ESCANABA — If you are fortunate enough to claim the Yooper title and reside in (or around) our beautifully wild Upper Peninsula, chances are you visited the U.P. State Fairgrounds in 2023. A conservative estimate saw nearly 300,000 people attend events on the fairgrounds in 2023, an impressive number that closely equals the total population of the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

As a quick recap, the 2023 season kicked off in March 2023 with the RRN Spring Sport and Recreation Show and concluded mid-September with Escanaba Speedway’s Yooper Fall Classic. Between March and October 2023, the U.P. State Fairgrounds served as the U.P.’s epicenter of entertainment, highlighted by July’s Northern Lights Music Festival featuring Keith Urban and the National Trappers Association national convention, August’s Amageddon on Wheels and the record-breaking 95th UP State Fair, and September’s UP Steam and Gas Engine Show and the Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo (Logging Congress). Additionally, the U.P. State Fairgrounds was the venue for well over 100 additional contracted events, including sport and recreation shows, wedding receptions, horse riding competitions, sporting dog competitions, dirt track racing, and this author’s personal favorite, the Krusin Klassics Fun Run!

Following an unprecedented year of major events, entertainment, and myriad diverse community gatherings and activities, the U.P. State Fairgrounds team is focused and busy preparing for 2024. While 2024 event planning is actively ongoing and far from complete, the U.P. State Fairgrounds team has been diligently and strategically working towards improving our grounds, buildings, and infrastructure based on our collective 2023 experiences. Preparing for and supporting the hectic operational tempo of 2023, created unique opportunities (along with sharing a few bumps and bruises) for us to methodically capture and analyze “lessons learned,” which we are currently working towards incorporating into our tactics, techniques, and procedures leading to an overall improved operation.

Some of our ongoing projects scheduled for completion March 2024, include a long-overdue total renovation of the dairy and beef barn restrooms and fabrication/installation of safety handrailings in our grandstands to improve and enhance accessibility for everyone. Upgrades to our PA system, utilizing state-of-the-art wireless technology is also underway, designed to improve communications and hopefully lead to better customer experiences on the grounds and in the buildings. We are also in the planning and design process to construct two bathhouses (male and female showers and restrooms) near the DNR Pocket Park and North Coast campgrounds, made possible through funding provided by the Michigan DNR Trust Fund grant. And we have been working closely with Escanaba Speedway’s board of directors as they prepare for the 2024 race season. We are thrilled to support Escanaba Speedway’s largest tentative race schedule in its history – should be an exciting year on the 1/5 mile dirt bullring!

Lastly, but by far most importantly, we are beyond grateful for our partners, collaborators, and the community’s warm and unwavering support and look forward to seeing you (and possibly 299,999 others) on the fairgrounds in 2024.

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Matt Valiquette is Operations Manager at the U.P.State Fairgrounds