ESCANABA — It looks like a busy summer in Delta County with numerous events and celebrations planned in the months ahead. Here is a sampling of some of the major events on the horizon.

Monster Truck Throwdown

This Saturday, June 17, the Monster Truck Throwdown comes to the U.P. State Fairgrounds. The gates open at noon, a track party kicks off at 1 p.m., and the engines begin to roar at 3 p.m. General admission, tickets to ride in the trucks, and bundled deals are available through the website (monstertruckthrowdown.ticketspice.com) or at the gate, subject to availability.

Epson Tour Island Resort Championship

The Sweetgrass Golf Club is part of the “Road to the LGPA,” beginning with the Epson Tour Island Resort Championship on June 23-25. Volunteer applications are available on the Delta Chamber of Commerce website, and tickets to watch the tournament may be purchased at the Island Club inside the casino or at the event gate.

Fourth of July

The City of Escanaba’s 4th of July celebration will take place on Saturday, July 1 in Ludington Park on Lake Shore Drive. Food and tent vendors will be available from 11 a.m., a car show begins at 12 p.m., and a petting zoo starts at 4 p.m. Polar Blues will be at the Karas Bandshell from 3 to 7 p.m., followed by the Escanaba City Band at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks are to begin at dusk. The rain date for fireworks is July 9.

The City of Gladstone’s 4th of July celebration surrounds the theme “American Frontier.” Events and activities include the Firecracker Run/Walk (Kids’ 1 Mile Fun Run starts at 7:30 a.m.; the 5 mile run and 2.5 mile walk start at 8 a.m.), the annual parade (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.), log rolling, kids’ games and inflatables, a petting zoo, adult activities and tournaments, food vendors, live bands, and fireworks at dusk. More events are in the works and will be announced as the holiday draws closer.

Northern Lights Music Festival

A new music festival bringing together country and rock will grace the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba this summer. The Northern Lights Music Festival begins with Rock Night on Friday, July 21, and culminates with Country Night on Saturday, July 22. Friday’s show features Pop Evil, a Michigan hard rock band; Sebastian Bach, the Canadian-American former lead vocalist of Skid Row; and SteelHeart, a rock/metal band whose 1989 self-titled debut album rocketed them onto Billboard’s top 40. Escanaba native Kevin Chown, who has enjoyed a successful musical career for several decades, is on bass guitar for both Sebastian Bach — with whom he has been touring since 2019 — and SteelHeart. The following day welcomes country music to the stage in the form of three more talented artists. The star headliner is four-time Grammy award winner Kieth Urban, who has twice been named CMA Entertainer of the Year. The stage will also see American singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress, who has been nominated for four Grammys and appeared on the Billboard’s Hot 100 with one of her singles and also in a collaboration with Sam Hunt; and Austin Snell, a grunge country artist whose music blends rock and country. Festival tickets purchased for Saturday grants access for Friday as well. Camping on location is available both nights.

Trappers Convention

July 27-29 welcomes the 64th Annual National Trappers Association Convention to the U.P. State Fairgrounds. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are chock full of demos, talks, and vendors. Camping and tailgating is available. A tentative schedule is on the NTA website (nationaltrappers.com) and is expected to be finalized as the convention approaches. Information may also be obtained by calling (540)435-4849.

Rock the Dock

On Aug. 12, food vendors, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and live music come together at the Municipal Dock in Escanaba. Kids’ activities begin at 4 p.m., and We Ain’t Saints plays from 5 to 10 p.m.

Bark River Off-Road Rumble in the U.P.

The 47th Annual Island Resort and Casino Off-Road Rumble in the U.P. will bring professional racers, sportsmen, and fans to the Bark River International Raceway on Aug. 12 – 13. Presented by Race-Driven Polaris KTM, the races are held on what is said to be one of the best short-course tracks in the Midwest. Registration and admission passes are available now at barkriveroffroad.com.

U.P. State Fair

The Upper Peninsula State Fair, which has been held annually for 95 years, is always a summer highlight. This year, it runs from Aug. 14 – 20, and will feature grandstand entertainment, rides, exhibitors, and vendors. Updates regarding specific participants and scheduling are expected to be released as fair week draws nearer.

Labor Day Celebrations

The 78th Annual Labor Day Celebration in Rock will be held on Saturday, Sept. 2. A parade starts at 11 a.m., and other activities are to be announced.

Just outside of Rock, Boogie Fest Too spans the three-day weekend, beginning with a poker run, campground parade and costume contest on Friday. Live music will play Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Camping starts noon on Thursday and goes through noon on Monday.

Escanaba’s Labor Day celebration on Sept. 4 begins with a parade at noon, leading to the Municipal Dock in Ludington Park for the rest of the festivities. Food and tent vendors will be up all day, and at 1 p.m. everything else kicks off — band performances, Bloody Mary bar, petting zoo, and bounce houses.

U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Show

Also on Labor Day weekend, the 48th Annual Show held by the U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Association features Oliver Farm Machinery and a host of events and attractions between Sept 1 and 4. Far from just an exhibition, this weekend at the fairgrounds will include pancake breakfasts, barn dances, arts and crafts, a knife and gun show, museums, an auto show, tractor races, and a vintage chainsaw competition.

Great Lakes Logging and Heavy Equipment Expo

Held from Sept. 7 to 9, the Logging Expo at the U.P. State Fairgrounds is the largest of its kind in the Midwest. Hundreds of indoor and outdoor vendors and exhibitors gather to showcase the finest forestry products such as portable sawmills, tractors, wood stoves, log splitters, and more.

Concert series and recurring events

Several summer affairs lined up are recurring events, including weekly concerts in Ludington Park with a rotation of local bands and more. Such events, which local residents and visitors alike can look forward to attending free of charge, are as follows:

Music Mondays is a free concert series held every week from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Karas Bandshell in Ludington Park, made possible by the generosity of sponsors and the City of Escanaba. New this year is the addition of a featured food truck at each concert. This upcoming Monday, June 19, will see a performance by Cosmic Exposure, a funky original/cover band local to Delta County, and food from Wildman’s Munchie Mobile. (Repeating)

Escanaba City Band Concerts will take place Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. beginning June 21 and continuing until mid-August. The historic City Band was officially organized 99 years ago, but its forerunners began playing in the 1910s. Today, concerts are held in the Karas Bandshell in Ludington Park. (Repeating)

Every second and fourth Thursday of the summer months, downtown Rapid River becomes the site of Hot Rods & Harleys Cruise Nights. Classics are the highlight, but vehicles and motorcycles of all makes, models, and years may participate. The cruise is from 4 to 8 p.m. Dates are June 22, July 13 and 27, Aug. 10 and 24, Sept. 14 and 28. (Repeating)

The Gladstone Summer Concert Series takes place every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Van Cleve Park. This week, on June 15, Angels and Outlaws will be performing classic rock and country. (Repeating)

Summer of Melodies is an afternoon series which is provided thanks to an anonymous donation from a family whose late mother loved listening to music in the park during the summertime. Though the time between performance dates is irregular, the concerts will always be held on a Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Karas Bandshell in Ludington Park. June 17 brings We Ain’t Saints playing classic rock, but each following show will have a different artist and a different genre. Subsequent dates are July 15, July 22, Aug. 19, and Aug. 26. (Repeating)