GWINN, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Marquette County Fair is back for its 35th year, bringing three days of livestock shows, live entertainment, food, and family-friendly activities to the fairgrounds in Gwinn.
Organizers say this year’s fair builds on its long tradition while adding new features to serve the community. Among them is a brand-new multi-use building known as “The Clubhouse,” which officially opened with a ribbon-cutting Thursday morning.
“We’re happy to have a brand new building this year,” said fair president Walt Makki. “We call it the clubhouse, and that’s going to be there for 4-H groups or other groups to use all through the year.”
During the fair, the clubhouse is hosting archery events, a Friday afternoon talent show, and a Saturday cooking competition. The building replaces a decades-old structure that originally came from K.I. Sawyer and had fallen into disrepair. The project was funded through grants from the State of Michigan and the Ray and Peg Hirvonen Foundation.
While the fair has grown in size and scope, Makki says its focus has remained the same.
“The county fair is so successful because we put kids first,” he said. “We have well over 200 animals down there in the barns. Each kid raised theirs all summer just to come to the fair and compete. County fairs have always been about animals, and that’s what’s made it so successful over these years.”
Returning this year are crowd favorites like the Fun Zone, four different entertainers, and vendors offering both classic and new food options. Among the popular attractions is “The Bubble Wizard,” a hands-on bubble experience created by performer James Storck.
“It’s the human element,” Storck said. “We’re all here together, many people, and we’re experiencing the same things together. Everyone can share that experience, and that’s just ever more rare these days.”
That sense of connection is why many families return to the fairgrounds year after year.
“It’s a little bit traditional, and fun,” said fairgoer Gauge Schultz. “You have fun, hang out with your family, maybe have some cousins up — it’s fun.”
The fair runs through Saturday, with gates open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for children. More information is available at marquettecountyfair.org.
