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ESCANABA -- Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and there will be no shortage of things to do in the local area. Here are some of the celebrations and events that are planned in the months ahead.
JUNE
– The Krusin' Klassic Car Club's Fun Run Car Show and Swap Meet will be held on June 3 and 4. Located at the U.P. State Fairgrounds, a collection of vehicles will be on display for attendees to view. Awards will be given for the best in show vehicles, along with large and small raffles throughout the weekend. The Stone Blue Band with Don Cole will be performing Friday night after the car parade runs down Ludington St. Food vendors will be available both Friday night and all-day Saturday.
– Gladstone's Summer Concert Series will be held every Thursday night starting on June 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Gladstone Van Cleve Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and a cooler to the park with no cost to attend. Backroads 906, a variety group, will open the summer series on June 16. The final concert date is set for Aug. 18.
– Escanaba's Music Mondays will kick-off it's season on Monday, June 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. Located at the Karas Bandshell in Ludington Park, the Jam Band, a classic country and rock group, will be performing on opening night. The public is welcome to come with lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music. The final concert date is set for Aug. 15.
– The annual LPGA Epson Tour will be hitting the green at the Island Resort and Casino's Sweetgrass Gold Club from June 24 to June 26. Participating in the Island Resort Championship, 154 female golfers will be competing for an automatic exemption onto the 2023 LPGA Tour, along with a $212,500 purse.
JULY
– Bark River will be hosting it's sesquicentennial celebration from July 2-4. The Bark River Senior Center's history room will be open all three days, where a sesquicentennial time capsule and quilt will be on display for visitors to enjoy. On July 2, a Bark River-Harris all class reunion will be taking place, which includes a golf outing, open house at the Bark River-Harris School, and a reunion at the park in Bark River. July 3 marks sesquicentennial day, with activities including a fiddler performance, 1871 family games, and music entertainment taking place at the park in Bark River. On July 4, Bark River will host it's annual 4th of July celebration, which entails a parade and activities at the park.
– The City of Escanaba's Fourth of July fireworks display will take place at Ludington Park on Saturday, July 2, at dusk. A rain date is set for Saturday, July 9.
– Gladstone's Fourth of July celebration will take place on Monday, July 4, starting at 8 a.m. The annual Kiwanis Firecracker five-mile run will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the parade down Delta Ave. and 13th St. at 11 a.m. Children's activities,
log rollers, and food vendors will remain in Van Cleve Park until the fireworks show at dusk. Live music is set to begin at 7 p.m. A rain date is set for Tuesday, July 5.
– Gladstone will be hosting the Minor Girls Little League State Championship Tournament from July 22 to July 29. 16 all-star teams will compete in the week-long tournament at both the John and Melissa Besse Sports Park and Gladstone Area High School softball fields. The public is encouraged to come and watch the nine and ten year-olds compete. 50/50 raffles and concessions will be available at the event, along with a home run derby.
AUGUST
– Rock the Dock will take place on Saturday, Aug. 6 at the Escanaba Municipal Dock.
– Armageddon on Wheels will return on Aug. 6 at the UP State Fairgrounds. Racers compete on a figure eight race track for community members to watch and enjoy. This year's races include a figure eight bus race, gauntlet race, dueling tough trucks, and much more.
– The Waterfront Art Festival is celebrating it's 50 year anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ludington Park by the Karas Bandshell. Artists from across the Upper Peninsula will be displaying their art pieces, varying from jewelry to pottery, paintings and photography, for people to purchase. The festival will also be hosting the Young Artist's Market, where kids will be able to sell their handmade artwork as well. Attendance is free to the public and food vendors, kids activities, an art raffle tent, and live entertainment will be present as well.
– The 46th Annual Bark River Off-Road Races are set to begin on Aug. 12 and will run until Aug. 14 at the Bark River International Raceway. The event will host a wide variety of races over the three-day period, with the full schedule yet to be released.
– The UP State Fair returns on Aug. 15 at 5 p.m. and will run until Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. In addition to livestock exhibits, food vendors, and carnival rides, Grandstand entertainment is as follows: Monday, Aug. 15, UPIR Racing at 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 16, "Boom" at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 17, "Abracadabra" The Ultimate ABBA at 8 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 18 "Puddle of Mudd" at 8 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 19 "Roots and Boots" at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 20 Russell Dickerson at 8 p.m.; and Sunday at dusk a fireworks display will take place.
SEPTEMBER
– Rock the Dock and Labor Day Celebration will begin on Sept. 3 and continue through Sept. 5.
For more information, or a complete list of all things happening in Delta County, visit the Delta County Chamber of Commerce's website at www.deltami.org.