The Ludington Street Cruise car show, which will take place May 29 and 30, is one of many events planned for this year by the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority (DDA). (Courtesy photo)

ESCANABA – From winter dining specials to holiday celebrations, the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has approved a full slate of community events for 2026.

The schedule opens with Restaurant Week, a promotional event to take place Feb. 22 to 28. Participating restaurants will offer special menu items to showcase their establishment.

The Escanaba DDA picked up the national event about three years ago when 17 businesses in the downtown district were serving food the community, a large contrast to the 12 food businesses that stand today.

DDA Director Craig Woerpel expressed his hopes for the event despite previous restaurant fires and closures downtown.

“With Restaurant Week this year, we are really going to focus on those businesses that are still serving in the downtown,” said Woerpel. “Restaurants have taken it tough downtown in the last few years. We had three fires and two closures, so we have 12 remaining food businesses.”

Various downtown businesses serving food can participate to feature a new menu item, offer items at a discounted price, etc. throughout the week.

“The idea is restaurants will highlight something that is special about them,” said Woerpel. “For instance, Bobaloon’s (Cafe) will do a different sandwich every day. La Cantina offered a new (item), and so did Rosy’s (Diner) one year. Grab & Go did, as well. That’s the idea behind Restaurant Week.”

Five promotional events aimed at supporting downtown businesses are also on the calendar. Restaurant Week will be followed by Spoil Mom Week from May 3 to 10. Sidewalk Sales, now renamed Sizzlin’ Summer Sales, is set for July 24 to 25. Downtown Day will be held Sept. 26 and Black Friday on Tuesday is scheduled for Nov. 24.

“The promotional events give businesses an opportunity to highlight what they offer,” stated Woerpel in a news release. “Any business in the downtown can promote itself during these events on the downtown website.”

Woerpel notes one event highlight on their schedule is the Ludington Street Cruise car show, set for May 29 and 30. The show continues the longstanding tradition of the Krusin’ Klassics Fun Run with a brand-new name after the group asked the DDA to take over the event, according to Woerpel.

“The board agreed that was something they wanted to do, because the parade is very important to this community, and they didn’t want to lose it,” noted Woerpel. “Krusin’ Klassics is not going away, they’re just not putting on the event, so we can’t use that name (Fun Run).”

A committee for the Ludington Street Cruise car show is organizing the event, meeting monthly to discuss. Both the parade and car show will take place on Ludington Street this year.

DDA Chair Sue Parker emphasized the popularity of the well established car show in a news release.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a car show of this magnitude before that the DDA has been a part of in the downtown,” Parker said. “There is the Muscle on Main Wednesdays in front of Catmando’s once a month, so bringing car enthusiasts downtown is a welcome addition.”

The Escanaba Farmers Market, a community tradition for more than a century, will run Wednesdays and Saturdays from June through October, beginning June 3 at the Escanaba Marketplace.

Live music will continue at the Marketplace, including the nine-week Lunch on Ludington series beginning June 10.

Next on the schedule, the LogJam Music Festival takes place June 27 on Ludington Street and will feature 11 musical acts along with the Great Lakes Timber Show.

Parker said LogJam and similar events are helping establish Escanaba as a “music city.” The city has continued to grow its music scene with events such as Make Music Escanaba on June 21, part of a global summer solstice celebration.

Additional summer events include the Patriotic Polka Party in the Park on July 3 and Marina Fest on July 25.

Also at the Marketplace, the Bonifas Arts Center will offer nine weeks of free youth art programming during ArtWeek, July 26 through Aug. 1. Artists and vendors may also participate in the Pop-Up Market on Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. throughout June, July and August.

New this year is the Nibiikaa Pow Wow, featuring Native dancing at the Municipal Dock on Aug. 29. The event will be hosted in coordination with the DDA, Skip Blanc of the Brothertown Indian Nation and tribal members in the area.

Woerpel noted that nibiikaa, an Ojibwe term, means abundance of water, referring to the lake surrounding the Municipal Dock where the Pow Wow will take place.

The DDA will then provide music for the Labor Day Celebration on Sept. 7.

Fall events include Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat on Oct. 18, ArtWalk on Oct. 24. and various dates for the Escanaba Farmers Market.

The year wraps up with the Christmas Tree Lighting and Black Friday on Tuesday on Nov. 24, followed by the Escanaba Christmas Parade on Dec. 4.

According to Parker, events remain a central strategy for drawing residents and visitors downtown.

“The downtown is the heart of the city,” she said. “Yes, people’s shopping habits have changed. They think of the mall, they think of going to Green Bay for shopping. I think it’s important to bring people downtown so they see what’s available.”

A full list of events is available at escanabadowntown.com.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.