re particularly excited to invite you to the inaugural Canal Colors Festival, a brand-new celebration that combines some of our most beloved fall traditions into one amazing weekend. The festival will take place on the pier in downtown Houghton on October 3rd and 4th. The weekend's events include Brew Street, Plaidurday, the Keweenaw Color Run, and the City of Houghton's Fall Fest. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of the Keweenaw, and we encourage all our industry members to participate and welcome the crowds to our beautiful community.

 

Rozsa Center

A sold-out Rozsa Center for Charlie Berens! (2025)

Visit Keweenaw Opening New Houghton Office & Visitor Center

Visit Keweenaw is excited to share the upcoming opening of its new office and visitor center in downtown Houghton. Construction is wrapping up at the former Rhythm Bike + Board building on Shelden Avenue, which has been transformed into a two-unit commercial space.

Our team will soon move into the left-side unit, a space designed not only for staff offices and dedicated work areas, but also for welcoming visitors, hosting small events, and providing personalized recommendations on where to explore in the Keweenaw.

A ribbon-cutting celebration is planned for the near future. In the meantime, we encourage visitors and community members to keep an eye on our opening for the latest travel tips, maps, and the best advice on how to experience Michigan’s Copper Country.

 

Fall Colors in PhoenixFall colors near the Bammert Blacksmith Shop in Phoenix. (Sept. 2025)

 

Catch the Colors — Share Your View!

Nothing beats seeing the Keweenaw cloaked in blazing reds, oranges, and golds — but the magic isn’t the same everywhere, or at the same time. That’s why we publish our Keweenaw Fall Color Report, with weekly updates on peak foliage, local snapshots from across the peninsula, and insights on where the show is brightest.

We want you to be part of the story. Spotted an especially stunning photo of Maple–saturated hills, misty mornings, or rivers framed in fall hues? Submit your POV — we’ll credit you — and help everyone else time their trips for maximum wow.

Head over to the Fall Color Report page, see where things are at today, and hit “share your POV” to add your own color to the canvas.

 

Canal Colors Festival Banner

Keweenaw Fall Colors Ripening For Canal Colors Festival Oct. 3-4

Celebrate peak color season in downtown Houghton at the first-ever Canal Colors Festival! This new synergistic name combines Fall Fest, Brew Street, Plaidurday and the Keweenaw Color Run. In the future, the celebration may grow across the peninsula with more communities hosting fall events.

🍺 Friday, Oct. 3: Brew Street behind Keweenaw Brewing Company (6 p.m. to midnight) with food truck, live music, and the annual Plaidurday flannel photo at 7 p.m. on Lakeshore Drive. Brew Street is a fundraiser for the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw

🎨 Saturday, Oct. 4: Keweenaw Color Run 5K (9:30 a.m.) followed by Fall Fest on the pier (11 a.m.–2 p.m.) featuring tractor rides, cider pressing, pumpkins, and family fun.

With the hillsides glowing and the canal doubling the view, it’s the perfect weekend to see autumn in the Copper Country.

👉 Details: canalcolorsfestival.com

 

 

Hancock’s New Bike Park & Trailhead is Just About Complete

The Hancock Trails Club, a non-profit organization that manages the Maasto Hiihto & Churning Rapids trails received a $25,000 Destination Development Award from Visit Keweenaw. The grant in combination with funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation put more than $50,000 toward the cost of a new bike park and trailhead. Dubbed the “Creekside Trailhead and Bike Park”, this new site will complement Hancock well.

 

Hancock Bike Park In Progress

Visit Keweenaw staff, board members, and lodging partners met with the Hancock Trails Club & Far North Trail Company.

 

It’s down M-203 just past the Hancock Beach, across from the Hancock Campground. It will connect to the campground, and is linked to the rest of the trail system. There is a skills training course for kids to build confidence and learn their bikes, and a huge flow track hill with a few routes once you get your bearings. The downhill run is easy to repeat, with less than a quarter mile climbing trail to reach the top. Riders of all ages will be able to ride the hill all day long, and enjoy biking from West to East Hancock. Maasto Hiihto connects to the ORV/Snowmobile path – virtually connecting all of Hancock under one big trail system open to non-motorized traffic. There is a large parking lot and future upgrades include a pavilion and seating. The Creekside Trailhead and Bike Park will give local youth and visiting families a safe, welcoming space to ride, while strengthening Hancock’s reputation as a trails town.

 

Isle Royale Seaplane Giveaway Goes Viral on Facebook & Instagram

Visit Keweenaw’s Isle Royale Seaplane giveaway soared across social media, capturing the imagination of travelers dreaming about a flight over Lake Superior’s wild waters and the Keweenaw’s colors. With more than 280,000 views on Facebook and 309,000 views on Instagram, the campaign reached hundreds of thousands of adventurers eager for a chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

IRSP Winner: Cindy Ahonen of Noblesville, Indiana, was selected as the lucky winner. She and her husband, Mike, will take their prize flight on October 9, 2025, but they didn’t stop there — they also booked tickets for their two adult children to join the adventure.

“We are booked! We also booked a flight for our two adult children who will be traveling with us. 10/9/25 We are SO excited about this and we thank you for the flights for two that you provided! My husband, Mike and I are taking the flight we won. We are coming to the UP for a week’s vacation from Noblesville, Indiana. We love the UP and fall is our favorite season! Our son (also from Noblesville) is joining us. Our daughter is flying in from Brooklyn, NY for her first experience in the UP! We’re spending 9 days traveling together so our kids can see the Porcupine Mountains, Presque Isle, Bond Falls, the flight (!), other waterfalls, Lakes Superior and Michigan, Tahquamenon Falls, etc. We’ll do some kayaking and hiking and just enjoy nature. We decided we wanted to purchase a flight for our kids because the experience sounds so amazing and we didn’t want them to miss out!”

The giveaway not only generated excitement online but also inspired a full family vacation to the Upper Peninsula, complete with hiking, kayaking, and exploring waterfalls and wild places. A perfect example of how the Keweenaw continues to spark unforgettable adventures.

 

Inaugural Great Lakes Aurora Dark Sky Jamboree Wraps Up

The first ever Great Lakes Aurora Dark Sky Jamboree (GLAD JAM) took place in Houghton Sept. 11-14. Stargazers from near and far joined the experience and learned about the cosmos, northern lights and why the Keweenaw is a prime place to take it all in. The workshops were also educational, showing attendees how the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge became DarkSky International certified, and how light pollution affects migratory birds.

The GLAD JAM included:

  • Nighttime viewing parties under the dark skies of the Keweenaw, including bonfires and guided night sky tours.
  • Observatory tours at Michigan Tech’s AMJOCH and other facilities.
  • Engaging talks from experts on auroras, astrophotography, and light pollution.
  • Community events like twilight yoga, hikes, and family-friendly programming under the stars.

 

GLAD Jam 2025 Keynote

Melissa Kaelin presents the GLAD Jam Keynote session in the Rozsa Center.

 

Fall Colors + Experiences

From the recent cider pressing at Central Mine to pumpkin patches and donutes at Zwart Farm, the Keweenaw’s harvest season is packed with hands-on experiences. Families can wander the Palosaari Corn Maze, feed animals at Hulkkonen Farm, or brave the Field of Terror at DesRochers. Farmers markets across Houghton, Hancock, Calumet, Lake Linden, and Chassell brim with late-season produce, maple syrup, fresh breads, and more — a chance to taste the Keweenaw’s bounty straight from the source.

The Keweenaw’s fall colors only get more vibrant as October rolls on. Don’t miss Fall Color Chair Lift Rides at Mount Bohemia (through Oct. 19) and Mont Ripley (through Oct. 12). Other classic routes include US-41 to Brockway Mountain Drive and the scenic Covered Drive near Freda.

And if you’re after a little fright to go with your foliage, mark the calendar: DesRochers’ Field of Terror returns Oct. 4, Treat Street takes over Shelden Avenue in Houghton on Oct. 18, and Michigan Tech Theatre partners with Quincy Smelter for their annual haunted tours. Round out the month with something brand new — the Wolf’s Head Film Festival in Hancock, Oct. 24-25.

Don’t miss a moment – check out our online events calendar!

 

people fill the back yard of a historic mining house to press apple cider

Central Mine was busy with folks pressing just-picked apples from the trees on the historic grounds. (Sept. 2025)

 

In the Headlines