Celebrating the four seasons of Marquette County!

The people of Marquette County pride themselves on celebrating the uniqueness of its four seasons. From January through through December the area is blanketed with breathtaking scenery, wondrous wildlife and bountiful opportunities for outdoor activities you won't find anywhere else.

Winter Activities include:

Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon
The ever-growing Noquemanon Ski Marathon offers cross-country skiers a spectacular trek through the wilderness of Marquette County.

The 51K event starts in Ishpeming at a 1400-foot elevation, climbs to 1700 feet along the ridges overlooking lakes and rivers, and descends 1,000 feet in the last 25K on its way to the shores of Superior. The 25K Ski Hall of Fame Half Marathon begins on Co. Rd. 510 and follows the 51K trail to the finish at the world's largest wooden domed stadium, the Superior Dome.

Over 1,000 skiers from all over the United States and Canada participate in the annual freestyle (skate) and classic point-to-point race. Children can participate in the Junior Noque - 2.5 K classic and skate and 1K skate timed races as well as the Torch Light Trek funski.

This January event is sponsored by the Superiorland Ski Club. For more information visit their website at www.noquemanon.com.

Continental Cup Ski Jumping Tournament
The Continental Cup Ski Jumping Tournament brings international ski jumpers to Ishpeming for an exciting weekend of competition. Be amazed by these dare devils as they leap from the scaffold of a 90-meter hill looking to catch air and fly hundreds of feet down the hill. Sponsored by the Ishpeming Ski Club.

Glacier Glide
The Lake Superior Art Association hosts this annual winter outdoor art exhibit in the Saturday in February of President's weekend from 12 noon to 5 pm. This non-juried show will feature works by regional artists who answer the challenge of creating pieces which will stand up to the elements, while being displayed on the trails of the Presque Isle Park, on the shores of Lake Superior in Marquette. Area youth artists works are displayed inthe park's pavilion.

UP 200 Sled Dog Championship and Winter Fest
The annual U.P. 200 Sled Dog Championship, held in February, offers opportunities for fun-filled family participation. The event starts in downtown Marquette to the cheers of thousands of onlookers. While mushers and their eager dogs race off to the darkened trails running along Lake Superior, the Lower Harbor Park hosts weekend-long winter festivities including broomball tournaments, a snowshoe course, skijoring and fireworks. At the end of the race, enthusiastics onlookers once again cheer racers back into Marquette at the Lower Harbor Park. Sponsored by the UP 200 and the City of Marquette Arts & Culture Committee.

Big Bay Fishing Derby

A village of ice fishing shanties springs up on Lake Independence during February for the annual Big Bay Fishing Derby. More than 500 winter enthusiasts enjoy this family oriented weekend.

Bundle up and bait your hook!

Heikki Lunta WinterFest
The annual Heikki Lunta (Hey-Key Loon-ta) Winterfest, held in January on and around Negaunee's Teal Lake, is a festival of winter fun. Heikki Lunta is a legendary Finnish show "god" who is said to have the ability to perform a dance causing snowfall.

The weekend is filled with snowmobile runs across the frozen waters, skijoring events, an ice fishing derby and winter fireworks.

Winter Indoor Softball Tournament
Held each February in Northern Michigan University's Superior Dome, the tournament is an all-star show of the finest slow-pitch softball teams in the Midwest.

Hundreds of spectators swarm to one of the world's largest wooden domes for the thrill of summer sports in the winter. Admission is free for spectators.

Outhouse Races
Every last Saturday in February (which makes this an annual event) if you head to Trenary Michigan you will see outhouses being raced down main street!

Homemade outhouses are made of wood, cardboard, etc. which are built on skis and pushed by 2 racers. Some outhouses are very simple and some are so elaborate you wouldn't mind having them in your own backyard! The Outhouses are pushed approximately 500 feet down the Main street of Trenary. The racers with the best times win cash!

In addition to the racers, Main Street Trenary provides a day of fun, food and vendors. Check out www.outhouseclassic.com.

Soccer Tournaments
Bounce, kick or roll your way to the annual soccer tournaments hosted by the Marquette Soccer Association. Teams from the Midwest take to the fields inside the Superior Dome in April for a weekend of grueling play that is just as much fun to watch as it is to play. Check out www.superiordomesoccertournament.com.

Negaunee Invitational Basketball Tournament
Negaunee's Invitational basketball tournament brings players and fans from across the Midwest to Marquette County.

More than 120 teams compete in nightly Class A through Class E games that run from mid-March through mid-April. Since the NIT's inception in the mid-60's, the event has grown to be one fo the Midwest's biggest.

Thousands of fans turn out for Class A weekend. The final tournament competitions are an opportunity to see players with college and semi-professional experience. Several former NBA players have even been known to take to the Negaunee courts during the top division playoffs.

The tournament's reputation for enthusiastic fans is what organizers say brings team back every year.

Snowmobile Hill Climb
You've never seen - or heard - anything like it! The annual Marquette Mountain Hill Climb is a drag race for snowmobiles held in April. Picture 100 snowmobiles driving up the premiere ski hill in Marquette County competing for prizes. Watching the machines take to the 600-foot vertical climb at top speeds is an adventure you can't miss.

Please check out our on-line listing for up-to-date listings.