Summer events boost local economy
94,230 attend U.P. State Fair
Trending
ESCANABA -- With Labor Day on the horizon, Delta County's summer tourism season is approaching its conclusion. The U.P. State Fair, along with other events held in the area, helped bring tourists to the county this summer.
Vickie Micheau, executive director of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, said early signs suggest the summer of 2019 has been a good one in terms of local tourism. She noted initial reports have shown significant growth in tourists taking advantage of lodging in the area.
Much of this success was driven by special events -- including the U.P. State Fair.
"Total attendance at the 2019 fair was 94,230, an increase of over 2.24 percent over last year's record setting attendance of 92,000," Micheau said.
While the fair is an important event in the area, other events have an impact, as well.
"Whether on a large or small scale, events have a very positive effect on our waterfront community," Micheau said.
Events Micheau said drove tourism to the area this summer include the Krusin Klassics Fun Run, the Symetra Tour, the Upper Peninsula History Conference, baseball tournaments and the U.P. Trappers Convention.
Paul Carne, manager of Escanaba gas station ECO Fuels, said events are an important part of summer tourism in Delta County.
"Events bring in more tourists and more people moving," he said.
While business at ECO Fuels was steadily high throughout the summer, Carne said he did notice a spike during the week of the U.P. State Fair.
"Fair week is very busy -- that's one of our busier weeks of the year," he said.
Additionally, local restaurants can see a boost in sales as a result of events during the summer.
"If there is an event coming into town, we want to get some extra fresh pasties baked and not get caught unaware," Sheryl Yavorski, co-owner of Gram's Pasties in Escanaba, said.
According to Yavorski, business at Gram's can be twice as high during the summer as it is over the rest of the year. The store can be even busier than that when major events such as the U.P. State Fair are in town.
"An event like that can bring us up another 25 percent," she said.
Jim Kirby, owner of Sayklly's Confectionery and Gifts, said sales at his business also increase significantly during the U.P. State Fair.
"It brings everybody from throughout the U.P.," he said of the event.
Kirby said business at Sayklly's was up by double digits percentage-wise during fair week this year. He added this was enhanced by the fact that the new Marshalls store in Escanaba -- located near Sayklly's North Lincoln Road location -- opened around the time of the fair.
Though the U.P. State Fair is one of the area's biggest summer events in terms of its economic impact, Kirby said it is far from the only local event that has a positive effect on business. He added that smaller events such as Rock the Dock and concerts in Ludington Park can help, as well.
"Everything impacts business -- for us, anyway," he said.
While Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, Micheau said events also help to drive local tourism in the autumn months.
"Late summer and fall tourism continues with several outstanding events," she said.
Upcoming events in the area include the U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Association's 44th Annual Show, the Island Resort Intercollegiate at Sage Run, the Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, MISH Fall Color Run, the Delta County Century Ride and events at Fayette Historic State Park.