The Jack Frost Festival brings winter to life with a series of festive community events held throughout the season—including the Tree Lighting Ceremony, the Santa Run, and other local holiday favorites. Check the schedule for a full lineup of winter celebrations.

Host: Ironwood Chamber of Commerce

Website: https://ironwoodchamber.org/jack-frost-festival/

• Ladies Lunch and Learn to Ski
  • For beginners to intermediate skiers – a great opportunity to try it for the first time or get reacquainted with cross country skiing!
  • Host: Wolverine Nordic Trails
  • Website: https://www.wolverinenordic.com/
• Santa’s Headquarters
  • This program supports those in need of gifts for their children at Christmas. Requests are usually due early November.
  • Host: MSU Extension Gogebic County
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Santas-Headquarters/100064769554052/#
• Fun, Frost, Family
  • Host: Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Website: https://www.hurleywi.com/events/fun-frost-family-2/

Participate in high-performance snowmobiles races or bring the family to watch! Dates may vary for these family friendly events and some may be weather dependent – keep an eye on their websites and social media pages.

• Snocross National
  • Host: ISOC (International Series of Champions)
  • Website: https://snocross.com/events/mt-zion-snocross-national/
• Midwest Snocross Series
  • Host: Midwest Snocross Series
  • Website: https://midwestsnocross.com/Ironwood.html
• XC Championships
  • Host: Cor Powersports
  • Website: https://corpowersports.com/schedule/ironwood/
• Sunday Lake Snowmobile Radar Run
  • Participate in this fun snowmobile race held on Sunday Lake in Wakefield!
  • Host: WE CARE
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wecarewakefield/
• Poker Runs:
  • Several local restaurants and bars host Poker Runs for adults. Please check out the Chamber pages or their social medias to catch those!

• SISU Ski Fest 
  • The SISU Ski Fest brings a weekend of cross-country ski fun to the community each January, with races for all ages and abilities. Alongside the 30K and 15K events, the festival includes the Depot Dash, a special kids’ event designed to get young skiers involved and celebrating winter together.
  • Host: ABR Trails Foundation
  • Website: https://www.sisuskifest.com/ 

1. Yooperbeiner Snowshow Race
   1. Host: Nordic TrailsWolverine
   2. Website: https://www.wolverinenordic.com/yooperbeiner/
2. Wolverine Winter Challenge:
   1. Join community members for group snowshoe walks!
   2. Host: Wolverine Nordic Trails
   3. Website:
3. Great Lakes Snow Series (USASA)

• Community Easter Program
  • Host: VFW Post 3673
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VFWPost3673BessemerMI/

• Kids Fishing Event
  • Hosted at Weber Lake in Upson, WI
  • Host: Superior Bass Club
  • Facebook Profile
• Memorial Day Weekend
  • ATV Rally, Parade, Mud Runs, etc
  • Host: Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Website: https://www.hurleywi.com/
• John Jarvi Memorial Run
  • Host: John Jarvi Memorial Run
  • Website: https://travelironwood.com/john-jarvi-jr-memorial-run/
• City-Wide Rummage Sales:
  • Bessemer
    • Host: General Insurance Agency
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BessemerCitywideGarageSale/
  • Wakefield
    • Host: Wakefield Chamber of Commerce
    • Website: http://www.wakefieldmi.org/
• Red Bull 400
  • This exciting endurance event has been hosted at Copper Peak! Once the dust settles from Copper Peak’s facelift, we hope to see it return!
  • Host: Red Bull
  • Website: https://www.redbull.com/us-en/events/red-bull-400-ironwood

• City-Wide Rummage Sales
  • Ironwood:
    • Host: Ironwood Area Chamber of Commerce
    • Website: https://ironwoodchamber.org/city-wide-rummage-sale/
  • Hurley:
    • Host: Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce
    • Website: https://www.hurleywi.com
  • Iron County Farmer’s Market
    • Host: Iron County Farmer’s Market
    • Website: 
  • Lake Gogebic:
    • Host: Lake Gogebic Fireflies
    • Facebook
  • Mercer:
    • Host: Mercer Chamber of Commerce
    • Website:
• Pride UP
  • Host: Ironwood Area Pride
  • Website: https://ironwoodareapride.com/
• Sweetest Wake on the Lake
  • Watercross Snowmobile Races
  • Host: WE CARE and IWA (International Watercross Association)
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wecarewakefield

Some of these events run between both July and August, and some may change their dates between those two months.

• Emberlight Festival
  • Host: Emberlight Festival
  • Website: https://emberlight.org/
• Iron County Heritage Days Festival
  • Host: Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Website: https://www.hurleywi.com/iron-county-heritage-days-festival/
• Outboard Boat Races
  • This races doesn’t always happen each year but when it does it is usually held at Sunday Lake in Wakefield
  • Host: Badger State Outboard Association
  • Website: https://www.bsoaracing.com/

• Independence Day Events
  • Bessemer Blast
    • Location: Bessemer
    • Website: https://bessemer4th.com/
  • Wakefield
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Wakefield-MI-4th-of-July-100064641791875/
• Festival Ironwood
  • Host: Ironwood Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Website: https://ironwoodchamber.org/festival-ironwood/ 
• Gus Macker Basketball Tournament
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wakefieldmacker?mibextid=LQQJ4d
  • Website: https://macker.com/local/wakefield-mi
• Berry Picking:
  • Check out our Explore page for local berry picking farms!

• Fairs
  • Gogebic County (MI)
    • Location: Ironwood, MI
    • Website: https://gogebiccountyfair.com/
  • Iron County (WI)
    • Location: Saxon, WI
    • Website: https://www.ironcountyfairwi.net/
  • UP State Fair
    • Location: Escanaba, MI
    • Website: https://www.upstatefair.net/
• Loon Day
  • Host: Mercer Chamber of Commerce
  • Website: https://mercerloonday.com/
• Festival Italiano
  • Host: Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Website: https://www.hurleywi.com/festival-italiano/
• Paavo Nurmi Marathon:
  • Host: Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Website: https://www.thepaavo.org/
• City-Wide Rummage Sales
  • Ironwood Township
    • Host: Ironwood Township
    • Website: https://www.ironwoodtownship.com/

• Copper Peak Trails Fest
  • Host: Sisu Dirt Crew
  • Website: https://copperpeaktrails.org/
• Pumpkinfest
  • Location: Bessemer
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bessemerpfest/
• Fall Color Tour
  • The color tour may begin as early as September! Colors tend to change sooner for the Western UP than the Eastern UP so plan accordingly!
  • Website: https://www.uptravel.com/
    • Outdoors & Recreation > Fall Colors > Fall Color Routes

• Reading Programs:
  • Check out the library reading programs!
• Summer Feeding:
  • Free Breakfast:
    • Hurley School
  • Free Lunch:
    • Hurley School
    • Ironwood Depot Park
  • Northwind Natural Food Co-Op
    • Kid Account Program
    • Website: https://northwindcoop.org/
  • Check out Food Security under Supportive Resources for more programs!

• Plaidurday
  • Join the community as we all wear plaid!
  • Ironwood also hosts a Plaidurday Community Picture during their First Friday events! Join us to try to beat the community Plaidurday picture record!
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CityofIronwoodMichigan
• Pick Your Own Pumpkins
  • Check out the Explore tab to find local farms to pick your own pumpkins!

• FeLiveLife
  • Website: https://felivelife.org/

• Hurley
  • Website: https://hurley.k12.wi.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4376316&type=d&pREC_ID=2579883
• Ironwood
  • Website: https://www.ironwoodschools.org/page/parent-student-information
• Bessemer
  • Website: https://www.bessemer.k12.mi.us/documents/district-information/351812
• Wakefield/Marenisco
  • Website: https://www.wmschools.org/