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ESCANABA -- Are you excited that Keith Urban is coming to Escanaba this summer? Ever since the Northern Lights Music Fest was announced earlier this week, it seems like everyone I talk to is very enthusiastic about it. The support this community shows for each other is amazing. An event like this would not be considered if not for this tight-knit community. It is like we are all one big extended family, and you can feel this type of connection when working on projects and attending local events. The unmistakable desire of this community to grow and improve the quality of life for residents is driving the progression and development we are seeing all around us. This opportunity to host another large crowd at an all-new summer event on the fairgrounds is a perfect example of this.
When the state of Michigan got out of the fair business in 2009 the U.P. State Fair Authority was established to preserve this critical community asset. Over 100,000 people attended the U.P. State Fair in 2022. Without the leadership and guidance of the Fair Authority, none of the growth and expansion we have seen at the fairgrounds would be possible. The way people jumped into action to save the fairgrounds is a very tangible illustration of how our community supports each other. Millions of dollars are brought here annually through events at the fairgrounds, supporting jobs, and improving the quality of life for residents.
The character of this community and willingness to jump in and help in any way possible is why many refer to us as Yes-canaba. No matter the challenge, if it can be done, the people that live here will find a way to do it and make it successful. The spirt of Delta County is what makes new development and attractions possible.
Now we are going to face a new challenge with bringing a huge celebrity to the area and hosting thousands of visitors for a spectacular historic event. Pulling this off will take the community support we are all known for that is on display during the U.P. State Fair and the hundreds of events that are hosted locally every year. There are limits to everyone's time and resources and this festival came together very quickly leaving many businesses and organizations short on time for planning, but if we can make sure this first year is a success it will go a long way towards ensuring we can bring this event back every year and even grow more large-scale festivals and events every year.
There are many needs that will be filled for this event to ensure its success. You and your business or organization can help. Many of us have already gone through our annual budget plans and fitting this in will be a challenge but if you can find a way to help get this off the ground this year, it will help establish long term success. Sponsorships and volunteers are a critical need. It might be easier to wait and see what happens this year and plan to support the event next year but getting a solid foundation for having large scale events is more important to our long-term prospects of making this an annual experience. If you are interested in finding out how you can support this event, please contact morgan@visitescanaba.com. We want to make this a sustainable event will have a significant economic impact for many years.
When the Board of Directors at Visit Escanaba decided to pursue this opportunity, supporting the community was the primary goal. Connecting with new customers and creating a buzz about Delta County is going to help keep the positive momentum going that we are seeing all around us. It is amazing to see how local businesses and leaders and pushing this region to a new level. Thank you all for your work and drive that has changed the area and will continue to improve this community.
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Robert Micheau is CEO of Visit Escanaba