Michigan's Upper Peninsula Travel Blog

If you don’t have plans yet for your July 4th weekend, then Munising should be your destination! (If you already have plans for somewhere else, cancel them!) This is the time of year when the population about doubles (for this small town) as family and friends return “home.” The celebration dates back many years and people from all over look forward to Munising’s big July 4th celebration and the traditions it holds. To kickoff the celebration is always the “Firecracker 2-Blocker” Soap Box Derby on July 2nd @ 5pm. Come cheer the kids as they race their homemade vehicles to the finish! Also, on July 2nd is a huge fundraiser for the Munising Volunteer Fire Department at the Barge Inn from 7pm-midnight. For the second year running, the fundraiser will include live music, a silent auction as well as hat and t-shirt sales to benefit the volunteer firefighters. Then on Saturday, July 3rd is the Munising Bay Arts Festival. This great event was moved to the July 4th weekend and features some amazing artwork from around the Upper Peninsula. The art festival is being held from 9am–5pm in the People’s State Bank parking lot on Elm Avenue. Come out and see how talented Yoopers really are. And finally, July 4th!!! The day everyone in the area looks forward to every year! This day features something for everyone! From the early morning “Fun Run” to games, music, food and entertainment throughout the entire day. Some of the highlights include:

• Parade through downtown Munising, 12:30pm
• Pet parade – dress up your pet & yourself, 3:30pm
• Fire dept. water fight, 4:30pm
• Grease pole, 5:30pm
• Fireworks – one of the best displays in the U.P., 10:30pm or dusk

So there you have it! A great weekend is on the horizon and the weather forecast is looking perfect! We hope to see you in Munising!

Sunday, June 27th

After a very dry spring, we have moved to the other end of the spectrum. For the month of June, so far, we’ve received around 5.5 inches of rain! This is about 2 inches more than our normal June average. With all the rain, the impressive waterfalls in the Munising area are excellent viewing right now and the streams should be up for some good trout fishing. Bring your camera and the bug spray. As for the temperatures, it has been really warm but muggy. The extended forecast is showing mild temperatures and a few chances of rain.

This weekend is a busy weekend here in Munising and in Grand Marais. Here’s what’s going on:

Pictured Rocks Road Race – Run for the Red Cross – June 26th & 27th
Here in Munising is the annual Pictured Rocks Road Race “Run for the Red Cross” on Sunday morning. Everyone is invited to take part in this great event as it features a Half-Marathon, a 5K Run and a Fun Walk. Also, join everyone for a spaghetti dinner at Bayshore Park on Saturday night from 4:30-7:00pm. For those registered to run/walk, the meal is free! Visit the Pictured Rocks Road Race website for additional race info and race starts.

Grand Marais Offshore Fishing Tournament – June 25th-27th
Here’s your chance to fish Lake Superior and potentially win $4000 with a first place fish as well as other great prizes. To kick off the event, there will be a dinner and captains meeting on Friday night beginning at 5:30pm. Everyone is invited! Then on Saturday and Sunday the boats will head out to catch that winning fish. Once the boats return to the marina on Sunday afternoon, the awards and a fish-fry will take place. Visit the Fishing Tourney website for more information, online registration and pictures from last year’s event.

Grand Marais Garden Tour – June 26th
For those looking to view some beautiful gardens and learn a few new gardening tips, head to Grand Marais on Saturday for this annual event. From 10:00am-4:00pm there will be garden tours, workshops and a silent auction. The event is hosted by the Green Space “On-the-Bay” Committee.

So there you go, a few great events happening in the beautiful central Upper Peninsula. Check back next week for details on the Fourth of July Celebration!

After a few months of renovation, the our new Visitor Center is now open and you’re invited to our Grand Opening this Friday, June 11th. The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at noon. The building is located on highway M-28, in Munising, next door to Hardee’s. This travel information center, operated by Explore Munising, will give visitors a chance to learn more about what Munising, Grand Marais and the central U.P. has to offer. The Center will also have a real estate property board (for those looking to purchase property in the area) and artwork by local artists. The facility will be staffed  7 days a week during the busy seasons to answer questions and promote the area. What’s especially nice is the ample room for parking! (Those with campers, RVs or trailers will like this.)

So, stop by on Friday for the Grand Opening or whenever you visit! We especially love hearing from our blog readers and Facebook friends!