Holiday Events in the Upper Peninsula

Do you hear what we hear? Tis the season to take a trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — and there is much to do while you are here this time of year! Choose from craft shows and gift markets to holiday performances, light shows and even 5k races. We’ve hung a list of holiday events in the Upper Peninsula below with care. Now you just have to pick your favorites and merrily make your way over here. 

Thanksgiving events 

What is your Thanksgiving tradition? Do you wake up before the crack of dawn to run a turkey trot with your family? Do you like to shop around to prepare for your other upcoming holidays this season? Do all of the above somewhere new!

Craft shows

Nov. 29-30: The annual TV6 Thanksgiving Craft Show at the U.P. State Fairgrounds  features booths and booths of only handmade creations. Find something unique here to take home. 

Turkey Trots

Whether you need to trot to the starting line, or you run miles on end for fun, you’ll find Thanksgiving races in these locations:

• Hancock, Nov. 28
• Iron Mountain, Nov. 28
• Mackinac Island, Nov. 28
• Marquette, Nov. 28
• Menominee, Nov. 28

Christmas events 

See your favorite holiday stories at a local theater, listen to your favorite tunes of the season on stage, shop for your stockings till you drop and close the year out with a party!

Plays and Performances

• NMU Theatre & Dance presents: Home for the Holidays | Forest Roberts Theatre, Marquette | Dates vary between 12/5-12/14
• Holiday Nostalgia Night: The Muppet Christmas Carol | Rozsa Center, Houghton | 12/14
• Players de Noc presents: A Christmas Carol Live Radio Play | William Bonifas Fine Arts Center, Escanaba | 12/20
• Christmas in the Wizarding World | Pine Grove Country Club, Iron Mountain | 1/31/2025, 2/1/2025

Music Performances

Here is where you can hear your favorite songs of the season:

• The Sounds of Christmas | Kingsford High School Auditorium | 12/2
• Escanaba City Band Holiday Concert | Besse Theater, Escanaba | 12/3
• Houghton Tuba Christmas | Rozsa Center, Houghton | 12/3
• Christmas by Candlelight featuring The Hiawathaland Chorus | Erickson Center for the Arts, Curtis | 12/7
• Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra: Hallelujah! | Rozsa Center, Houghton | 12/7
• Marquette Choral Society Concert | Reynolds Recital Hall - NMU | 12/7-12/8
• Home and Away - Superior Wind Symphony | McArdle Theatre, Houghton | 12/8
• Marquette Regional History Center presents: Tuba Christmas | Marquette Regional History Center | 12/8
• Marquette Symphony Orchestra - Sounds of the Holidays | Kaufman Auditorium, Marquette | 12/14
• Carpenters Legacy: A Christmas Portrait | Island Resort & Casino, Harris | 12/21

Holiday Shopping

Pick up unique holiday decor and gifts for your loved ones at these markets and events. We won’t tell if you buy something for yourself, too!

• Downtown Marquette Indoor Farmers Market | Thanksgiving Market | 11/23 | Yule Market | 12/13-12/14
• Holiday Gala"Deck the Walls!" Erickson Center for the Arts | Curtis | 11/30
• Paradise Christmas Bazaar | Paradise | 11/30
• Lake Linden Craft & Food Bazaar | Lake Linden | 11/30
• Rozsa's Home for the Holidays Gift Market | Rozsa Center, Houghton | 11/30
• Mackinac Island Christmas Bazaar | Community Hall, Mackinac Island | 12/7-12/8

Holiday Craft Shows

If you prefer handmade over store bought, check out these craft shows:

• Pine Mountain Christmas Craft Show | Pine Mountain Resort, Iron Mountain | 11/30
• TV6 Christmas Craft Show | NMU Superior Dome, Marquette | 12/6-12/8
• Frosty Craft Show | Kewadin Casino, St. Ignace | 12/6-12/7
• Christmas in Lights Craft Show | Windsor Center, Iron River | 12/7
• Santa's Workshop Craft Show | Ruth Butler Building | U.P. State Fairgrounds, Escanaba | 12/9-12/10

Parades, Christmas Lights, and Tree Lightings

It wouldn’t be the holidays without lights to make things merry and bright! Visit these local displays and parades:

• Jack Frost Festival Tree Lighting | Downtown Ironwood | 11/21
• Escanaba Christmas Tree Lighting | Escanaba Center Court | 11/26
• Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock | Marquette Ore Dock | Every Thur., Fri., and Sat. from 11/28-12/28
• Lights at the Lake | Lake Antoine Park, Iron Mountain | Every day from 11/28-12/31
• Christmas Walk: Twas the Night Before Christmas | Downtown Hancock | 11/29
• Gladstone Old Fashioned Christmas & Tree Lighting | Downtown Gladstone | 11/29
• Parker ACE Hardware Parade of Lights | Parker ACE Hardware to City Hall, Sault Ste. Marie | 11/29
• Schoolcraft Memorial Festival of Trees | Indian Lake State Park, Manistique | 11/29-12/7
• Starry, Starry Night presents: Polar Bear Express | Grand Marais | 11/29-11/30
• Old Fashioned Christmas | Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse & Museum | 11/30
• City of Kingsford Community Christmas | Kingsford Armory | 12/5
• Rekindle the Spirit | Downtown Munising | 12/5
• A Village Christmas | DeTour Village | 12/6-12/7
• Christmas in Norway | Downtown Norway | 12/6
• Escanaba Christmas Parade | Downtown Escanaba | 12/6
• Christmas in the Village | U.P. State Fairgrounds, Escanaba | 12/6-12/7
• Hometown Christmas | Ontonagon | 12/6-12/8
• Hometown Holiday | St. Ignace | 12/6
• Winter Wonderland Celebration | Downtown Houghton | 12/6
• Christmas Walk - Iron Mountain | Downtown Iron Mountain | 12/6
• Escanaba Christmas Parade | Downtown Escanaba | 12/6
• Christmas in Lights Parade | Downtown Iron River | 12/7
• Jack Frost Festival Lights Parade | Downtown Ironwood | 12/7
• Lake Linden Christmas | Little Gem Community Center, Lake Linden | Various events on 12/7, 12/14, 12/21
• Light Up the Park | Masonville Township Park, Rapid River | 12/8, 12/15
• Chassell's Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration | Downtown Chassell | 12/11-12/14
• Holiday Parade, Tree Lighting, & Yule Market | Marquette | 12/13
• Tinseltown 2024 | Downtown Negaunee | 12/14
• Winter Wonderfest & Park Lighting | Copper Harbor | 12/14
• Light Up Baraga County | L'Anse | 12/21

Find more events on our event calendar!

New Years Eve Celebrations

Ring in the new year and pop the bubbly at these parties:

• New Year’s Eve Ball Drop | Downtown Marquette
• New Year’s Eve Celebration | Ski Brule, Iron River
• New Year's Eve Great Turtle Drop | Mackinac Island
• New Year's Eve Chook Drop | Houghton

Plan your trip now!

The holidays are a popular time to visit the U.P. so plan your trip and book your stay now! We look forward to celebrating your holiday season with you in our beautiful peninsula at our unique events. May your traditions branch out and plant roots in new ways this year.