ESCANABA — Ludington Park will be a busy place this weekend with events scheduled there Saturday and Sunday

WATERFRONT ARTS FESTIVAL

The area’s largest and longest running art festival – Waterfront Art Festival – will once again be in Ludington Park near the Karas Bandshell Saturday. This art festival, approaching its 50th year at Escanaba’s Ludington Park, features over 40 exhibitors and vendors from all over the Upper Peninsula and beyond. Artists and vendors will display their artwork from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Everything from jewelry, photography and pottery to artwork in any media, and much more will be available for purchase.

This juried art festival normally attracts more than 3,000 people annually, giving patrons the opportunity to view and purchase art by participating artists, have a bite to eat at one of the many food vendors present at the festival, and engage in conversations with peers and viewers from across the region, all while enjoying a summer day in Escanaba’s Ludington Park. Artists and art patrons can also enjoy the festival itself, with its live music, entertainment, art raffle tent, delicious food, and activities.

In addition, Waterfront Art Festival will again be hosting the Young Artists’ Market (under the signature blue and white tent), featuring original works by area young people (ages 18 and under). The Kid’s Art/Activity Tent will be back this year too. Another staple of Waterfront Art Festival this year will be the used book sale, organized by the League of Women Voters.

Bands and entertainment on the bandshell stage will perform all day long during the festival.

For more information, visit www.bonifasarts.org, or stop by the Bonifas Arts Center, located at 700 First Ave. South.

MISSION OF HOPE/DAILY PRESS BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT

The Mission of Hope/Daily Press Back-to-School event will take place Sunday, Aug. 8 at Ludington Park from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. In case of rain, the event will be held at the Delta Plaza starting at 3 p.m.

The event marks changes for both Mission of Hope and the Daily Press. Past Mission of Hope events have historically taken place at the U.P. State Fairgrounds, and the Daily Press has opted to support Mission of Hope instead of holding its own Children’s Back-to-School and Health Fair — a move the Daily Press believes will produce a greater impact on the community than could be made by the groups separately.

During the event, families will be given brand new school shoes, new school supplies, backpacks, toiletry items, groceries, and — for those that need them — diapers. There will also be back-to-school haircuts and the opportunity for families to sit for a family portrait. Printed photos will be given to families who have their portraits taken at the event.

Over the past two years, more than 400 volunteers from over 20 different area churches, businesses and individuals have supplied more than 1,500 kids with new shoes, given out 1,900 backpacks stocked with school supplies, provided 194 haircuts, 2,000 packages of diapers, 400 home health kits, over 20,000 pounds of groceries and thousands of hygiene items.

One-hundred percent of the funds raised for Mission of Hope are used for the annual event, and anything left over is used for smaller projects throughout the year. All of the people involved with the event are volunteers and no one is paid for their services.

The community’s response has been positive as well.

For more information about Mission of Hope or to get involved visit www.missionofhope906.com or find “Mission of Hope Delta County” on Facebook.

UP CITY FEST

Immediately following the Mission of Hope/Daily Press Back-to-School event, an additional event will take place at Ludington Park. UP City Fest, featuring a motocross stunt show by Zero Gravity Outreach and a music performance by Unspoken, will take place in the park, beginning at 5 p.m. UP City Fest is also a free event, though vendors will be on hand at the park as well.

More information about UP City Fest can be found at https://lifelight.org/upcityfest.